Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky: Cleaning Fees, NYC, and AI — Full Video
Photo Credit: Brian Chesky joined the 2023 Skift Global Forum via livestream. Skift / Skift
Skift Take
Brian Chesky has big plans for Airbnb, with a vision that essentially reimagines the platform in its next generation. And he plans to be around for at least a couple more decades to see it all through.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky last week discussed the hot topic of cleaning fees, primarily as it relates to the short-term rental company's plans to move toward upfront pricing.
He detailed those plans and many others during a session at the Skift Global Forum moderated by Skift CEO Rafat Ali.
Among the other topics discussed: The legal battle in New York City, the future return of Airbnb experiences, user profiles, the integration of AI, creating a travel community, and Chesky's career plans.
Watch the full video of Chesky's interview below.
Interview TranscriptRafat Ali: Hey Brian, how are you?
Brian Chesky: Hey, how you doing?
Ali: Good. Well, I'm sorry you're not here in person. I know we've been doing this for a few years now and I hope to see you next year in person as well, but I know you're there for a very important reason.
Chesky: Yeah. Hey everyone, sorry I couldn't be there. I try to make an annual habit now to be with you in New York. I had a big trip to Europe. I am in Turin, Italy. I was in Europe, I was in Paris, and then I'll later be in Milan. And the reason why is because as you know, we have a really big business in Europe and now that we're in this post-pandemic period, it's now more easy for me to travel and get around, and I wanted to really visit our local offices. I went to Paris. The Olympics are coming in 2024. We're estimating over half a million people will stay in Airbnbs over a three week period, so we're working really hard with them. Here in Italy, it's one of our biggest markets. I came, I spoke for Italian Tech Week, so I think I'm going to make a habit of trying to get out into the communities because Airbnb is an incredibly global company. We're probably, by some measures, maybe one of the most global travel companies. We're not a European dominant business. We're not a North American dominant business. We're pretty much widely distributed across the world.
Ali: And is Paris still the biggest city where people come and stay? Because I remember that was the case pre-Covid.
Chesky: Yeah, Paris is the number one city in the world and we are expecting it to become even larger because of the Olympics, and one of the things that happens is events are one of the biggest reasons that Airbnb grows. Deloitte did a survey that said 20% of Parisians are interested in putting their home up on Airbnb for the Olympics. So it's already o
