The world’s largest short -term rental app Airbnb is changing its site and app in order to please users. The tech company announced last week that it is expanding its search for rental listings, adding several new categories including “chef’s kitchens” and “historical homes” to its current listings, Associated Press reported.
The company also stated that users will be able to book split stays between homes and it will ensure new protections for renters to compensate users tricked by false advertising on the app.
According to Airbnb, those changes will help users find listings that they didn’t know existed before and expand the location offers to places people have never thought to stay. The company said that doing that is contributing to controlling overtourism in popular destinations.
As the summer season approaches and the company expects to see a large number of people looking for short time rentals, those changes are seen as necessary to meet the high demand expected over the next few weeks. As AP reported, the company forecast that second-quarter revenue would exceed $2 billion, above analysts’ previous expectations. Nights and experiences booked in the first quarter topped 100 million for the first time in the company’s history.
Airbnb’s new list will feature 56 categories on its app including proximity to attractions such as a beach, to an activity like skiing or surfing, or by the style of home.
As for the split-stay option, the company explains that people will be able to book two different homes in the same area on one trip or rent two different places in one category, such as two separate national parks on the same trip.
For those who are fooled by false advertising on the app, Airbnb also said all bookings will include a promise of finding a similar or better home or a refund if the host cancels a booking within 30 days of check-in or the listing falls short of promises, such as having fewer bedrooms than advertised.