Airbnb has announced new features that will make the travel experience more social and personalized. The app now allows travelers to meet, connect with, and manage connections with other users participating in the same event. The search and map experience have also been completely revamped.
Travelers Get to Know Each Other
Airbnb is evolving from accommodations to a platform focused on social experiences. With the new update announced by the company, users can now meet other travelers at the events they attend.
With new social tools, users can see who is participating in the experience they’re attending, including their name, country of origin, and profile photo. Afterward, they can continue communicating through the in-app messaging system.
The newly added Connections tab allows users to view the people they’ve met in one place. With this feature, Airbnb aims to provide travelers with a more intimate and interactive experience. The company also emphasizes privacy. Users can hide their first name, last name, and country of origin, displaying only their profile photo and initials.
Airbnb has also implemented security measures. Users can stop contacting anyone they find annoying, block them, or file a complaint. Accepted connections can also be easily removed if desired.
Another important part of the update is the improvements to the search engine. Airbnb has added three new scrollable lists to highlight accommodation options users may have overlooked due to filters.
These lists display alternatives that are slightly out of their price range, lack some of the selected features, or are located in nearby areas. This allows users to access more options without changing their criteria.
According to Airbnb, many bookings were made through alternatives other than their initial choice. The new system makes recommendations more accurate based on user behavior.
The updated map view now directly displays restaurants, tourist attractions, and landmarks in the user’s area. Users can view descriptions of these locations and instantly see their distance from the accommodation.
This allows Airbnb to become a travel guide, not just for accommodation planning.
Additionally, the AI-powered customer service assistant, previously available only in the US, is now available to users in Mexico and Canada. Available in English, Spanish, and French, the assistant offers quick answers and action cards for transactions such as cancellations, date changes, or reservation information.
With this update, Airbnb is evolving from a traditional accommodation platform into a travel ecosystem focused on social interaction. These new features are poised to shape the platform’s future for users looking to both meet new people and make their travel plans more efficient.
