Airbnb has launched a new program called Trips to transform itself into a travel company, marking the most significant expansion since the company was founded eight years ago as a home- and apartment-renting service.
The company's Chief Executive Brian Chesky kicked off a three-day event in Los Angeles at which he said Airbnb would offer travellers the opportunity to create itineraries for hours or days that afford a more authentic local experience.
"If you want to travel, you basically end up on a research project," Chesky said. "We want to fix this."
The services are available now as an upgrade to the Airbnb app in 12 cities and will be in more than 50 cities next year, Chesky said.
The travel service could help Airbnb move away from being strictly a home-rental business and to justify its $US30 billion ($A40 billion) valuation that far exceeds the worth of any hotel company.
It also dovetails with a campaign the company launched earlier this year to encourage travellers to skip the big tourist sites and hotels, opting instead to live like locals when abroad.
The travel service comes as the company faces regulatory crackdowns around the world, as cities like New York, Amsterdam and Berlin work to limit short-term rentals that hinder housing stock in tight rental markets.
Last month, New York Govenor Andrew Cuomo signed a law that would place new regulations on online home rental companies like Airbnb.
