Airbnb expands into hotel bookings and even grocery deliveries

Source: Engadget

Hotel Bookings

Airbnb has been expanding beyond rooms and homes for rent over the past decade. Starting this summer, the app will let users book hotels directly. The new listings will include thousands of boutique and independent hotels in major cities such as New York, Paris, London, Madrid, Rome, and Singapore.

The company says it is featuring “hotels that feel like Airbnb” and promises to price‑match if you find a lower price elsewhere. Additionally, guests who reserve one of the featured hotels can receive up to 15 % credit toward a future booking.

In‑App Grocery Delivery

Airbnb is introducing grocery delivery through a partnership with Instacart. In 25 U.S. cities, guests can:

• Order groceries anytime during their stay.
• Have items delivered to the rental before arrival (where the host opts in).

Deliveries are free for Airbnb guests, and orders of $50 or more receive a $10 discount. International expansion has not been confirmed.

Transportation & Luggage Services

Airport Pickups

Airbnb now offers airport pickup services in partnership with Welcome Pickups, covering 160 cities worldwide. Drivers track your flight and meet you on arrival. Booking through Airbnb provides a 20 % discount on each ride.

Luggage Storage

Through a collaboration with Bounce, guests can view nearby luggage‑storage locations directly in the app. The service shows distance from the listing and offers 20 % credit toward the next booking.

Car Rentals

Later this summer, Airbnb will add car rentals to its platform, displaying vehicles near your listing. The first rental earns 20 % credit back toward a future booking.

Experiences

Airbnb is boosting its Experiences catalog with thousands of new options, including:

• Landmark‑focused experiences such as the Tokyo Skytree and the Taj Mahal.
• Expanded food‑culture experiences.
• FIFA World Cup‑related experiences across six host cities, featuring parties with former champions.