As COVID-19 immunization programs roll out acround the world, folks are keen to finally take that vacation they cancelled last year. And with great excitement comes great flexibility.
People don’t seem to care when or where they travel—they just want to get out of their house and see somewhere that isn’t the local supermarket or park. According to Airbnb, more than one-third of searches so far in 2021 have been flexible in terms of the date or location.
“We believe these shifts will continue even after the pandemic fades, and that for those with new flexibility to choose their dates, travel will increasingly become a way of life,” a company blog post explains.
Enter Flexible Dates, a new feature that allows guests to search for homes “in a whole new way.” Instead of selecting exact dates, try looking for a weekend getaway, week-long vacation, or even months-long stays. The idea is to make your trip fit your schedule, not the other way around.
“It’s no surprise COVID-19 continues to change the way we travel,” the blog said. Following last year’s platform redesign, the Flexible Dates feature “aligns with a broader shift” in how people will travel in the future. “The traditional travel industry was built around fixed destinations with fixed dates in mind,” the firm added, “but that model no longer meets the needs of today’s travelers.”
Like many companies, the vacation rental platform was hit hard by the global pandemic. In April, Airbnb extended its cancellation policy and earmarked $250 million to help cover host losses. A month later, the service laid off a quarter of its workforce, citing plummeting demand for tourism during the coronavirus crisis.
A digital version of Airbnb’s unique activities, however, allowed hosts to keep earning and guests to keep learning. Launched last spring, Online Experiences invites people to virtually meditate with Buddhist monks, visit the dogs of Chernobyl, and cook with a Moroccan family via Zoom.
