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Airbnb announces huge expansion stepping on Booking.com, Uber and Deliveroo’s toes – now offering airport pickups, hotels, grocery shopping and more

Airbnb is one of the first ports of call for Brits looking to book a holiday rental – but it will soon become a one-stop shop rivalling the likes of Uber, Deliveroo, and Booking.com, with an impressive array of new offerings.

Car rentals, airport pickups, exclusive FIFA World Cup experiences, and even hotels, are among some of the new add-ons you will soon be able to book through the company.

Just in time for summer travel, airport pickups are now available in the UK. You can book a private car service to and from your Airbnb through Welcome Pickups. 

Your driver will track your flight and meet you when you arrive. Plus, Airbnb guests get 20 per cent off every ride.

You can also store your bags before check-in or after checkout through a partnership with Bounce. 

Via Airbnb, you can view nearby drop-off locations in the app and see exactly how far they are from your listing. 

Airbnb guests get 15 per cent off and access to over 15,000 locations in 175 cities – and this feature is available in the UK.

Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of Airbnb guests hire a car during their stay – and soon guests will be able to discover rental cars directly in the app. 

Airbnb will soon become a one-stop shop rivalling the likes of Uber, Deliveroo, and Booking.com, with an impressive array of new offerings

This summer, Airbnb is also adding thousands more cultural experiences led by local experts from around the world to the app.

There will be more than 3,000 landmark experiences – from the Tower of London to the Tokyo Skytree and the Taj Mahal.

Airbnb is also offering more than 2,500 food culture experiences that give you behind-the-scenes access to the chefs, markets and food that define a place. 

Through partnerships with Chef’s Table and Grand Central Market, you can join Chef Gianfranco Pascucci of the Michelin-starred Pascucci al Porticciolo in Rome for a six-course food and wine pairing experience, or mix cocktails at Paris’s De Vie, one of the world’s best bars. 

FIFA World Cup experiences across the USA’s six host cities can also be booked through the app this summer.

Join World Cup Champions Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy for an intimate watch party in LA as the USA takes on Australia, or step onto the pitch to train with Argentine football icon and former manager of Inter Miami, Javier Mascherano. 

And while historically Airbnb has focused on rentals, boutique and independent hotels are also joining the platform in many cities.

Thousands of boutique and independent hotels around the world will be joining – including New York, Paris, London, Barcelona, Rome, and Singapore – each selected for their neighbourhood location, design, and hospitality. 

With the click of the button, from this summer you will be able to coordinate many aspects of your holiday from one place

Upmarket hotels will also be bookable via the online platform and app in some cities

Plus, guests who book a featured hotel can receive up to 15 per cent credit toward their next Airbnb home.

While not available in the UK just yet, Airbnb will be giving Deliveroo a run for its money too, as guests will be able to receive a delivery order and pre-stock their Airbnb before checking in in more than 25 US cities in partnership with Instacart. 

Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, said: ‘Travel shouldn’t just be convenient. It should be meaningful. 

‘The best trips help you explore, learn and come home a little different than when you left. That’s what we’re building at Airbnb. 

‘And this summer, we’re giving people even more ways to do it – from incredible places to stay and boutique hotels that feel like Airbnb to unforgettable World Cup experiences and services that make your trip easier.’

Join the discussion

Is Airbnb’s expansion making travel better for everyone or just crushing local businesses and competitors?



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