While the Airbnb brand might be most well-known for its lodging recommendations that allow consumers to stay in the homes of locales, the service is expanding to provide a much more all-inclusive local traveling experience by adding features to its mobile platform that also provide dining and attraction recommendations called Guidebooks. This allows consumers travelling to new and familiar locations to experience the places as if they were locals with unlikely recommendations to hot spots frequented by people that live in the area.
Guidebooks will allow consumers staying at Airbnb locations to access data collected from local hosts on their favorite bars, restaurants and attractions to visit. The newly added features will facilitate consumers having a much more authentic travel experience that is off the beaten path -- rather than a conventional, touristy one.
Authentic Locale Travel Apps
Airbnb's Mobile Platform Provides Dining and Attraction Suggestions
Trend Themes
1. Authentic Locale Travel - With the rise of Airbnb's Guidebooks, there are opportunities to build new authentic locale travel apps that provide personalized recommendations based on local feedback.
2. All-inclusive Travel - The expansion of Airbnb to include dining and attraction suggestions means there is potential for more all-inclusive travel concepts, especially those targeting boutique travellers who look for unique experiences.
3. Local Feedback Integration - Guidebooks' integration of data collected from Airbnb hosts presents opportunities to create platforms that integrate local feedback into dining and attraction recommendations for a more fully-rounded travel experience.
Industry Implications
1. Travel and Tourism - The travel and tourism industry can benefit from the rise of authentic travel experiences through personalized recommendations based on local feedback on the expansive travel apps like Airbnb.
2. Hospitality - The hospitality industry can use the all-inclusive travel trends as an opportunity to innovate and entice customers to enjoy a unique experience different from mainstream tourist options.
3. App Development - The emerging trend in local feedback integration in the travel industry presents app developers opportunities to create seamless platforms that leverage data to suggest travel options in a way that targets the interests of each customer.