Airbnb Debuts a Private Rooms Category With New Privacy Features for Shared Stays Airbnb Bets on Total Price Display, More Privacy and Discounts on Longer Stays

25.08.2023 - 13:39 / skift.com / Brian Chesky / Srividya Kalyanaraman / With New

If this turns out to be the summer of travel, as touted, Airbnb is ready for it.

Ahead of its first quarter earnings next week, the company introduced 50 new features and upgrades as part of its annual summer release.

At the center of new upgrades and features is Airbnb Rooms, which the company characterizes as “an all-new take on the original Airbnb.” There is now a rooms category with over 1 million listings, redesigned filters and added new privacy and other features — such as host passports, which help guests get to know their host before booking their stay. Guests can click on the passport to view a larger photo and details hosts have shared about themselves, including where they went to school, what they do for work, a fun fact about themselves, and the amount of social interaction that can be expected during the stay. 

Among other highlights of the announcement, Airbnb emphasized its total price display (excluding taxes in markets such as the U.S.), discounts on longer stays, the ability to pay over time, and improvements to privacy and the shared home experience. There will also be discounts for guests who pay for a stay directly from their bank accounts.

“Millions of people have given us feedback on how to improve Airbnb. We’ve listened,” said Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky in the announcement. “Today, we’re introducing the most extensive set of updates ever. Our design-driven approach means we’re always making Airbnb better, and our over 50 new features and upgrades are just the beginning. We will never stop improving Airbnb.”

Airbnb Rooms is the central part of the new features.

“With Airbnb Rooms, we’re getting back to the idea that started it all — back to our founding ethos of sharing,” said Chesky.

Meet Airbnb Rooms — an all-new take on the original Airbnb pic.twitter.com/SMN8frTWMJ

The new category is designed for easy discovery, featuring a curated set of 1 million private bedrooms. Each listing will include access to shared spaces, such as the kitchen, living room, and backyard. There are also advanced privacy features specifying if bathrooms are private and if the door has a lock and the other people guests will be sharing the space with during the stay. 

Airbnb has long offered shared spaces, but today’s announcement gives them more primacy, and more revenue potential. Private rooms also benefit Airbnb and guests in markets that ban short-term rentals when the host isn’t present.

Airbnb’s Global Head of Hosting Catherine Powell discussed the total price display feature at Skift’s Future of Lodging summit in March. “We’ve introduced an all-inclusive price. It doesn’t include tax yet. We might do that so that guests can understand exactly what this trip is going to cost,”