Airbnb has unveiled its 2022 Winter Release, which will make it easier and safer than ever to become a Host on the platform. Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky walks through the latest updates in a film just released, in which he also announced that he is reembarking on the hosting journey himself, putting a private room in his home on the platform. His listing is available for booking starting today at airbnb.com/beyondtheairbed. He also shared the news in a series of tweets this morning.

At a time when extra income has never been more important amidst a rising cost of living – right around the corner from the holidays – those who are considering becoming a Host for the first time can now benefit from a new set of tools and specialized support, including:Airbnb Setup – From your first question to your first guest, Airbnb Setup is a completely redesigned, super simple way to put your place on Airbnb, with:

• • One-to-one guidance from a Superhost – When you begin Airbnb Setup, we’ll match you with a Superhost for free one-to-one guidance from your first question through your first guest. You can chat with your Superhost over audio, video, or messaging.
  • An experienced guest for your first booking – For your first booking, you can choose to welcome an experienced guest who has at least three stays and a good track record on Airbnb.

Specialized support from Airbnb – As a new Host, you get one-tap access to a specially-trained team of Community Support agents.

Even more AirCover for Hosts – A collection of new protections that cover even more inside and outside your home:

• • • Guest identity verification – Expanding identity verification to all booking guests traveling to the top 35 countries and regions on Airbnb—representing 90% of all reservations. We will expand guest identity verification worldwide in Spring 2023.
    • Reservation screening technology – Launching our proprietary reservation screening technology in the US and Canada, which helps reduce the chance of disruptive parties. We will expand our reservation screening technology worldwide in Spring 2023.
    • $3M damage protection – Tripling damage protection from $1 million to $3 million – covering both your home and its contents.
    • Auto & boat protection – Providing damage protection for cars, boats, and other watercraft that you park or store at your property.
    • Art & valuables protection – A wider range of fine art, jewelry, and collectibles will now be repaired or replaced at appraised value.

Easier to file a claim – You can now file a claim for damage protection in a few simple steps and easily track its progress from submission through payout.

And in time for holiday travel, Airbnb also announces the introduction of six new Categories to the platform:

• New – Homes added to Airbnb within the past 10 weeks.
• Top of the world – Homes around 10,000 feet above sea level, often with stunning views.
• Trending – Highly-rated homes that received more listing views compared to the previous week.
• Adapted – Homes adapted for wheelchair access, with verified step-free paths into the home, bedroom and bathroom.
• Play – Homes with basketball courts, game rooms, miniature golf, water slides and more.
• Hanoks – Traditional Korean homes constructed of natural materials.

In May, the brand introduced Airbnb Categories so that millions of people could discover homes they never knew existed. Now, they’re introducing Airbnb Setup to make it easy for millions of people to Airbnb their home. We’re also providing even more AirCover for Hosts and adding six new Airbnb Categories.

• Introducing Airbnb Setup – The all-new, super easy way to Airbnb your home, with free one-to-one guidance from a Superhost.
• Even more AirCover for Hosts – Now featuring even more top-to-bottom protection, with guest identity verification, reservation screening, and $3M damage protection, including coverage for cars, boats, art and valuables.
• New Airbnb Categories – We’re adding six new categories of homes, as well as improving the way Airbnb Categories are displayed.

“Airbnb was born during a recession. Joe and I couldn’t afford to pay our rent, so we inflated three air mattresses and created an AirBed & Breakfast. Soon, people all around the world joined us,” said Chesky, CEO and Co-Founder of Airbnb. “Today, just like during the Great Recession in 2008, people are especially interested in earning extra income through hosting. That’s why we’re introducing an easy way for millions of people to Airbnb their homes. With Airbnb Setup, every new Host can get free, one-to-one guidance from a Superhost from their first question through their first reservation. And with even more AirCover for Hosts, now is the perfect time to put your place on Airbnb.”

New homes on Airbnb are getting booked almost immediately. Half of listings that were activated and booked in Q3 2022 received their first reservation within three days. We’ve also seen strong growth rates of new Hosts, especially in certain countries with high inflation rates.

Over the past year, more than 30 million people have visited Airbnb to learn about hosting. Now They’re making it easier for millions of people to get started. Introducing Airbnb Setup, the all-new, super easy way to Airbnb your home. Airbnb Setup includes:

Comparison is based on public information and free offerings by top competitors as of 10/22. Limits are in USD. Terms and exclusions apply to Host Damage Protection and Host Liability Insurance, both of which are not offered to Hosts with listings in Japan. Find more details at airbnb.com/aircover-hosts-info

Airbnb Setup, upgrades to AirCover for Hosts, and new Airbnb Categories will begin rolling out worldwide this week.

For more information on the the latest updates, please visit www.airbnb.com/2022-winter.