Airbnb is expanding beyond rentals by adding more traveler services in its app. Hotel bookings will be available starting this summer, featuring boutique and independent hotels in major cities worldwide. The platform will price-match lower prices found elsewhere and offer up to 15% credit for future bookings when reserving featured hotels. Airbnb is also introducing in-app grocery delivery, with free delivery for guests and a $10 discount on $50+ orders, including options to have groceries delivered before arrival in select cities. Grocery delivery is available in 25 US cities via Instacart. Additional services include airport pickups with flight tracking in 160 cities and luggage storage through Bounce, with viewing options near the guest’s location.
"Airbnb has been expanding beyond rooms and homes for rent over the past decade. Now, it's adding more useful services for travelers in its app, including the ability to book - wait for it - hotels starting this summer. I have personally booked apartment-style hotels and serviced apartments from Airbnb in the past, but this expansion will add thousands more boutique and independent hotels in major cities around the world, including New York, Paris, London, Madrid, Rome and Singapore, to its listings."
"The company says it's featuring "hotels that feel like Airbnb," and it promises to price-match if you find them elsewhere for a lower price. Airbnb will also give you up to 15 percent in credit that you can use for a future booking if you reserve one of the featured hotels. It's not entirely clear whether both offers are permanent, but the platform needs to make it more enticing to book hotels in its app rather than with competitors like Booking.com and Agoda."
"In addition, Airbnb is introducing in-app grocery delivery. You can get them delivered anytime during your trip, but in select cities, you can also have them sent to your rental before you even get there, so the host can stock your place. If you're an Airbnb guest, deliveries are free, and you'll also get a $10 discount for orders worth $50 or more. At the moment, grocery delivery is available in 25 US cities through a partnership with Instacart."
"Airbnb Services now also offer airport pickups, in partnership with Welcome Pickups, whose drivers will track your flight and meet you when you arrive in 160 cities around the world. Welcome Pickups has its own website, but booking through Airbnb as a guest will get you a 20 percent discount on every ride. Airbnb has teamed up with luggage storage company Bounce as well and will now let you view the near"
Read at Engadget
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