Airbnb’s latest summer 2025 update marks a major shift from a pure travel-booking platform to a broader lifestyle ecosystem.
The changes also introduced a redesigned Homes search and booking. Airbnb now offers In-Home Services (chefs, massages, hair & makeup, etc.) and a revamped Experiences platform with social features.
As Rental Scale-Up analyst Thibault Masson notes, Airbnb is “no longer just a travel brand… laying the foundation to become a real-life platform”. This mirrors Amazon’s playbook: first homes, then experiences, now adding services like personal chefs and trainers.
The goal is to make Airbnb a weekly-use app, not just for vacations, In the CEO’s words:
“With the launch of services and experiences, we’re changing travel again. Now you can Airbnb more than an Airbnb.”
In this post we will break down each new feature and explains what Airbnb Experiences means for short-term rental managers.
What is an Airbnb Experience and how do they work?
Airbnb Experiences are curated activities hosted by local experts, designed to offer guests immersive cultural, educational, or recreational experiences, such as cooking classes, guided tours, art workshops, wellness sessions, and even celebrity‑hosted “Airbnb Originals.
Relaunched in 2025 after a brief pause, Experiences now span 650+ cities and 19 categories, enabling guests to explore culture, cuisine, adventure, and more, even in their hometowns.
They focus on curation and authenticity: hosts must demonstrate deep local expertise, and quality is vetted. These range from cooking classes and guided tours to art workshops and wellness sessions.
Key points you can expect from the Experiences 2.0:
- Expanded reach and categories: Experiences now cover 19 subcategories (landmarks, museums, cuisine, sports, beauty, etc.) in 650+ cities. Guests can even book in their home city when not traveling.
- Airbnb originals: Exclusive, celebrity-driven events (the “world’s most interesting people”) are highlighted, adding VIP appeal.
- Interactive app features: The app preview screen (Explore tab) showcases curated experiences (see image below) and upcoming activities like “Make pastries with The French Bastards.”
- New social layer: Guests can now see who else is going to an Experience, join group chats before/after the event, and add new acquaintances to their Airbnb profile. These connections are recorded in a new “Connections” section of the user’s profile, encouraging guests to stay in touch. As one analyst puts it, Airbnb is “building a social network rooted in real-life interactions”.
- Always-on booking: Experiences can be booked directly in the app with one tap, with full itineraries and host information. Guests don’t need to be staying at an Airbnb to join a local experience, making the platform useful for daily and local discovery, not just vacations.
What are Airbnb services and how to offer them in 2025?
Airbnb services are those skills-based or professional offerings you can provide to guests — either as part of an Experience or as an independent hospitality service.
As of 2025, Airbnb distinguishes between Experiences and Services. If you’re exploring which amenities to offer guests, keep in mind that the Services category includes a wide range of options—from in-home chefs to wellness treatments—but is currently only available in 260 cities and across 10 categories of vetted providers.
All Airbnb Services providers are vetted for quality and credentials. Hosts boast about 10+ years’ experience on average, with background checks, identity verification, and required licenses.
The offerings include:
- Chefs: Personalized in-home gourmet meals by professional chefs.
- Prepared meals and catering: Ready-to-eat dishes or full event catering with custom menus and setup
- Photography: On-demand photo sessions by experienced photographers.
- Massage and spa: Licensed therapists for massages, facials, and skincare (e.g. Swedish, deep-tissue, microdermabrasion)
- Personal training: One-on-one workouts (yoga, HIIT, strength, etc.) with certified trainers.
- Hair and makeup: Haircuts, blowouts, and full makeup services by professional stylists.
- Nails: Manicures and pedicures from nail specialists.
How to host Airbnb Experiences in 2025 (and make money with it)?
Think beyond beds and baths—let your property do the talking (and the charging)! Here’s how to turn Airbnb Experiences into your secret cash cow.
Before you roll out the red-carpet upsells, remember: Airbnb opts you into its Services program by default. That means if a guest books an in-home chef or personal trainer, they get in—no host approval needed, no notification sent. While Airbnb’s liability coverage has you—and your kitchen—covered, you do cede some control. Luckily, that “loss” of control is also an upsell opportunity.
Shout about your in-home chef dinners or private yoga sessions in your listing and guidebook as premium, concierge-style amenities.
Follow these steps and recommendations to start offering extra services, and gaining some money with it:
- Meet host criteria
- Expertise and authenticity: Minimum of 2 years in the relevant category is required, or –5 years’ experience as a professional in your activity.
- Local connection: Unique access or insider knowledge of your community.
- Safety and compliance: You must adhere to Airbnb’s safety guidelines and any local regulations applicable to your activity
- Apply and list your experience
- Sign in at airbnb.com/host/experiences.
- Provide a clear title, engaging description, itinerary, pricing, and high‑quality photos.
- Submit for Airbnb review—be ready to refine per their feedback.
