Airbnb’s Big Expansion Plans: What it means for your next Cape Town stay

Airbnb isn’t just about finding a cool place to stay anymore.

At the recent Skift Global Forum in New York, CEO Brian Chesky laid out the company’s next chapter: a “super travel app” where you can book not only homes, but also boutique hotels and curated extras designed to make your trip more immersive.

For travellers eyeing a trip to Cape Town, that could mean an even more seamless stay. Picture arriving at a Sea Point apartment with the fridge already stocked and a private chef ready to serve up local flavours. 

Or booking a Constantia villa where a sommelier-paired dinner is waiting, drawing from some of the oldest wine farms in the country.

Adventure seekers might add on a surf lesson at Muizenberg, a guided trail run on the mountain, or even a post-hike massage without leaving the app.

While the South Africa services offered on the app are limited (we've contacted Airbnb to get the latest info and updates - so watch this space)

A natural fit for Cape Town

This evolution feels made for the Mother City. Lifestyle is the draw here, with a wide selection of experiences from wine farms, buzzing food markets, cutting-edge art and the ocean always easily within reach.

Airbnb’s move into experiences could help visitors lock in those authentic, local-led moments in one place, making trip planning smoother and more personalised.

It could also open up new opportunities for locals. Chefs, guides, artists and wellness practitioners could plug directly into the platform, offering their services to a global audience.

Whether you’re renting a Woodstock loft, a Camps Bay pad, or a farm cottage in Stellenbosch, your stay may soon come bundled with far more than just a bed. 

Airbnb is even experimenting with boutique hotel listings, giving travellers more stylish options when homes aren’t available, or when travellers prefer a more traditional stay with a local twist. 

Why the shift?

Behind the glossy extras is a bigger business play. Growth in Airbnb’s core markets like the US and UK has slowed, with 70% of its bookings still concentrated in just five countries. New markets are now in sharper focus with its US heavy audience - and this could place South Africa frimly on that expansion list.  

However, for Cape Town, this spotlight brings opportunity but also some core concerns. The income-earning potential for locals is real as the latest available data shows Airbnb generated a R14.4 billion boost to Cape Town’s GDP and supported 42,000 jobs.

But a global cautionary tale is one to learn from, especiall in cities like New York and Barcelona, where housing shortages and rising rents have prompted strict caps on the platform.

Lee-Ann Singer, Chairperson of FEDHASA Cape and Board Director at Cape Town Tourism, believes regulation is key to striking the right balance:  

“Short-term rentals, alongside the formal accommodation sector like hotels and guesthouses, play an important role in creating jobs and attracting capital. However, without clear regulation, they risk inflating property prices and placing additional pressure on local housing.”

She argues that fair taxation, safety standards, and community safeguards will help level the playing field.

"With the right measures, Cape Town can protect residents, provide certainty to investors, and secure long-term job creation across all accommodation sectors.” 

What it means for travellers

For visitors, Airbnb’s global pivot could soon mean richer, more curated stays in Cape Town - from wellness add-ons to local-led dining experiences - all bookable in one place.  

For the city, the challenge will be ensuring that growth fuels jobs and experiences without undermining the very communities that make Cape Town so desirable.

Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do allow us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.