Airbnb's Jay Carney on Icons and the impact of New York's regulations
Airbnb's latest round of product rollout includes its Icons category, which showcases experiences such as a living room performance by Grammy-winning artist Doja Cat or an overnight hosted by Bollywood royalty Janhvi Kapoor in India. Hotels editor Christina Jelski got an update on the company's latest chapter from Jay Carney, Airbnb's head of global policy and communications.
Q: Airbnb has occasionally offered limited-edition themed stays in the past, such as a Barbie's Malibu DreamHouse experience or a Shrek's Swamp stay in the Scottish Highlands. How does the Icons category build on that?
A: We've seen with these experiences, like the Barbie house or Shrek house, that these kinds of things tap into a level of excitement that brings people to Airbnb. There's a lot of attention just because of how unlikely and wonderful they are. And the excitement around it is bigger than just the opportunity to experience the stay.
We'll have such a variety of Icons, with new drops coming regularly, so there's always going to be a reason to come back and see which ones might be most appealing to you. Icons are a way of really getting people excited about the idea that Airbnb is more than just a place to stay.
Q: What's the process for booking an Icon experience?
A: They'll come online, and people are able to request a booking. They go from a high of about $97 all the way to $0. So, they're very affordable. The selection process is designed to be fair, so that everyone who requests to book is truly part of the process.
Q: How has Airbnb seen travel demand patterns evolve over the past few years?
A: We saw during the pandemic this dispersal of travel, as people were getting away from city centers and out to more rural, remote areas, which was a great way for people to explore all that Airbnb has to offer. We've seen a return to urban travel, but people didn't forget the great experience they had going to a place outside of traditional centers of tourism.
