Airbnb (ABNB) is a technology platform for individuals to rent out their primary residences as lodgings for travelers. Renters typically seek accommodations with a homey feelthat hotels cannot provide, whilemost hosts want to rent out their homes to supplement their income.
As a conduit between hosts and travelers, Airbnb provides an established marketplace platform where both hosts and travelers can safely exchange goods and services. In a peer-to-peer model such as Airbnb, an in-depth review system adds value to prospective hosts and guests looking to accommodate their lodging needs. In online marketplaces, participants trust reviews, allowing individuals to safely choose quality products rather than purchasing lemons.
Airbnb has 6.6 million active listings in more than 200 countries. The platform has over 4 million hosts and has welcomed more than 1.4 billion guests.
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb connects travelers seeking affordable lodgings with hosts who offer their properties as short-term rentals.
- The company operates in over 200 countries and has 6.6 million listings.
- The company charges its host and guests a percentage in fees to earn revenues.
- In Q1 2023, the highest contributor to revenue was the North America segment but the Asia Pacific segment saw the highest growth in revenues year-over-year (YOY).
- In May 2023, the company launched its "Summer Release" which includes new features as well as "Airbnb Rooms"; a new and affordable option for bookings.
Airbnb's Financials
The primary source of Airbnb’s revenue comes from service fees from bookings charged to both guests and hosts. Depending on the size of the reservation, guests are required to pay a non-refundable service fee based on the type of listing—usually under14.2%.
A more expensive reservation results in lower service fees for guests because families or groups with larger reservations can save money for other travel expenses.
Hosts are also charged a 3% fee with every completed booking to cover the processing of guest payments. This fee may be higher for Airbnb Plus listings. When a reservation is booked, guests pay the service fee—unless the host cancels or retracts the listing. If the reservation is altered, Airbnb adjusts service fees to accommodate users.
Revenue for Q1 2023 grew 20.5% to $1.8 billion. Revenue growth is attributable to "a 19% increase in Nights and Experiences Booked of 19 million driving a 19% increase in Gross Booking Value of $3.2 billion. The growth in revenue demonstrated the continued strong travel demand."
The company had a net income of $117 million for Q1 2023. A significant improvement compared to the net loss of $19 million in Q1 2022. This is primarily due to interest income earned from the higher rate environment.
Airbnb's Business Segments
Airbnb breaks down its revenue by geography, with four reported regions. They are (1) North America, (2) Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, (3) Latin America, (4) and Asia Pacific. The company does not provide income figures for each region.
The company also uses two key metrics to "measure performance, identify trends, formulate financialprojections, and make strategic decisions." These two metrics are Nights and Experiences Booked and Gross Booking Value and are directly related to each other.
In Q1 2023, Nights and Experiences grew to $121.1 million from $102.1 million; an 18.6% increase. Gross Booking Value, therefore, was also an 18.6% increase from $17.2 billion to $20.4 billion.
North America
For Q1 2023, the North America segment reported revenue of $925 million; a 12.5% increase. This segment contributes 50.9% to Airbnb's total revenue.
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
The Europe, Middle East, and Africa segment brought in revenue of $458 million for Q1 2023; a 22.8% increase year-over-year (YOY). This segment contributed 25.2% to the company's total revenue.
Latin America
The Latin America segment brought in revenue of $235 million to Airbnb, which was a 32% increase YOY. The segment contributed 12.9% to total revenue.
Asia Pacific
The Asia Pacific segment saw an increase in revenue of 47% to $200 million. Though this segment saw the greatest increase in revenue YOY year, it is still the smallest contributor to Airbnb's total revenue, making up 11% of total revenue.
Airbnb's Recent Developments
On May 3, 2023, Airbnb launched its "Summer Release." Part of this release includes the launch of Airbnb Rooms, which is an "all-new take" on the original Airbnb, designed to take the company back to its roots. Airbnb Rooms is an affordable way to travel, with an average nightly cost of $67. Eighty percent of Airbnb Rooms are under $100 a night.
Other features of the new launch include a Host Passport, total price display, new pricing tools for hosts, transparent checkout instructions, more flexibility to pay, and more affordable monthly stays.
