Airbnb Experiences Discovery Redesign: From Long Lists to Contextual Journeys

Design · 7 min read

Airbnb redesigned Experiences discovery around curated journeys—multi-session suggestions that align activities by theme (food tours, beginner surf, night photography). Each journey bundles experiences into a time-boxed itinerary with suggested combinations and logistics negotiated upfront with hosts.

Trust was addressed with curator badges and micro-profiles that surface a host's repeated itinerary performance, cancellation rates, and participant reviews for that specific journey. The UI also added a 'local picks' layer that surfaces experiences chosen by verified local curators rather than algorithmic popularity alone.

From product metrics the bundled journeys increased average booking value and reduced last-minute cancellations because expectations and logistics were clarified. Design takeaway: bundling local experiences with curator provenance and clear logistics reduces friction and raises customer confidence in atypical travel moments.