Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by ETC Team
Airbnb announced its Summer 2023 Release on May 3. The company’s biannual announcement included the arrival of Airbnb Rooms, a new feature that supports users ability to book private rooms and interact with their local host as a sort of tour guide. Airbnb’s previous releases of new products and updates has included the reveal of Airbnb Setup and Categories, which made it easier to list a property on the site.
“Staying with a host was the original idea behind Airbnb,” CEO Brian Chesky says in a video announcing the update. “There really wasn’t a better, or more affordable, way to experience a place. We want more people to try it. But to try it, they have to feel comfortable staying with a host.”
A new category also revealed titled Rooms, features over 1 million rooms for guests to browse, with locations all over the world. Information about the host is available in a new feature dubbed the Host Passport. This feature will allow guests to see info including the host’s ratings, reviews, and history as an Airbnb host. The host also has space to share information about themself, including their profession or fun facts such as hobbies and interests. Enhanced privacy features have been included to help guests feel comfortable sharing a home with their host. Information such as whether bathrooms are shared, attached, or private, who else may be in the home during your stay, and if the bedroom door locks, are just some of the items guests will find listed.
It’s clear Airbnb wanted to make affordability the leading edge with Rooms, with the average cost of a room coming in around $68 per night. Guests can select hosts based not only on location but can now pinpoint common interests, stylish decor, or just about anything else that might entice them to connect with their host. In a lot of ways, a stay with Airbnb is going to operate as it always has. Guests can come and go as they please and are covered by popular Airbnb features including Airbnb’s travel protection, aircover.
With the Summer 2023 release, Airbnb states they have added over 50 new features based on user feedback. These improvements include Total Price Display, which allows guests to view the total cost of the stay they wish to book including any applicable fees. This is a long-desired feature aimed at simplifying the booking process. Wishlists also received an upgrade to make the process of bookmarking interesting homes easier and more manageable. Smaller features include better optimization of monthly search and bookings, notes, and pins. Guests can also now connect their bank account directly to Airbnb in order to pay via ACH. Monthly stays will now show the amount due for current and future months at checkout.
