Airbnb Introduces Room-sharing Feature and Improvements to User Experience

The world’s most popular vacation rental platform is introducing a host of updates to its user experience, including a new take on the house-sharing aspect on which the company was founded.

“With Airbnb Rooms, we’re getting back to the idea that started it all – back to our founding ethos of sharing,” said Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO at Airbnb.

Let’s take a look at the changes coming to your Airbnb experience.

Room Sharing Comes Back as a Focus For Airbnb

There are 2 main reasons behind Airbnb re-upping its focus on room sharing: Airbnb believes that human connections and affordable accommodation are of utmost importance to the post-pandemic traveler.

Airbnb considered guest feedback when it set about to create new tools to enhance the room-sharing experience from start to finish.

Guests looking to cut accommodation costs by sharing a home will now be able to find listings more easily thanks to the dedicated Airbnb Rooms category. It will also now be easier to filter through property categories.

Before checking into the home of a complete stranger, guests will now be able to find out more information about their host thanks to the Host Passport. This will include elements such as a larger profile photo as well as their profession and other interesting facts about themselves.

Additionally, potential guests will now be able to see whether an Airbnb Room has a lock, whether or not the bathroom would be shared, and if there would be people in addition to the host staying at the property.

More Than 50 New Website Features and Upgrades Now Live

In further efforts to improve the user experience, Airbnb has introduced more than 50 new features and updates on its website and mobile apps (iOS, Android).

“Millions of people have given us feedback on how to improve Airbnb. We’ve listened,” said Chesky.

Perhaps most notably, you can view prices inclusive of service and cleaning fees, meaning no more surprises when you get to the final booking stage.

Sticking with the payment theme, guests in Canada and the U.S. can now opt to pay in interest-free installments over 6 weeks.

Other features and upgrades highlighted by Airbnb include transparent check-out instructions, redesigned wishlists, improved maps, simpler and more affordable monthly stays, priority customer service during a stay, and instant rebooking credit when a host cancels within 30 days of arrival.

Final Thoughts

Airbnb is refocusing on room sharing — the very aspect of the business that brought it success initially

That, plus the addition of more than 50 new features and updates makes for a very exciting time to be an Airbnb guest.