Airbnb Experiences and Add-On Services For a Memorable Stay

What Are Airbnb Experiences?

Airbnb experiences encompass unique activities, tours, and workshops hosted by locals, offering guests an authentic and immersive way to explore a destination. As an Airbnb host, you can enhance your property’s appeal by incorporating personalized events, venues, or entertainment.

Through Airbnb, you can position your listing as any of the top experiences guests seek on the platform:

Food and drink with local culinary traditions brought to your doorstep
Animal and pet-friendly tourism with hands-on grooming services
Nature and outdoor adventures like yoga lessons
Luxury features like a spa, sauna, or other amenities
Kid-friendly space with childproofed rooms and games

The main thing to be aware of when opting for Airbnb experiences is that as the host, you have to be an expert in the topic. If you’re offering a culinary treat, you must partake in the event. Often, hosts who enjoy cooking will cook for their guests or hire a chef and help prepare the meal.

In order to start hosting Airbnb experiences, you have to apply through Airbnb’s experience program. Applications usually take up to two weeks to be reviewed and approved, if you qualify.

If you don’t qualify for Airbnb’s program, consider add-on services. These can be as simple as hiring a babysitter for guests, making reservations at local restaurants, or offering pet grooming services. The point is to be involved. These types of experiences still go beyond the typical tour or amenity.

How to Increase Revenue By Focusing on Guests’ Experience

Airbnb experiences is another channel of revenue for your growing vacation rental business. But, how can additional experiences or even add-on services increase your profitability?

Selling an experience on Airbnb opens up multiple opportunities to increase your revenue. Guests who book these experiences don’t necessarily have to stay in your Airbnb. This means you can host an experience with one set of guests and host a stay with another. Keep in mind that as the host, you are still responsible for Airbnb service fees – a 20% commission fee for every experience booked through their platform.

Airbnb add-on services are a great option for hosts who don’t fit the profile for the Airbnb Experiences program. By selling services like airport pick-up and drop-off or grocery delivery, you can bring in an additional stream of revenue. Offer add-on services when guests first book with you. Make sure to include any additional services to your listing as well to entice bookings.

Airbnb guests smiling in the doorway for their Airbnb experience

5 Top Airbnb Add-on Services to Make a Memorable Stay

You don’t have to only provide guests with amazing, one-on-one experiences to make an impact. Elevate your vacation rental business with add-on services that exceed expectations and ensure increased revenue opportunities. Additional Airbnb services to consider offering are:

A Themed Vacation Rental

A successful Airbnb experience can often revolve around a theme. Whether your property is the experience itself or you single-handedly entertain guests, you can sell a theme.

Themed vacation rentals are a great way to charge guests for more by giving them more. Travelers looking for a unique vacation will pay top dollar to have an experience of a lifetime.

General themes for an Airbnb can focus on interior design and decor, sports, movies, and pop culture. Themed vacation rentals hook potential guests in a way an average rental can’t. When guests look to book a rental for their vacation, they try to stay within their comfort zone. This can often be something similar to their current home or dream home. Your themed Airbnb is supposed to recreate their dream vacation – or experience.

Guests looking for more of an adventure will want an out-of-the-box Airbnb-themed experience. These vacation rentals take a theme to the next level by providing the ultimate experience for their guests.

Popular vacation rental themes include but are not limited to:

A themed property is always good for hosts who want to offer something more than an average Airbnb experience. With your theme, you can sell additional care or welcome packages, celebratory boxes or baskets, or tickets and passes to related local events. Additional services to sell to your guests can include transportation like ride share to and from local attractions. This can become a good opportunity to increase your profitability while providing guests with a more satisfying stay.

Luxury Comfort

With add-on services for your Airbnb, you’ll want to consider which types of services will differentiate your vacation rental business. Luxury comfort is a highly valued selling proposition for an Airbnb business.

