By Nathalie Voit
Airbnb launched a massive redesign of its platform on Wednesday that the company is touting as its “biggest change in a decade.”
A new way to search, a “split-stay” feature that enables users to split their stay between two homes, and a free insurance policy for guests are among the new features Airbnb announced on May 11 for its U.S. customers. This week, the new changes will roll out on the app for international customers.
“The way people travel has changed forever. That’s why we’re introducing the biggest change to Airbnb in a decade,” CEO and Co-Founder of Airbnb Brian Chesky said in a company update. “First, people are more flexible about where they live and work, so we’ve designed a new way to search with Airbnb Categories. Second, people are taking longer trips, so we created Split Stays to give you more options by splitting your trip between two homes. And third, we’re introducing AirCover for guests, giving you the confidence to book knowing that Airbnb’s got your back.”
The new upgrades are part of the company’s summer 2022 relaunch of its app and website. Airbnb’s redesigned platform will feature 56 categories of unique homes worldwide organized by style, location, or proximity to a travel activity. Guests will be able to discover one-of-a-kind homes like “chef’s kitchens,” “creative spaces,” and “historical homes” via the pre-curated collections.
“Airbnb Categories organize homes by what makes them unique, which helps people discover places they wouldn’t have otherwise found. This can help alleviate over-tourism by redistributing travel to new locations beyond the same popular destinations,” the company said.
In addition to the new search function, the San Francisco-based firm is introducing “Split Stays,” an innovative option that enables users to divide a trip between two different homes. Homes will be “intelligently matched” by property type, location, and amenities. Guests who book with split stays will be able to locate their listings on an animated map that visually pairs the two homes so users can gauge their distance and note the sequence of stays.
Airbnb created the feature to give users more flexibility during longer-term stays. The company also said the option would help travelers find roughly 40% more listings when searching for extended stays.
The last major feature the property rental platform is rolling out is AirCover, essentially free travel insurance for guests. The free travel protection tool was previously only available for hosts who used the platform in the case of damages or liability. The service has since expanded to include all guests who book stays on the app.
The comprehensive insurance package includes four levels of protection for every customer on every stay, including a Booking Protection Guarantee, a Check-In Guarantee, a Get-What-You-Booked Guarantee, and a 24-hour Safety Line.
“AirCover has been designed directly into the Airbnb app and website, making it easy for you to contact an agent and resolve issues quickly. We created a team of specially trained agents for last-minute rebooking assistance,” the company said.
You can check out more information about the new updates here.
