Airbnb Revives Hotel Push, a New Competitor for OTAs

Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky has announced plans to integrate a new hotel booking interface into the app. This new feature is expected to launch soon as a standalone tab, with test runs beginning in select cities, including New York.

The integration traces back to Airbnb’s acquisition of HotelTonight in 2019, a platform specializing in mobile bookings for boutique and independent hotels. Airbnb halted the rollout during the pandemic.

Chesky noted that the technology developed for Airbnb’s Services and Experiences segments will now support a hotel inventory, presented alongside other offerings under a possibly renamed “Stays” tab.

Recognizing that travelers often turn to hotel websites when Airbnb options don’t meet their needs, the new hotel section aims to retain these customers.

This move significantly broadens Airbnb’s portfolio, evolving it from a rental app into a more comprehensive travel booking platform.

The expansion will challenge traditional OTAs like Booking.com, which already offer both hotels and alternative accommodations.

Photo by Ciudad Maderas on Unsplash