Table of contents

1. Introduction of Experience Specialist Yorick
2. What Are Experiences on Airbnb?
3. Why Is Airbnb Bringing Back Experiences?
4. Should I Offer Experiences as an Airbnb Host?
5. Benefits of Adding Experiences to Your Own Website

1. Introduction of experience specialist Yorick

Experiences make a stay unforgettable. Whether it’s a cooking workshop, a city tour, or an in-home massage, guests appreciate the added dimension that an experience provides. Yorick, Experience Specialist at Hosting Guests, helps hosts choose and offer activities that fit their vacation rental and target audience.

2. What are experiences on Airbnb?

Airbnb ‘Experiences’ are carefully curated activities that hosts or local guides offer to make a guest’s stay memorable. These experiences can be booked directly through the platform and range from cultural and adventurous outings to relaxing and culinary activities. Examples include:

• A cooking workshop with a local chef, where guests discover regional cuisine secrets and prepare their own meals.
• A surfing session on the beach, where experienced instructors help beginners catch their first waves or refine techniques for advanced surfers.
• Historical walking tours through picturesque cities, taking travelers on a journey through hidden gems and centuries-old traditions.
• Yoga sessions in nature, offering a harmonious balance between body and mind.

It is essential that these experiences seamlessly align with the concept and surroundings of your vacation rental. For example, if your rental is in a wine region, an exclusive wine-tasting event featuring local wines and appetizers could be a unique and valuable addition for your guests.

How to choose the right experience for your vacation rental?

When selecting an experience, it’s important to consider the unique aspects of your accommodation and surroundings. What activities suit your target audience? A mountain cabin might be ideal for guided hikes, while an urban loft could be perfect for art or culinary tours. Think about what makes your stay special and what extras your guests would appreciate. Additionally, collaborations with local entrepreneurs can help create authentic and exclusive experiences that guests won’t find anywhere else.

3. Why is Airbnb bringing back experiences?

Airbnb temporarily discontinued its ‘Experiences’ program in 2024 to focus entirely on accommodation rentals. In 2025, the program is returning for several reasons:

• Focus on platform innovation: Airbnb is investing in AI and other technologies to enhance the platform. (Read more in our blog about AI on Airbnb.)
• Offering a unique experience: Airbnb aims to create a distinctive offering by providing not only accommodations but also complete experiences.
• Financial growth: Airbnb’s revenue and profit have declined. By offering additional services, the platform hopes to generate more income.

4. Should I offer experiences as an Airbnb host?

Offering experiences can make your vacation rental more attractive and increase your revenue, but it’s important to strategically decide how to offer them. Airbnb provides access to a large audience and handles marketing, but it also charges a commission and has strict exclusivity rules. By offering experiences on your own website, you maintain more control over pricing and branding while saving on commission fees. It’s worth weighing whether you prefer a broader reach through Airbnb or a more direct and potentially profitable relationship with your guests through your own channels.

5. Benefits of adding Experiences to your own website

Yorick has observed that experiences significantly enhance guest satisfaction in many vacation rentals. Guests who can book an activity alongside their stay tend to stay longer and appreciate the personal touch a host provides. A well-chosen experience not only increases customer satisfaction but also generates additional income. By offering experiences on your own website, you benefit from multiple advantages:

• Direct bookings: You generate bookings without platform intermediaries, providing more control and higher profit margins.
• Strong upselling: Additional experiences can persuade guests to book with you instead of elsewhere.
• No commission fees: Booking directly avoids commission fees that platforms like Airbnb charge.
• Price control: Many booking sites prohibit offering lower prices on your own site than on their platform. Adding experiences allows you to enhance your offering without lowering your nightly rate.
• Better branding and customer experience: Direct bookings ensure guests communicate with you directly, enabling a personalized service and strengthening your brand.

Interested in implementing this? Hosting Guests is happy to help you develop a strategy that strengthens both Airbnb and your own platform!