Original Coverage: Airbnb’s ‘Experiences’ Has Celeb Buzz, but ‘Services’ Is More Useful

Airbnb will let four contest winners toss a football and have a day with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. These are largely contests to win a free prize, not an experience or service you pay for. The actual product Airbnb is launching is more practical and down-to-earth: high-quality tours and food experiences from vetted providers. It could make a lot of sense for people on vacation who need to find a trusted … well, service person. It’s a different business model from the regular tour guides, who make their money from customers. But it’s also something big in all of this for Airbnb: your data. The company is giving lots of information on prospective users, but many will fill out their expanded bios on Airbnb, giving them access to lots of personal information about them. It also gives them a way to get in touch with people they might not otherwise be able to contact, like a friend or family member, if they need to talk about a personal matter. It can also be used as a recruiting tool.

Source: Businessinsider.com  |  Read full article