DiscoverThe Skift Travel PodcastAirbnb’s Expansion Strategy: How Services and Experiences Are Changing the Trip
Airbnb’s Expansion Strategy: How Services and Experiences Are Changing the Trip

Airbnb’s Expansion Strategy: How Services and Experiences Are Changing the Trip

Update: 2025-07-24
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Today’s Skift Travel Podcast was recorded live at Skift Forum Asia Bangkok when Airbnb Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson joined us to unpack one of the company’s biggest launches in years: the global expansion of curated experiences and in-stay services.


Stephenson shares how Airbnb is integrating new offerings like private chefs, trainers, spa treatments, and local-led activities directly into the app—and why these features are available not only to travelers, but also to locals.


The conversation explores how Airbnb is shifting toward a full-trip platform by combining bookings, services, and activities in one place. Stephenson also explains the company’s localization strategy across Asia-Pacific, its response to economic uncertainty, and the growing role of pop culture in shaping travel behavior.


From Michelin-star ramen in Tokyo to wellness treatments in your New York apartment, Airbnb is aiming to remove friction and deliver more personalized, high-quality travel experiences—without requiring you to stay in one of its listings.



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Airbnb’s Expansion Strategy: How Services and Experiences Are Changing the Trip

Airbnb’s Expansion Strategy: How Services and Experiences Are Changing the Trip

Skift