Airbnb launches virtual travel experiences
Amidst the lockdown, Airbnb announced that it will offer experiences that are digital and can be enjoyed from home so people who are practicing social distancing and staying at home can find activities to do remotely.
The new Airbnb Online Experiences offers activities like bartending and cooking classes, virtual bike tours, Korean makeup tutorials, fortune reading, comedy shows, and drawing lessons.
Experiences was put on pause after major cities began closing nonessential businesses due to the pandemic and traveling, in general, declined. But the company is hoping that the online-only relaunch might give those at home something to do while giving local hosts a new source of income while their usual tours are temporarily shuttered.
Airbnb has also partnered with local organisations around the world to curate Experiences for their communities to be able to learn a new skill while protecting their health.
In addition to classes and activities by local hosts, Airbnb has also partnered with a few organizations to offer free live activities catered toward elders who are at higher risks of contracting the virus to help them stay engaged while they are sheltering at home.
