With these upgrades, Airbnb aims to enhance both guest and host experiences, ensuring the platform remains user-friendly and tailored to individual needs
In its latest 2024 Winter Release, Airbnb has unveiled two major developments: the launch of the Co-Host Network and over 50 app upgrades aimed at providing a more personalised experience for both hosts and guests.
Airbnb’s new Co-Host Network offers a streamlined way for property owners to hire local co-hosts to manage their listings. The network is designed to assist those who want to earn money from hosting but lack the time or expertise.
The Co-Host Network allows hosts to hire experienced co-hosts with exceptional track records. According to Airbnb, these co-hosts have an average rating of 4.86, outperforming large property management companies, whose average rating stands at 4.62. Additionally, 73 per cent of co-hosts are Superhosts, and 84 per cent help manage Guest Favorite homes—properties that have earned the highest marks from guests.
The process is simplified through the Airbnb app, where hosts can view profiles, read reviews, and select from over 10,000 co-hosts across 10 countries. Airbnb’s personalised ranking algorithm uses more than 80 factors to recommend the best co-host based on location, hosting experience, and property type.
“With the Co-Host Network, we’re taking the work out of hosting,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. “Starting today, you provide the home, and we’ll provide an exceptional co-host.”
More Personalised App for Guests
Airbnb is rolling out over 50 upgrades to its app, aiming to enhance the guest experience by making it more personalised. Key features include suggested destinations based on past searches and bookings, which now appear when users tap the search bar, and search tips that offer helpful suggestions, such as extending a trip to unlock weekly discounts. Additionally, the app now highlights personalised listing details, like a playroom for families travelling with children, making the browsing experience more tailored. Airbnb is also expanding its payment methods, offering more than two dozen local options, including Vipps in Norway and MoMo in Vietnam.
“For decades, travel apps have been one-size-fits-all. We’re changing that today,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO, adding that this marks the beginning of a more personalised Airbnb. In addition to guest-focused upgrades, Airbnb has also introduced more than 20 new features for hosts based on their feedback. These include price tips, which suggest competitive rates based on similar listings in the area, quick replies with customizable templates for efficient communication with guests, and an upgraded earnings dashboard, allowing hosts to create custom reports, filter income by type, and easily track payments.
