Airbnb executive hints at coming perks that could convince travelers not to book hotels

Airbnb's chief business office said the company is exploring luxury services for guests, including massages, personal chefs, and mid-stay cleanings.

• Airbnb's chief business officer told Bloomberg the company is exploring luxury services for guests.
• Dave Stephenson teased massages, personal chefs, and other add-ons in an interview with Bloomberg.
• It's the latest tactic the company is considering to woo travelers who might otherwise book hotels.

Travelers may soon be able to order a massage or personal chef from the comfort of their Airbnb.

While attending the Olympics, Airbnb executive Dave Stephenson told Bloomberg that the short-term rental giant is considering an array of new offerings for guests.

In his remarks, Stephenson mentioned massages, personal chefs, and more frequent cleanings — amenities that mimic those found in many luxury hotels.

The company is preparing to launch "services that will make it better for guests to stay in Airbnbs" next year, Stephenson told Bloomberg.

Airbnb and hotels are locked in a heated battle for travelers. The socially-distanced travel boom following early COVID-19 lockdowns led Airbnb to a record number of travelers and profits, while the hotel industry faced an existential crisis.

But the pendulum of popular opinion has recently appeared to swing back as some travelers cite tedious fees and dreaded checkout chores as reasons to choose hotels over short-term rentals.

In May, during the company's most recent earnings call, Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky said that some people believe "hotels are historically a more consistent experience."

"If we can just get one of those travelers from hotels to stay in an Airbnb, that would double our size," Chesky told analysts.

Travelers weigh the benefits of hotels versus short-term rentals

John and Beverly Martin, a retired couple from Florida traveling the world, told Business Insider last year they switched back to hotels from Airbnbs after visiting 91 countries.

The couple said prices were similar but they felt hotels were a better deal.

"We didn't have a terrible time with Airbnbs, but just found them to be not consistent," John Martin told BI. "About half the time they were amazing, but the other half we had problems."

Other travelers have revolted over what they consider to be demanding chore lists.

On and off since 2022, users on TikTok and Twitter have complained about the the idea of doing housework on vacation.

"If I'm paying $229 a night to stay somewhere plus a $125 cleaning fee, I'm not doing any laundry," TikToker @Melworeit said in a now-deleted viral video. "I know it's like one load of laundry and it'll take me two minutes to do, but it's the principle that really bothers me."

Hotels, for their part, have tried to capitalize on guests' discontent with cleaning fees and chores. Mega-chain Hilton ran a commercial in 2022 featuring a young family checking into an Airbnb-esque online vacation rental, only to find it was a house of horrors complete with haunted baby dolls on the bed, insane rules scribbled on the walls, and a command to "clean up after yourself, you slob."

Stephenson's comments show how Airbnb may be trying to increase its appeal to an audience familiar with the on-site perks of hotels.

The company, Stephenson said, is actively trying to identify what makes travelers choose hotels over Airbnbs.

He told Bloomberg his wife received a massage at their Paris Airbnb during the Games, a preview of what could come for all guests in the future.