Airbnb decides to stop asking customers where they want to go
Airbnb will suggest properties holidaymakers may want to visit instead of asking them to enter a destination as it tackles claims it is contributing to over-tourism.
The company has unveiled what it called the biggest change in its history to direct tourists away from hotspots and towards far-flung locations.
Brian Chesky, Airbnb’s chief executive, said it would “redistribute” tourism and help to prevent throngs of travellers flocking to cities such as Venice and Paris during peak times.
“Over tourism isn't too many people in the world travelling, I think over tourism is too many people going to the same place at the same time,” he said. "We're trying to spread everyone out over as many dates and many locations as possible.”
The overhaul will see Airbnb’s app and website change from demanding that users enter a destination and date before showing properties, which the company says has been standard practice among travel websites for 25 years.
Instead, users will scroll through categories such as treehouses, mansions, beaches and vineyards, although prospective tourists will still be able to search by date and location if they wish.
“We think if we can move away from the search box, we can help redistribute travel,” Mr Chesky said.
Airbnb, launched in 2008, has upended tourism by moving accommodation away from hotels and towards privately-owned rooms or properties. However, it has faced accusations of hollowing out popular tourist locations because local residents are unable to outspend landlords who host guests using the website.
Airbnb has enjoyed a stronger rebound than many travel companies from the pandemic, with revenues in the first quarter of this year 80pc higher than in the same period in 2019.
However, changing tourism patterns have seen tensions in new areas such as Cornwall and Yorkshire, rather than cities such as Barcelona that clashed with the company before the pandemic.
Mr Chesky said he is making the changes partly in expectation that more people will want to travel for longer periods of time due to the rise of remote working.
Last month, Airbnb said it would allow its more than 6,000 employees to work from anywhere for the majority of the year.
Airbnb’s overhaul includes its app automatically suggesting that people split their time between two different properties during a longer trip, which the company said would make more listings available.
The company said it would also provide more support to guests, such as providing a better property or refund when a host cancels within 30 days of a check in or when properties do not turn out to be as advertised.
