May 8, 2023 - News

Airbnb braces for busy summer travel season

Illustration of a luggage cart with a car boot on the wheel.

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

Airbnb is rolling out several new features for what is expected to be one of the busiest summer travel seasons on record.

State of play: Among the new options is Airbnb Rooms, which shows individual rooms available in a host's home.

  • The average price for a single room in Cleveland during Memorial Day weekend is $79 per night, while the average price of staying at a home during the same period is $235 per night.

Yes but: While some travelers may want to save money by booking a room, privacy and safety concerns could keep others from considering that option.

Meanwhile, Airbnb's other big addition is price transparency. Guests can now see a "total price" for listings, which includes service and cleaning fees.

  • A two-night stay at a home in Ohio City over Memorial Day weekend is listed at $89 per night. However, the total cost is $272 with fees.
  • The cost of a hotel room in Cleveland at Booking.com during the same dates ranges from around $200 to just under $700 per night.

💭 My thought bubble: Airbnb Rooms will appeal to younger guests who are used to couch surfing.

  • Showing a total cost is a no-brainer. Why would I care about a per-night rate when I'm going to end up paying more than that?
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