You’ll soon be able to book hotel rooms on Airbnb
The San Francisco-based firm told The Financial Times that it has now launched a pilot scheme in New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Madrid, allowing users to book rooms in boutique hotels, instead of its usual fare of private residences.
Jesse Stein, Airbnb’s new head of hotels, told the FT that her company could be offering a “very competitive commission structure” for its hotel bookings "relative to the other players in the space." Stein also highlighted her company is trying to capture the business traveller market, who she claims value the consistency that hotels provide compared to private apartments.
This isn't the first time we’ve seen Airbnb clearly attempt to significantly broaden its product offering in less than a year, to become more of an all-in-one travel service. Back in May 2025, Airbnb began offering services like private chefs, personal trainers, and hairstylists, and experiences like cooking classes or tours from local guides.
The pivot comes as Airbnb’s traditional model has attracted clampdowns all over the world, as both local governments and campaigners have accused it of having a detrimental impact on local property markets.
Story by Will McCurdy