By Thibault Masson, Rental Scale-Up
With the 2025 Summer Release, Airbnb introduced something new: Airbnb Services. From massages and personal chefs to makeup artists and spa treatments, guests can now book professional services directly in the Airbnb app.
But what does this mean if you’re a host renting out a home?
In this article, we’ll break it down simply—what Airbnb Services are, how they work, and what you need to know as a host.
🛎️ What Are Airbnb Services?
Airbnb Services are professional, in-person services that guests can book during their stay—or even when they’re not traveling at all.
Examples include:
- A private chef preparing dinner at the Airbnb
- A massage therapist arriving for an in-home spa session
- A yoga instructor leading a workout on-site
- A stylist or makeup artist coming for a wedding morning prep
These services are vetted by Airbnb, with providers evaluated for:
- Years of experience
- Customer reviews and ratings
- Identity verification
- Professional reputation (some are Michelin-star chefs or award-winning pros)
Guests browse and book directly in the app. It’s simple for them.
But for you, the host? There are a few important things to know.
✅ What’s New for Airbnb Hosts?
The biggest change:
Your listing is opted in by default.
This means guests can book a chef, massage therapist, or other provider to come to your property, and you won’t be notified unless the guest chooses to tell you.
Airbnb says this is a way to make the stay feel more special. But it also means that you’re automatically allowing service providers into your space.
🧯 What About Safety and Liability?
Airbnb provides coverage under its Experiences & Services Liability Insurance, which works like the existing AirCover for Hosts. If a provider damages something in your home or causes an issue, you’re covered under that plan.
However:
- All service hosts are required to have their own liability insurance, too
- You won’t be notified automatically when a guest books a service
- Airbnb does not require you to approve each service visit
If you’re uncomfortable with this, you can opt out of specific services—but you’ll need to contact Airbnb Support to update your house rules.
🤔 Can You Offer Your Own Services as a Host?
Not yet.
As a stay host, you can’t list your own services (e.g., offering to cook dinner for your guests or lead a yoga class). You also can’t bundle a stay with an Experience or a Service.
But you can recommend services near your property by:
- Using Quick Replies to send suggestions
- Sharing Airbnb-hosted service listings in messages
- Referring local providers via Airbnb’s referral program (and earn $100 if they start hosting)
So while you don’t get direct revenue from service bookings at your place, you can enhance your guest experience and support local professionals.
📋 What Do You Need to Do?
Here’s a quick checklist:
✅ Decide if you’re comfortable with services happening at your property
✅ If not, contact Airbnb Support to opt out of any categories (like massage or photography)
✅ Update your house manual or check-in info to note any restrictions
✅ Consider recommending trusted local services you know personally
✅ Keep an eye on new features—Airbnb may open this up to hosts down the line
⚠️ One More Thing: Be Aware of Local Laws, Building Rules, and Your Insurance
Even if Airbnb allows services by default, your local context might not.
Here are a few real-world risks to consider:
🏢 Legal gray areas
In some cities or apartment buildings, having a professional chef, massage therapist, or stylist working inside a short-term rental might violate building policies or zoning laws. This could:
- Trigger a violation of your lease terms
- Jeopardize your short-term rental license
- Lead to complaints from neighbors—or worse, enforcement actions
Just because a guest books a massage through Airbnb doesn’t mean your building allows it.
🧾 Insurance coverage isn’t guaranteed
Airbnb includes liability coverage under its Experiences & Services policy—but that doesn’t replace your own insurance obligations.
Ask yourself:
- Does your short-term rental insurance allow third-party service providers to operate in your home?
- Would your policy cover damages caused by someone else’s business activity?
If you’re not sure, call your insurance company. Many policies weren’t written with “Airbnb Services” in mind.
⚖️ Hosts have been doing this informally for years—but this is different
Some hosts have always offered dinner experiences or invited a local photographer for guests. But Airbnb Services changes the setup—it introduces outside pros you don’t control, working in your space under a guest’s booking.
The dynamic is new. The risks are yours. The control isn’t.
🧭 Final Thoughts: Proceed With Awareness, Not Panic
Airbnb Services may be the future—but in the present, you need to protect yourself.
If you’re open to services at your place, great—just check your local rules and update your insurance.
If you’re not, that’s fine too. You can contact Airbnb Support and opt out.
Either way, knowing your rights and risks is part of being a responsible host.
Because at the end of the day, it’s still your space—and you deserve to feel safe and in control of what happens inside it.
An Opportunity—with Some Caution
Airbnb Services could help elevate the guest experience and bring more hotel-like perks into short-term rentals. But for stay hosts, it’s also a shift in control.
You’re being asked to share your space not just with guests, but with external professionals—without always being in the loop.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it does require awareness, clear expectations, and perhaps a few more guardrails from Airbnb down the road.
For now, know your rights, check your settings, and make the experience work for you as well as your guests.
