Airbnb announces new features as travel demand rises

As Covid-19 restrictions continue to ease, more travellers are turning to the home-rental app

Airbnb has announced several new features, including a translation tool to be launched later this year.

Airbnb chief executive officer Brian Chesky says the new tool, which will be able to translate listing descriptions and reviews into 60 languages, will help boost bookings, especially in Europe and Asia Pacific where there’s high demand for cross-border travel.

Another new feature is AirCover, insurance that will offer hosts protection against damage caused by guests’ pets as global searches surge for pet-friendly listings on the platform.

According to Airbnb, more than 100,000 guests stayed in its rental properties for at least three straight months in the past year. The company also noted a pandemic-driven shift in consumer preference towards non-urban destinations and alternative accommodation.

Chesky said: “What you’re going to see, as the world moves into a post-Covid-19 world, is that people are going to travel a lot more than they did before, certainly a lot more than they do now.” 

For more information, visit www.airbnb.ae