- Optimize your listing
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- Ensure your Airbnb listing is flawlessly accurate—with detailed descriptions, high-quality photos, precise amenities, and clear communication—to meet guest expectations and earn more 5-star reviews.Use keywords:
- Highlight unique benefits: small group size, VIP access, hands‑on learning, and more.
4. Manage and monetize
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- Experiment with high-ticket experiences and unique promotions for longer stays, (weekend vs. weekday rates).
- Cross‑promote your Experience in your property listing for more visibility.
- Encourage reviews, with our a to build credibility and search ranking.
Even if you can’t directly bundle services yet, recommending top-tier local partners (and earning referral fees on the side) can boost satisfaction—and your bottom line.
Staying ahead will require you to adapt and seize the chance to earn more. Successful hosts earn by offering high‑value, niche activities:
- Pricing strategies: Budget-friendly to premium prices range from under $50 for simple workshops or quick tours to $200+ for chef-led gourmet dinners or full-day private adventures.
- Set up tiered packages: Offer “Basic” single service, “Plus” service with local snack or drink included, and “VIP” service with multi-course add-on or the option to have extended sessions.
- Upsell opportunities: using the strategy above you can partner with local vendors, chefs, trainers, wellness centres or shops and earn referral fees.
- Cross‑promotion: Feature your Experience in your rental listing to boost overall occupancy and reviews.
Redesigned app and social features: from vacations to everyday use
Airbnb rebuilt its mobile app around three core tabs: Homes, Experiences, and Services. The goal is an app-first, daily experience. The new Explore tab mixes home search with featured experiences and services (see screenshot). The Trips tab provides a complete itinerary: check-in details, booked services, experience RSVPs and day-by-day plans.
Other improvement sections include:
- Today tab: Shows upcoming reservation details and prompts (new check-in alerts, guest notes for hosts).
- Calendar: Hour-by-hour view with real-time Google Calendar sync.
- Messages: Rich messaging now supports photos/videos and group chats (perfect for coordinating Experience attendees or co-hosts).
- Profile: Displays your travel history, reviews, and a new Connections section listing people you’ve met via Experiences. This peer network – built on 200M+ verified profiles – becomes a “real-life social network” alternative.
The San Francisco based platform emphasizes that the app “travels with you”: after booking a home, it will suggest experiences and services based on who you’re with and where you are. On arrival, the app greets guests with a full itinerary of their trip, and keeps surfacing nearby things to do. With this upgrade Airbnb aims to be an app people open weekly, not just once per vacation.
How property managers can use Airbnb’s new tools effectively
The 2025 Summer Release creates both challenges and chances for those considering how to host experiences and services on Airbnb.
These updates unlock powerful features for property managers—if you know how to use them.
The real question is how can you navigate the wave of change and start offering experiences that can drive more bookings and higher reviews if guests pair their stay with local activities.
Some tips and recommendations you can start implementing right away:
- Control service visits
- Default Opt-In: Airbnb automatically allows in-home services (chefs, trainers, etc.).
- Opt-Out: If you prefer no outside providers, toggle off Services in your listing settings or contact Airbnb support.
- House Rules: Clearly state which service visits are permitted and train staff to verify visitor IDs.
2. Leverage the host app
- Today tab: See check-ins, bookings, and Experience RSVPs in one dashboard.
- Calendar sync: Connect to Google Calendar for real-time availability.
- Rich messaging: Coordinate guests and service providers via group chats and media-rich messages.
3.Implement operational best practices
- Prepare your space: Stock kitchens for chefs, clear living areas for trainers, and ensure a seamless guest experience.
- Build local partnerships: Curate a vetted list of chefs, wellness experts, and guides—recommend them to guests and capture referral opportunities.
- Monitor and adapt: Use guest feedback and booking trends to fine-tune your pricing, service offerings, and house rules.
4. Anticipate guest expectations and upsell
- Guests now expect hotel-style add-ons. Update your listing copy to highlight available services (“In-home chef dinners” or “Private yoga sessions”).
- Develop tiered packages (Standard, Plus, VIP) and experiment with dynamic pricing for weekends or early-bookers.
5. Stay ahead of future integrations
- Watch for Airbnb’s upcoming “Host Services Marketplace” to bundle stays with Experiences or Services directly.
- Track performance metrics—occupancy, revenue, guest satisfaction—and prepare upsell bundles (e.g., “Stay + Private Chef Evening”) to launch as soon as the platform allows.
Conclusion
As Airbnb’s platform keeps evolving, savvy property managers will see the Summer Release as their chance to stand out. Ask yourself: How can I turn these new tools into unforgettable, concierge-style guest experiences?
By weaving in personalized services, showcasing local expertise, and leaning into Airbnb’s lifestyle features, you’ll earn greater loyalty—and command higher rates. Just don’t forget to guard your interests: set crystal-clear policies for outside vendors and reinforce them in your house rules so you stay in control as you level up your offerings.