Peering out of my suite at Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, a 19th-century hotel with views of the walled Old Town and the shimmering Adriatic just beyond, it was hard to imagine being thrilled to leave.
25.08.2023 - 14:05 / skift.com / Brian Chesky / Dennis Schaal
Five years ago, Airbnb toyed with the idea of launching a a “superguest” loyalty program, but CEO Brian Chesky seemed to shoot down the notion of a rewards program a couple of weeks ago.
He cited the company’s standard talking point that 90 percent of its traffic comes direct (Similarweb had it at 75 percent in December) and the fact that Airbnb attracts tremendous social media buzz, and was the subject of 600,000 news articles in 2022 to attract attention.
“The best loyalty program is building a product people love so much they want to come back and you [don’t] have to pay them to come back,” Chesky told financial analysts February 14. “And we just take a full funnel approach to marketing around PR (public relations), and we think of our general advertising as really educating people on new products.”
That brings us to Expedia Group, which is poised to launch a unified cross-brand loyalty program this year that would enable guests of its major brands to earn and burn rewards. Previously, Expedia, Orbitz and Hotels.com had disparate loyalty schemes. At Expedia’s vacation rental brand, Vrbo, it would be the first time it gets included in a loyalty program.
This will be somewhat of a transition year for Vrbo, and Expedia is leveraging several tools at its disposal that it hopes to wield to advantage to compete against Airbnb, which by one measure, is 2.6 times the size of Vrbo. Expedia doesn’t break out Vrbo’s financials, but said that at the end of 2022, it had around $1.8 billion in guest deposits for future Vrbo bookings. Airbnb had $4.8 billion.
Expedia Group plans to do at least three things to grow its Vrbo business in 2023.
CEO Peter Kern told an investor conference Monday that Vrbo would be the last of its core brands, including Expedia and Hotels.com, to transition to a consolidated front-end tech stack this year, and when that’s completed Vrbo would see an acceleration of engineering tests and potentially product development. The Group’s game-plan is also to “wire” Vrbo into Expedia Group’s partnership business, and to get cross-brand benefits from the new loyalty program.
Kern noted that once the Vrbo migration into the unified tech stack occurs, then engineers would be freed from those labors to focus on testing and product innovation. “And you start to get acceleration, less drag and you don’t need to invest more in product because we have tons of engineers, tons of product people, and now they’re all working on one stack and they’re working faster and they’re going to get more efficient,” Kern said. “So more efficiency, I’d say, in the cost line relatively speaking and greater acceleration on the top line for that.”
Of course, that’s assuming the tech transition goes smoothly.
“I think
Peering out of my suite at Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik, a 19th-century hotel with views of the walled Old Town and the shimmering Adriatic just beyond, it was hard to imagine being thrilled to leave.
Of all the art exhibits NYC has to offer, some of the best come not from the permanent collections of storied establishments but instead, the temporary shows at museums, galleries, and other more unconventional spaces. As summer comes to its inevitable close, several new shows are opening around the city—some celebrating great masters, others with an eye for the contemporary and/or the unsung. Plus, some of summer's tentpoles—Africa Fashion at the Brooklyn Museum, for example—will run all the way into October, so if you haven't made your way to them yet, there's still time. Of the myriad options, we've rounded up some of the best to hit now or in the coming weeks—we're certain you'll find something to your liking.
An airline's offer of child-free zones on flights promises "extra peace of mind." But while it may solve complaints of crying or noisy kids, the idea of an adult-only zone doesn't address some additional culprits of tense travel sagas.
Press pause on the pulsating Bangkok and southern islands for a soul-renewing stay in Thailand’s northern highlands. Once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai is heralded for its ancient pagodas and remote valleys inhabited by hill tribes. Whereas, the moated Old City will quench your appetite for culture and cuisine, the landscape beyond the walls will leave you agog. Experience mountains, waterfalls, stupas, and bazaars from these unbelievable Airbnbs in Chiang Mai.
Staying in an Airbnb when visiting Kyoto is a great idea for anyone looking to experience the city like a local. An Airbnb rental gives travelers access to unique neighborhoods and accommodation options that can’t be found elsewhere. Furthermore, many Airbnb rentals are located close to popular tourist attractions, making them ideal for those who want easy access to the area’s must-see sights. These Kyoto Airbnbs showcase the best of the city.
Bangalore is a sprawling, vibrant city in India and is well worth exploring. The city has a rich cultural heritage that can be experienced in its many temples, museums, galleries and other attractions. Bangalore is also known for its lively nightlife and bustling street food scene, offering something to suit every taste and budget. These Bangalore Airbnbs put you in the heart of it all.
Around 3,000 reefs contribute to the world’s largest underwater ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef. Clownfish, whale sharks, manta rays, green turtles, and giant clams are just some of the marine species residing amid this Coral Sea marvel. Although so mammoth it can be spotted from space, a trip to the moon is a stretch too far for the average adventurer. A myriad of cruises, snorkeling tours, and helicopter flights depart from towns and cities along the tropical Queensland coast. Cairns, Airlie Beach, Townsville, and Port Douglas are the most convenient options although it’s even possible to sleep on an offshore island. Only catamaran away from the corals, these Airbnbs near the Great Barrier Reef are as phenomenal as the natural wonder.
If you’ve ever planned a bachelorette party, you know the process is a chore. But if Nashville is your destination – get excited. There are lots of good reasons it’s one of the country’s best bachelorette destinations. Step one is finding an awesome themed Airbnb to call home for your wild Nashville party house weekend with the girls — and we’ve done the research for you.
As a way to combat the seemingly intractable problem of lounge overcrowding, Delta Air Lines confirmed to TPG that more access restrictions are coming. While we don't yet have all the details, Delta said changes were on the way.
Every day, a daily influx of 90 visitors will be presented with the exclusive opportunity to experience the awe-inspiring Kuélap site.
The ‘Arctic Circle Crossing’ inspired by 10th Century explorers includes four maiden calls in Greenland, a trip to the North Cape and extensive scenic cruising
Sabre’s technology will help enable Nile Air to optimize its distribution strategy, offering passengers more choice and convenience when booking flights. This agreement will further streamline Nile Air’s operations, helping to ensure a smooth and efficient workflow.