In an exclusive interview, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky tells Metro why hotels are finally welcome on the platform. 'The road ahead is longer than the one behind,' says Brian Chesky optimistically, arguably with good reason. Despite growing Airbnb into one of the world's biggest and most profitable companies, the firm's co-founder and CEO believes there's much more to be achieved and is on a mission to change the face of travel even further than he has already.
Airbnb's New Direction
Dressed in a tight-fitting navy T-shirt and matching trousers and speaking exclusively to Metro from the company's five-storey headquarters in the Soma district of San Francisco – just a short stroll from the modest apartment where he and a friend rented out air mattresses during a design conference back in 2007 – the 44-year-old is feeling bullish and buoyant. The property rental giant is having a good year so far, posting Q1 revenues of $2.68 billion (£1.9 billion) for Q1 (up 19% year-on-year), and these impressive figures are set to be boosted further still by a raft of new services introduced this week all designed to create a more seamless travel experience.
New Services and AI Integration
Users can now arrange for groceries to be delivered directly to their Airbnb ahead of their arrival in addition to hiring cars, booking airport pick-ups and even getting easy access to luggage storage facilities. Beyond this, there's a far greater use of AI including troubleshooting guests' problems in an instant and the ability to directly compare properties to help find the perfect one. 'We believe technology should be used to bring people together and that's what Airbnb has always been about,' says Brian.
Hotels Join the Platform
But the big news is far bolder than merely finding somewhere to leave your suitcase for a few hours, and is rather the introduction of something that would have been inconceivable once upon a time: the arrival of hotels onto the platform. Quite the turnaround for a company whose early slogan was 'Forget hotels.' 'We would never have done this ten years ago,' admits Brian candidly. 'Whenever I used to visit a hotel back in the day, I used to be worried about someone spotting me and was almost tempted to wear a disguise – you know, glasses and a fake moustache,' he jokes. But things change and Airbnb has now wholeheartedly rowed back on the very proposition that made it a success by welcoming carefully-selected independent hotels – strictly no chains! – with each chosen for their location, design and approach to hospitality. Among them, the quaint 11-room Six Bells Countryside Inn in Rosendale, New York – one of Brian's personal favourites.
Addressing Criticism
Critics will argue this move is a merely a ploy to take a bigger chunk of the accommodation market, particularly after sustained bouts of intense backlash. Many have long argued that Airbnb has had a negative impact on communities, driving up property prices and pushing places to the brink of collapse from overtourism. Last October, Spain's top court ruled to uphold plans to phase out short-term rentals in Barcelona and New York City went one step further by effectively banning Airbnb altogether in 2023, with the introduction of several rules including one that outlawed properties from being rented for anything less than 30 days. Brian, unsurprisingly, disagrees with the suggestion that Airbnb is responsible but acknowledges the issue. 'The biggest obstacle to our core business is the housing crisis, which I like to think we didn't create. It's a global crisis and one that I think started in America in the 1970s. There's a preconception that about 20% of housing in every city is on Airbnb but in most it's actually one or two. I just don't think we build enough houses.' 'I think it's overstated the extent [of which] we're part of the problem. We were blamed for New York being expensive to live in. What happened after we were banned? House prices accelerated and went up eight per cent in two years.'
Airbnb as Part of the Solution
Of course, as the world's 290th richest person with a net worth in excess of $9.5 billion (£7.2 billion), Brian is somewhat cushioned from such worries but remains acutely aware of the difficulties that many others are facing as the cost of living crisis bites hard. Rather than seeing Airbnb as part of the problem, he sees it as part of the solution. With hosts on the platform taking home over £400 billion (£297 billion) since its launch, it has become an integral source of income for people all over the world. 'There's a misconception that Airbnb is full of faceless property management companies. That's not the case. A quarter are retirees, and many others work in industries that serve and care for others, including nurses and teachers, and hosting provides a way to earn extra income.'
How the Billionaire Travels
As for his own style of travel these days, Brian has definitely had an upgrade. 'It's a little different to before,' he says. 'I mean, I can do any price point now but I don't always do luxe. I don't need a seven-bedroom villa.' His next trip? With Airbnb sponsoring this summer's FIFA World Cup, a trip south of the border beckons. 'I'm going to Mexico City soon and I cannot wait. It's one of the coolest cities in the world.' Whether he opts for a hotel remains to be seen...
