How to Host an Airbnb Experience

Modern travelers aren’t just looking for places to visit — they’re searching for moments that matter. They want experiences that immerse them in local culture, connect them with people and leave lasting memories.

Airbnb Experiences is the perfect platform for passionate individuals to bring these moments to life, sharing their unique skills and stories with the world.

But creating an unforgettable Airbnb Experience takes more than just a great idea. It’s about designing something truly special.

In this blog, we’ll explore how to turn your passion into a thriving Airbnb Experience. From the first steps to tips for success, you’ll learn everything you need to create an offering that delights guests and showcases your talents.

What is an Airbnb Experience?

Airbnb Experiences are host-led activities designed to immerse guests — whether it's a cooking class, a guided hike or even a virtual escape room.

Unlike standard typical tours or workshops, these experiences are personal, interactive and centered around your expertise.

The goal is simple: to give travelers a chance to experience something unique, connect with locals and walk away with unforgettable memories.

As an Airbnb Experience host on the Airbnb platform, you get to lead the way, sharing your knowledge, skills and passions with guests eager to dive into something new.

How Airbnb Experiences work

• Guests browse and book activities through Airbnb.

• Hosts set their own schedules, group sizes and prices.

• Airbnb charges a 20% commission fee per booking.

• You get paid directly after the experience takes place.

Since its relaunch in 2024, Airbnb has placed an even greater emphasis on affordable, unique and interactive offerings, making now the perfect time to join.

Why Host an Airbnb Experience?

Monetize your skills and passion

If you have a talent, hobby or area of expertise, why not turn it into a source of income? Whether it’s cooking, kayaking, painting or yoga, Airbnb Experiences allows you to transform your interests into a profitable side hustle or even a full-time business.

This is your chance to get paid for doing something you genuinely love. Plus, sharing your passion with others can reignite your enthusiasm and bring a fresh perspective to your craft.

Connect with people worldwide

Airbnb Experiences is a gateway to meeting people from all over the world. As an Airbnb experience host, you’ll interact with guests from different backgrounds and cultures, providing a unique chance to exchange ideas, stories and traditions.

Hosting allows you to build meaningful relationships and share your local knowledge, creating connections that can last long after the Experience ends.

For travelers, these moments are often the highlight of their trip and as a host, you’ll play a key role in making their journey memorable.

Flexibility

One of the biggest advantages of hosting an Airbnb Experience is the flexibility it offers. You have full control over your schedule, whether you want to host once a week, every month or during specific seasons.

This makes it easy to fit hosting into your lifestyle, even if you have other commitments.

Plus, you can tailor your Experience to the time of day or week that suits your audience best, giving you the freedom to create a setup that works for you.

Expand your reach

Airbnb provides access to a massive global audience, helping you showcase your expertise or activity to millions of potential guests.

If you’re already an Airbnb vacation rental host, offering an Experience can be a fantastic way to reach non-guests and diversify your earnings.

Even if travelers don’t book your property, they might still be interested in joining your Experience, broadening your overall reach and exposure.

Supportive platform

Airbnb takes care of the heavy lifting so you can focus on what you do best — hosting. They provide helpful tools for managing your listing, handling payments and promoting your Experience.

The platform also offers liability protection, covering up to $1 million for most activities, giving you peace of mind.

By handling the administrative aspects, Airbnb allows you to concentrate on delivering an amazing activity that your guests will love.

Types of Airbnb Experiences You Can Offer

Standout U.S. Experiences include forging a knife from a horseshoe in Washington, a glamorous mermaid photoshoot in San Diego, surviving like a castaway in Puerto Rico, running the "Rocky Steps" in Philadelphia and even learning fire-eating in Los Angeles.

The possibilities are endless — your creativity is your only limit. These Experiences cover a diverse range of activities, providing flexibility for hosts to tailor offerings to their expertise.

Offer unique ideas that stand out from the crowd. Activities can be conducted in person or online, allowing hosts to reach a global audience. Popular categories include:

• Food and drink: Host cooking classes, lead food tours to hidden local gems or offer wine and craft beer tastings with curated pairings.

• Art and craft: Teach pottery or painting, lead DIY crafting sessions or guide photography walks that help guests capture stunning visuals.

• Outdoor adventures: Organize guided hikes, kayaking or paddleboarding lessons or wildlife photography expeditions to explore nature.

• Culture and history: Share stories from your community, lead tours with historical insights or teach traditional music and dance.

• Virtual experiences: Reach guests worldwide with online cooking or art classes, virtual city tours or yoga and fitness sessions.

Requirements to Host an Airbnb Experience

Airbnb has a set of criteria to make sure every Airbnb Experience hits their high standards. To get approved, your Experience needs to meet these requirements:

Airbnb’s three pillars of quality

Expertise

You don’t have to be a professional, but you do need to know your stuff. Whether it’s local knowledge or a hobby you’re passionate about, make sure you can confidently share it with others.

Interactivity

Your Experience must actively involve guests, whether it’s hands-on participation or meaningful conversations.

Uniqueness

Offer something guests can’t easily find elsewhere. Airbnb is looking for personalized, one-of-a-kind activities — not cookie-cutter tours or generic workshops.

Plus, some activities like those involving food preparation or alcohol may require permits or adherence to local regulations.

Airbnb also prohibits certain activities, such as those involving sexual content, weapons or extreme sports without additional safety measures.

How to Create an Airbnb Experience Listing

To get started, you’ll need to create an Airbnb Experience listing on Airbnb. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the Airbnb Experiences platform

Go to Airbnb Experiences and log in. If you don’t already have an account, sign up to access the platform.

