Airbnb, as part of promoting its revamped and expanded vacation bookings, has teamed with several celebrities to offer “once-in-a-lifetime” meet-and-greets — but only a few lucky fans may be able to actually secure them.
The travel site announced Airbnb Originals, which the company touts as “extraordinary experiences hosted by the world’s most interesting people.” Initial celebrities in the mix are: Megan Thee Stallion (Los Angeles), with whom you can “transform into your anime alter-ego in her ‘otaku hottie quest'”; Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City), with whom you can “learn how to throw the perfect spiral” and “enjoy Kansas City barbecue” on a Sunday; and K-pop group Seventeen (Seoul), who to celebrate their 10th anniversary have “created a space that will allow us to soak in the decade of memories we shared together — every song, every stage, every moment.”
Those three experiences are free, but there’s limited availability. An Airbnb rep said the celebrity-hosted experiences are available on a “first-come, first-serve basis” to users who sign up. (Airbnb is paying a fee to the celebrities as part of the promotion.) Upcoming experiences include one from Sabrina Carpenter, who will host “a day of glam, dancing and espresso” in L.A., and another from Colombian singer Karol G, who writes: “Come visit me in my hometown where I’ll show you one of my favorite places in the world.”
“You know I love a good cosplay moment,” Megan says in the description of her Airbnb experience. “My passion for anime has always been front and center, even in my music. It’s more than entertainment, it’s a way to express different sides of myself, shape-shifting into whoever I want to be—and I want that for you, too! But to activate your inner Otaku, you gotta earn it. Complete my Otaku Hottie quest to unlock a whole new persona.”
Hosts of Airbnb Originals are able to set their own prices for such curated experiences. Others are being co-designed with celebrity hosts including Keke Palmer, Jamie Mizrahi, Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Daito Manabe and Chance the Rapper. In addition, Airbnb users can learn pastry-making at the renowned French Bastards bakery with chef Raphaelle Elbaz and play beach volleyball with Olympian Carol Solberg on Rio de Janeiro’s Leblon Beach.
The celebrity bookings are part of the expanded Airbnb Experiences section, which now includes tours, outings and events “hosted by locals who know their city best.” The company is launching experiences in 650 cities around the world. Those include landmark, museum and cultural experiences; food tours, cooking classes and dining experiences; outdoors, water sports, and wildlife experiences; shopping experiences; and workout, wellness and beauty experiences.
Airbnb Experiences are vetted for quality, with a focus on expertise, reputation and authenticity, according to the company. “Hosts are assessed across areas like experience, their connection to the city, and guest feedback” on an ongoing basis, Airbnb said.
In addition, the company is introducing Airbnb Services, to let you book personal trainers, spa appointments and more, initially available in 10 categories in 260 cities. The first categories are: chefs, photography, massage, spa treatments, personal training, hair, makeup, nails, prepared meals and catering.
As with the experiences, the company says Airbnb Services are “vetted for quality through an evaluation of expertise and reputation.” Services hosts have an average of 10 years of experience, have completed Airbnb’s identity verification process, and are required to submit relevant licenses and certifications.
Airbnb also has redesigned its app, which has been “rebuilt from the ground up so you can easily book everything in one place.” After you book a location, the app suggests services and experiences “we think you’ll love based on where you’re staying and who you’re with,” according to Airbnb. When you arrive at your destination, the app welcomes you with a detailed itinerary, including check-in details and a day-by-day view of everything you booked on Airbnb.
The redesigned Airbnb app includes an “Explore” tab, a new homepage to discover locations, experiences and services; a “Trips” tab with a schedule of your trip, details about your home, and the services and experiences you’ve booked; a revamped messaging platform with photo and video sharing, and integrated payments for customizing services; and a redesigned profile page that lets you share where you’ve traveled on Airbnb and see the people you’ve met along the way.
Since launching in 2008, Airbnb has surpassed 2 billion guest arrivals, the company says.
