Massages, chefs and trainers: Airbnb adds in-home services
The Hindu
A key for Airbnb will be to make sure that in-home services booked on its platform are safe and satisfying, according to the analyst.
Airbnb on Tuesday began letting users book in-home massages, chefs and personal trainers in an overhauled app as it continued to expand beyond being just a platform for short-term lodging.
"Hotels do have one thing that we don't have and those are services," said chief executive Brian Chesky at a launch event in Los Angeles.
"Who doesn't want a quesadilla in bed?"
Chesky described the addition of services to the platform as "giving you the best of both worlds - amazing homes with services that make them even more special."
People also have the option of using the Airbnb app to schedule the services in their own homes when they are not travelling.
Airbnb basically competes with hotels, with some people hankering for resort experiences along with the comfort of a home, according to independent tech analyst Rob Enderle.
"Airbnb is providing a way to have an overall better experience and not a bad vacation in a remote location you don't know very well," Enderle said.
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