Step 2: Choose the type of Experience

Decide whether you’ll offer an in-person or online activity. Online Experiences also require a short demo video to showcase your offering.

Step 3: Fill out your listing

Provide detailed information about your Airbnb Experience, including:

• Title and description: Be clear, engaging and specific about what guests will do and why it’s special.

• What guests will do: Outline the itinerary and key highlights.

• What’s included: List any materials, tools or extras you’ll provide and what guests need to bring.

• Pricing: Set a fair price while considering Airbnb’s 20% service fee.

Step 4: Add photos

Photos are critical. Use high-quality images to showcase your activity, setting and personal style. Guests should be able to picture themselves enjoying the Experience.

Step 5: Submit for approval

Once you’ve completed your listing, submit it for Airbnb’s review. Approval usually takes about a week. If accepted, you can start hosting by adding availability to your calendar.

Important Things to Keep in Mind When Hosting An Airbnb Experience

Liability insurance

Airbnb provides liability coverage up to $1 million for hosts. However, this doesn’t cover extreme sports, property damage or theft. Depending on your activity, you may want to invest in additional insurance.

Permits and licenses

Certain activities (like those involving alcohol or food) may require permits. Be sure to research your local regulations and obtain any necessary documentation.

Guest minimums

Airbnb doesn’t enforce guest minimums, meaning you’ll need to run your Experience even if only one guest signs up. Keep this in mind when planning your activity.

Five Tips for Hosting a Successful Airbnb Experience

1. Be authentic

Authenticity is key to creating a meaningful connection with your guests. Let your unique personality and enthusiasm shine through in everything you do.

People love interacting with hosts who are genuinely passionate about their craft or knowledge.

Don’t be afraid to share personal anecdotes or explain why this experience is important to you — it’s those personal touches that make your activity memorable and engaging.

2. Focus on value

Your guests are looking for something special, so go the extra mile to provide value. Offer extras like insider access about your city, small keepsakes or behind-the-scenes insights into your activity.

For example, if you’re leading a cooking class, provide guests with a recipe card to take home.

Thoughtful gestures like these enhance the overall experience and make guests feel like they’re getting more than they expected.

3. Get quality reviews

Great reviews are the lifeblood of a successful Airbnb Experience. To earn glowing feedback, make sure your guests feel welcomed, engaged and well taken care of from start to finish.

Pay attention to small details — like greeting guests warmly, being punctual and following up with a thank-you message after the experience.

These little things can leave a lasting impression and encourage guests to share their positive experiences with others.

4. Promote your experience

While Airbnb’s platform does a lot to bring visibility to your Experience, self-promotion can amplify your reach even further.

Share your listing on your social media accounts, local community pages or relevant forums. If you have a personal website or blog, include a link to your Airbnb Experience there too.

Word-of-mouth can also work wonders. Encourage satisfied guests to recommend your activity to friends and family.

5. Stay organized

Organization is critical to running a smooth and stress-free Airbnb Experience. Use Airbnb’s calendar to keep track of bookings and block off unavailable dates.

Before each session, double-check that you have everything prepared, from materials to equipment. Create a checklist for your setup and take-down process to ensure consistency and efficiency.

Staying organized helps you focus on delivering a top-notch experience rather than worrying about last-minute hiccups.

Take the Leap!

Hosting an Airbnb Experience is more than just an opportunity to earn extra cash — it’s a chance to share your passion, connect with a global audience and make a lasting impact on travelers.

Whether you're sharing your expertise, exploring the great outdoors or offering an immersive cultural activity, you have the power to create something truly unique and memorable.

By incorporating popular tourist attractions in your area, you can make your Experience even more appealing, connecting visitors with the best your city or region has to offer.

Building a unique profile and following Airbnb’s experience guidelines, crafting a well-thought-out Experience and engaging authentically with your guests can turn your hobby or expertise into a rewarding endeavor.

With flexibility, global exposure, and support from Airbnb’s platform, there’s never been a better time to start hosting.

So, take the leap and let your passion lead the way!

FAQs

1. Do I need to own a vacation rental to host an Airbnb Experience?

No, you don’t need to own a vacation rental or even be an existing Airbnb host. Experiences are open to anyone with a unique activity or skill to share.

If you have a passion and meet Airbnb’s guidelines, you can apply to host an Experience, even if you don’t offer accommodation.

2. How much does Airbnb charge for hosting an Experience?

Airbnb charges a 20% commission on every booking. This fee covers the platform’s tools, payment processing, liability protection and access to a global audience.

Be sure to factor this into your pricing so you can still earn what you deserve.

3. What kind of activities are popular on Airbnb Experiences?

Experiences that are unique, interactive and hands-on are the most popular. Cooking classes, outdoor adventures, cultural tours and art workshops tend to attract a lot of guests.

The key is to offer something that showcases your expertise and can’t easily be found elsewhere.

4. What happens if my Experience doesn’t get approved?

If your Experience is not approved, Airbnb will typically provide feedback on why.

Use this as an opportunity to refine your idea or make adjustments to better align with their standards. You’re welcome to reapply once you’ve made improvements.

5. Can I cancel my Experience if I don’t get enough sign-ups?

Airbnb expects experienced hosts to honor all Airbnb bookings, even if only one guest signs up. However, you can set a maximum group size to ensure your Experience feels intimate and manageable.

Frequent cancellations could affect your listing visibility or result in penalties, so plan your schedules carefully.