Forgot the original Airbnb, used by young people for low-cost accommodation in two clicks during their short urban getaways?
The Covid-19 shook the American platform for accommodation between individuals before upsetting the model.
“But today I want to share my optimism with you.
After months of being locked up at home, with the vaccination, we are going to witness the greatest return of the trip of the century!
”Said Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky, during a live world conference on Monday at 6 p.m. PST.
Read alsoVictim of the coronavirus, will Airbnb be able to recover?
According to his American-style formulas, “people can travel anytime, anywhere, staying longer”.
Understand “people can travel when they want to where they want and stay there longer.
"Before, we slept in an Airbnb, now we live there", also asserts the thirty-something billionaire.
The figures support this fine speech.
More and more families are using the community vacation rental platform.
Especially to go to the sea or to the countryside.
Stays with at least one child have thus fallen from 27% of the total nights booked worldwide in summer 2019 to 33% in summer 2021. Among them, 42% of nights booked are in rural destinations.
Against 32% a year earlier.
Booming rural stays
Because this summer, the big cities are no longer at the top of the booking list.
In France, Paris has been overtaken by the Var department for the first time in its history.
But the phenomenon is global.
In Italy, Rome retreats in favor of Sardinia.
In Korea, Seoul cedes the ground in favor of Jeju.
In Spain, Barcelona leaves its first place to the Costa Blanca, and in the United Kingdom London is seen stealing the crown by Cornouaille.
Moreover, the site itself has been redecorated with a bucolic drawing showing a small chalet on the edge of a lake, on which a boat sails.
“In 2015, rural stays represented less than 10% of our overnight stays worldwide, notes Airbnb. In 2021, they now represent more than double or even triple in many countries, including Canada (43%), France (45%), the United Kingdom (48%), Australia (42%) and the United States (28%). »In our verdant Hexagon, Airbnb's second-largest market, the share of rural overnight stays has doubled in just two years: they were 25% in 2019.
But all is not lost for the capitals and big cities.
If they have lost their dominance, they still attract, for longer durations.
"The top three destinations for long-term stays on Airbnb are all cities," notes the CEO of Airbnb.
In New York City, 62% of summer nights booked in the city are for long-term stays.
It's 40% in Seattle and 43% in Los Angeles this summer.
And this is true around the world.
"
Stick as close as possible to your desires
To stick to new travel desires, Airbnb has therefore launched an “I am flexible” tab next to the “calendar” tab. Thanks to him, it is no longer necessary to inform a specific city, the region is enough. The dates can be adjusted by plus or minus 1, 3 or 7 days. You can even indicate that you are looking for accommodation "one weekend" or "during the week", in May, June, September, before adjusting your filters (with wi-fi, with the dog or the swimming pool) and placing the results on a map.
Another new feature that will come into operation on June 30, the site will even offer you to search without a destination! But by selecting the category that makes you want to travel: a treehouse in the United States, castles in Spain, mills in Portugal, a lighthouse in Great Britain, a vineyard in France… What would you say otherwise from a boat, a private island or a yurt?
