Airbnb has begun testing an app that offers local events and city guides, called Airbnb Trips. The app is part of an effort from the company to enter the field of travel guide services.
Although features of the app could change before release, the app currently offers personal itineraries, city guidebooks, dining information, happy hour information and reservation capabilities along with room booking capabilities.
The concierge-like app is part of a company-wide initiative to expand its role in travel services beyond room booking. The company added travel guides to its main app earlier this year to kickstart this project after announcing its goals in March.
Rumors of the company’s interest in broaching the field have existed since at least 2014, and would help support the company’s valuation, which clocks in at $30 billion.
The app is currently listed in the Google Play Store for a select testing audience, but all slots are filled up and it is currently listed as unavailable. The company has reportedly settled on November for a full release date, during its annual conference. It has introduced new technology that also allows me to see all open hours near me, for business opening times.
Airbnb spokesman Nick Papas declined to share any more information about the app, instead saying “We’re continually experimenting with new things and we don’t have anything to share right now, but we have a few exciting things in the works.”
This suggests the app is still far from public release, along with information from an anonymous source suggesting the name and purpose of the app is still in flux.
The company has extensive plans in the works to expand its services. Airbnb has recently started an experimental design group, called Samara, to develop various hospitality projects with the potential of expanding them into major company initiatives.
So far Samara has produced small community centers meant to attract tourists to smaller, less well-traveled towns. The first concept buildings are currently on display in Tokyo, and the first center is being built in Yoshino, Japan.
The community center will include a kitchen, a communal dining table and living room, and bedrooms that the local community can rent out and receive all profits from.
Airbnb has allowed homeowners to rent out bedrooms and houses since its formation in 2008.