Airbnb expands travel services with groceries, transfers, storage

Airbnb is significantly expanding its services beyond home rentals, launching a suite of new travel features that include grocery delivery, airport transfers, luggage storage, car rentals, and boutique hotel bookings. The company announced the updates on Wednesday as part of its annual product event, marking its most substantial push yet to become a comprehensive travel platform.

Travelers can now book airport pickups through Welcome Pickups in over 160 cities worldwide and arrange luggage storage via Bounce at more than 15,000 locations across 175 cities. A grocery delivery service through Instacart is being expanded to more than 25 U.S. cities, allowing guests to have items delivered before arrival or during a stay. Car rentals through an undisclosed partner are scheduled to launch later this summer.

In a notable strategic shift, Airbnb is also adding thousands of boutique and independent hotel listings in 20 major destinations, including New York, Paris, London, Madrid, Rome, and Singapore. The company stated it is hand-picking properties and will offer a price-match guarantee alongside credits for future stays.

The expansion includes a renewed focus on curated experiences,...