When Airbnb was first introduced to the world as a concept, it was based on an idea the two founders had to put an air mattress in their living room and let guests use their home as a bed and breakfast. Hence the name, which was originally AirBed&Breakfast.
What began as a means to offer short-term living quarters and breakfast to those who couldn’t afford or find hotel rooms has since become something rather different. Now, most travellers use the platform to book whole apartments for both short and long-term stays, as well as experiences and guides.
Now Airbnb is returning to its roots with a new feature called Airbnb Rooms. The feature will allow guests – you guessed it – to book a room in a host’s home.
Airbnb Rooms will work via Host Passports, which introduce hosts to potential guests before they make a decision about their booking. It will include a photograph of them and information about their background, like where they went to school, what they do for work, and some fun facts about their personality. You will also be able to find out if your bedroom will have a lock, if you will have your own bathroom, and whether the host will be present during your stay.
The Rooms category has already been populated with 1 million listings. And the redesigned filters on the platform mean that users can easily switch between Airbnb Rooms, entire homes, and other types of accommodations.
The move signifies Airbnb’s renewed focus on connecting hosts and travellers – something that has gotten a little lost along the way, as recent ‘Airbnbacklash’ saw complaints from both sides about disrespectful guests and demanding hosts. Plus, it offers significantly more affordable accommodation in the current cost-of-living crisis.
These new additions are accompanied by over 50 new upgrades to Airbnb based on customer feedback. Guests will now be able to view the total price upfront, use improved maps, save properties to their wishlists more efficiently, and make use of the new 24/7 customer support team.
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