Airbnb Services: What Short-Term Rental Hosts Really Need to Know
BY MIKEL HUBBARD
FORMER HGTV PRODUCER | CO-FOUNDER, THE HOST CO |
OWNER, TIMES EIGHT PROPERTY & DESIGN
Airbnb just announced a major new feature: Services. Think of it as their version of a concierge—offering guests the ability to book local experiences and services directly in the app. It's rolling out in 100 cities to start, and yes, it's a big move.
But before you get too excited (or worried), here’s what you really need to know—and why this matters to you as a host.
1. Awareness of upsells is about to skyrocket
On the upside: services are going mainstream. Guests will now expect things like private chefs, IV drips, and guided hikes to be part of their stay. That’s great news for the entire STR industry—it legitimizes the value of curated amenities.
2. But... Airbnb Services don’t earn you a dime
Despite what the name suggests, Airbnb’s Services are not about helping you, the host, earn more. You don’t make money when a guest books a service through Airbnb. Compare that to other platforms, where hosts can earn up to $10,000 per listing, per year in upsells.
3. You're not notified when a guest books a service
Yep. If a guest books an in-home service, you won’t know unless you ask them. There’s no host dashboard for tracking services, no visibility into questions or issues, and no way to coordinate the guest experience. It’s happening in your home, but outside of your control.
4. You can’t fully curate what’s offered
If you already know your guests want massage therapists, pet sitters, or charcuterie boards—you can’t highlight those within Airbnb’s service flow. At best, you can manually send a link to a service. But that’s a missed opportunity to turn your local know-how into value for the guest and you.
5. You lose a powerful marketing tool
When you own your own service offerings, you can use them as part of your guest marketing. Imagine emailing a past guest with: “This season we’ve added reiki and guided trail runs to our wellness offerings—ready to come back?” Services should be more than just an in-stay perk—they’re a reason to rebook.
6. Airbnb’s version is single-channel only
Guests booking via VRBO, Booking.com, or direct? They're out of luck. You’ll still need a separate system to serve those guests—which defeats the purpose of centralized services.
Bottom line: Own your services, don’t outsource them.
To truly benefit from services and upsells, you need a solution that works across channels, gives you full control, and actually increases your revenue. That’s why we built The Host Co: to help you showcase what makes your listing special, delight guests with curated experiences, and drive extra income on every booking.