Overview: What is Airbnb?
Founded in 2008, Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where people can belong through healthy travel that is local, authentic, diverse, inclusive and sustainable. Airbnb uniquely leverages technology to economically empower millions of people around the world to unlock and monetize their spaces, passions and talents to become hospitality entrepreneurs.
Airbnb’s accommodation marketplace provides access to 5+ million unique places to stay in more than 81,000 cities and 191 countries. With Experiences, Airbnb offers unprecedented access to local communities and interests through 15,000+ unique, handcrafted activities run by hosts across 1,000+ markets around the world. Airbnb’s people-to-people platform benefits all its stakeholders, including hosts, guests, employees and the communities in which it operates.
Ref.01: Airbnb Official Site
Story: The first Airbnb experience
I used Airbnb in Chicago, IL in May 2015. It was a great experience. I had a conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago, Arlington Heights. Many attendants stayed at the Hilton, but I wanted to stay at a local house. I wanted to see local people and experience the local atmosphere. Honestly, I was so scared about Chicago and Airbnb. In my image, Chicago equals gun violence (sorry Chicagoan). I was not sure whether I could walk the street at night or not.
I got to the station which was near the accommodation, but I lost my way. I asked it to pedestrian and everyone was so kind. Friday night in Chicago was so gorgeous. I saw an American lady who wore a party dress and it looked like a movie scene. if I stayed at the Hilton, I would have never known that kind of environment. The reason why I really like Airbnb.
Analyze: How different?
Before
After
I don’t know the story of the previous logo. I feel the previous logo has more travel, air, sky, and active feeling. I am sure that Brian Chesky created it. It’s a very different direction compared to the current logo. The current logo has more kindness, hospitality, and a safe feeling.
This transformation displays the value of branding. If you are in the early stage of a business, you don’t need to spend money on branding too much. Use the money for marketing and customer acquisition. Sales first and once you create a positive cash flow, you can spend $100K for branding. An impression will be swiped.
After I watched the video, I liked the design approach. The elements compose the logo, people, place, love, and Airbnb. To be honest, I little uncomfortable at logomark. It comes from vertical long or 2 straight shape lines. I feel it can be improved somehow.
When I watched an own-brand typeface, Airbnb Cereal, I couldn’t imagine Airbnb. Because Airbnb uses a different font for wordmark. For example, Uber uses Uber Move for wordmark and the typeface is directory connected to the Uber identity. It is not always necessary for the same typeface. However, the wordmark and Airbnb Cereal are totally different gothic font. What do you think?
Opinion: Solving a social problems
What I’m impressed:
– Parents who grew up a child has a couple of empty rooms after child left home. Airbnb fills in the emptiness.
– Ordinary people included me are thinking why a hotel is so expensive. We don’t want to pay over $100 per night.
– Visiting downtown is not precious experience for travel. Interacting with local people is the true value of travel.
Airbnb solves these social issues. Hence, it’s no doubt to expand a business globally. Bloomberg Technology sais, Airbnb will IPO (Initial Public Offering) next year and it has a potential value for over billion dollars. I don’t be surprised it. Because Airbnb provides a great customer experience.
Branding itself, I didn’t impress so much. However, I like the way to communicate with people. Airbnb sales an magazine, airbnbmug. I cannot measure the magazine’s value for business or branding. However, recently, brick and motors are came back in the business. A company tried to provide not only an online shop experience but physical experience as well. It maybe needs a human life.
Anyway, I cannot help waiting for the next update at Airbnb near future.
Recap: What did I learn?
1. A video amplifies a brand story.
2. A simple and clear message. One word is strong.
3. Cultivate fans through a good customer experience.
Airbnb in 2022
Update: February 9th, 2022
During the pandemic, 2020-2021, Airbnb got huge damage. COVID is an unavoidable event for all businesses. The economy has high and low and history tells us, 2001, 2009, 2014, etc. In other words, this is a great opportunity to restructure the corporation if they have enough cash to survive.
One of the great business ideas on Airbnb is that they don’t have their own inventory. Airbnb is a platform(marketplace) that connects buyers and sellers. This is the difference from WeWork and makes Airbnb’s business relatively stable.
According to the interview with Bloomberg Technology, people are moving from city to city. People are working at Airbnb and stay long. After COVID, the demand for Airbnb is bouncing. I don’t see a situation in which I cannot find Airbnb in the city, Toronto, Montreal, Seattle, etc. I tried to work in Toronto in January 2022. I could change my feelings in a different city, but I don’t think it’s easy to work in a different time zone. I don’t know how people manage it.
I sometimes face the situation where an Airbnb’s owner automates the check-in and check-out. I don’t see the owner even 1 time. I can stay there, but I cannot say that it’s a great user experience. I use Airbnb for 2 weeks. Based on the cost performance, Airbnb is better than a hostel, but Craigslist can be better for a 1-month rent. The cost is relatively the same, around $700-$800.
I used Airbnb often as a digital nomad, and occasionally local hostel. It depended on the price.
🌎 Digital Nomad as a Freelance Web/Graphic Designer in Vancouver, Canada
🌎 Digital Nomad 101 as a Freelance Web/Graphic Designer in Montreal, Canada
🌎 Digital Nomad 201 as a Freelance Web/Graphic Designer in Toronto, Canada
🌎 Digital Nomad 301 as a Freelance Web/Graphic Designer in Los Angeles, California
🌎 Digital Nomad 401 as a Freelance Web/Graphic Designer in San Francisco, California
I like this CTA, flexible.
CEO as Designer
©Figma
I can find a lot of interview content featuring Brian Chesky on YouTube. However, this particular interview is somewhat unique. In it, he discusses the role of a CEO as a designer. It reminds me that I need to adopt a certain mindset. Being a freelance web/graphic designer isn’t difficult, and providing design services isn’t a bad thing. However, there’s a different dimension to life as an entrepreneur. I may not know the specific problem I want to solve in the world just yet, but I’m determined to keep looking and not settle.
Airbnb in 2023
Update: October 30, 2023
After COVID, people are experiencing financial strain. As interest rates rise, grocery prices increase, mortgage costs go up, and ultimately, rents go up. However, if landlords opt for short-term rentals (which often yield higher prices than long-term leases), local residents may struggle to find affordable housing. Consequently, New York City changed the law.
The Short-Term Rental Registration Law requires hosts to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement (OSE). Booking platforms like Airbnb must not process unregistered rentals. Penalties apply for non-compliance. The law took effect on March 6, 2023, with final rules published on February 3, 2023. OSE will work with booking platforms starting September 5, 2023, to ensure compliance.
The City of Vancouver is also discussing short-term rent.
Vancouver’s short-term rental rules protect long-term rentals and require operators to have a business license with their number in listings. Strata approval or landlord permission is needed before applying.
You may not be the owner, but these registration fees will be triggered to increase the Airbnb fee.
City of Vancouver: Short-term rental business license
Reference:
airbnbmag: See the world through a local lens
GetPaidYourPad: The Airbnb Founder Story: From Selling Cereals To A $25B Company
