Airbnb has introduced new features that use AI to guide travelers through each stage of the booking process, making it easier for them to find what they’re looking for and more likely to book. For vacation rental managers, understanding these tools can help increase your listing’s chances of catching the right guest’s eye. Here’s how Airbnb’s new tools work to move travelers from “just browsing” to “ready to book”—and what that means for you.
What Do We Mean by the Booking Journey?
The booking journey, or “conversion funnel,” is simply the path a guest takes from starting their search to completing a booking. There are three main steps:
- Getting Attention: When a guest starts searching and sees your listing among others.
- Helping Them Choose: When they compare listings and narrow down options.
- Encouraging a Decision: When they feel confident enough to book.
By making this journey feel personalized and easy, Airbnb’s new tools can help turn more searchers into guests. Let’s look at these tools and how they improve each step in this process.
How Airbnb’s New AI Tools Guide Travelers from Start to Finish
Each new feature in Airbnb’s 2024 Winter Release helps travelers in different parts of their booking journey. Here’s how they work:
- Suggested Destinations (Getting Attention)
- What it is: When travelers open the search bar, Airbnb suggests places they’ve looked at or booked before.
- How it Helps: It’s like giving them a head start on planning by showing places they’ve already shown interest in.
- Why it Can Lead to Bookings: When travelers see locations they already like, they’re more likely to start browsing listings—getting them closer to booking.
Suggested Destinations
- Recommended Filters (Helping Them Choose)
- What it is: Filters that suggest options based on what the traveler has liked or booked in the past. If they usually book pet-friendly places, that filter might come up first.
- How it Helps: It cuts down on time by showing options that are most likely to suit their needs.
- Why it Can Lead to Bookings: When travelers find the right options faster, they’re more likely to keep looking and find a listing they love.
Recommended Filters Feature
- Personalized Listing Highlights (Highlighting the Right Details)
- What it is: When guests view a listing, Airbnb emphasizes features that fit their needs, like showing a backyard or playroom for families.
- How it Helps: It helps travelers feel confident that the listing has what they’re looking for.
- Why it Can Lead to Bookings: When the listing feels like a perfect fit, travelers are more likely to book.
Personalized Listing Highlights
Why These Changes Matter for You
By personalizing each step in the journey, Airbnb’s new tools help make sure that listings connect with travelers who are most likely to book. For vacation rental managers, these updates mean that well-matched guests are more likely to see your listing, understand its value, and feel ready to book. Understanding how these features work can help you make the most of Airbnb’s platform—and bring in more bookings.