Create a luxurious vacation rental experience by providing guests with high-end features:

On-property sauna
Rainfall showerheads and jetted tubs
Designer shampoos, lotions, face masks, or body scrubs
Bathrobes and slippers for a spa treatment
High thread count or silk sheets
Tempur-Pedic or memory foam mattresses
Living room furniture designed for optimal comfort
Indoor and/or outdoor gym
High-end patio furniture with outdoor firepit
Install a swimming pool and/or hot tub

Remember that a luxurious experience goes beyond physical amenities; it’s also about creating a welcoming and attentive atmosphere that makes guests feel valued and cared for.

A Pet-Friendly Property

Are you interested in hosting a pet-friendly Airbnb property?

Offering enticing add-on services tailored to pet owners can make your listing stand out and attract a broader range of guests. Beyond providing a comfortable stay, consider these add-on services to create an exceptional experience for both guests and their furry companions:

Pampered Pet Packages: Offer specialized pet amenities like cozy beds, treats, and toys upon arrival, ensuring pets feel as welcome as their human counterparts.
Pet-Sitting Services: Partner with local pet sitters to give guests the option for a worry-free outing, knowing their pets are in good hands.
Pet Grooming and Spa Treatments: Collaborate with local groomers to offer grooming and spa services, ensuring pets leave looking and feeling their best.
Pet-Friendly Adventures: Curate lists of pet-friendly parks, hiking trails, and cafes to help guests and their pets explore the local area together.
Pet Photography Sessions: Connect guests with pet photographers for memorable vacation keepsakes capturing the bond between pets and their owners.
Pet Training Workshops: Offer on-site or online workshops with professional trainers, giving guests the chance to enhance their pets’ skills.
Pet-Friendly Dining Options: Provide a list of nearby restaurants with outdoor seating where guests and their pets can enjoy a meal together.
Pet Concierge Services: Assist guests with pet-related needs, such as locating nearby veterinary clinics or pet supply stores.
Pet Yoga or Exercise Classes: Host pet yoga sessions or exercise classes, ensuring both pets and owners stay active and healthy during their stay.
Pet Birthday Parties: Organize pet birthday celebrations with themed decorations and pet-friendly treats for a memorable occasion.

By offering these add-on services, you’re not only catering to pet owners’ needs but also differentiating your property in a competitive market. Tailor your offerings to align with your property’s strengths and local resources, ensuring an unforgettable experience for every guest, furry or not. As you welcome pets and their owners, these thoughtful services can pave the way for increased bookings and positive reviews.

Mid-Stay Cleanings

Offering mid-stay cleanings as an add-on service enhances the quality of your Airbnb hosting in several ways. It ensures that guests experience consistent comfort and cleanliness throughout their stay, which leads to higher guest satisfaction and positive reviews. Mid-stay cleanings also refresh the space, making it more inviting and enjoyable for longer-term guests.

Additionally, this service allows you to proactively address any concerns and maintain the property’s condition. By providing an option that aligns with guest needs, you demonstrate a commitment to exceptional service, increasing repeat bookings and referrals while maximizing revenue from this valuable and convenient add-on service.

Special Services

Offering add-on services to Airbnb guests is a strategic move that elevates your hosting game. These extras not only boost your revenue but also set you apart in a competitive market.

Tailor services to diverse guest needs, creating a personalized and memorable stay:

Airport pick-up and drop-off
Grocery delivery
Bike or scooter rentals
Recommend childcare services
Laundry or dry cleaning
Transportation services

When having add-on services for your Airbnb, think beyond providing a place to stay. Personalized and value-added services catered directly to your guests’ preferences will transform their visit into a memorable experience.

Maximize Your Revenue With Airbnb Add-on Services

Whether or not you qualify to host an Airbnb experience, give your guests more through add-on services.

Boost your guest experience with a consistently cleaned and maintained property. Hire a professional Airbnb cleaner to ensure quality control and improved cleanliness ratings. Connect with a reliable and affordable turnover specialist on Turno’s cleaner marketplace. Through our web and mobile app, you can automate your cleaning schedules and guarantee a clean environment for your guests. This gives you time to provide profitable add-on services or to focus on your one-on-one Airbnb experiences.