Case Study: Airbnb

● Airbnb is an online platform that allows people to rent short term accommodation. This
ranges from regular people with a spare bedroom, to property management firms who
lease multiple rentals. However, the platform has expanded by partnering with car
rental services, restaurants, entertainment and tour sites, among others to become an
all-in-one travel site. They brand themselves as an online ‘travel community’, allowing
guests to have a local experience in exotic locations.

● The founders, Gebbia and Chesky determined they wanted to offer something for
some types of clients that was better than hotels in other ways, not simply when hotels
were fully occupied during major events. They concentrated on asking hosts about
their challenges and experiences, and eventually they were able to test fresh concepts
and enhance the platform sufficiently to reach product market fit.

● They changed their focus from making Airbnb a cheaper alternative for all passengers
and a more lucrative alternative to long-term rentals for property owners rather than
continuing to work on it as a substitute for hotels when they were full.

Product Management - IESC Career 2023

Case Study: Airbnb

Key Questions
● In this disruptive technology era (AI,
Metaverse), what would you suggest for
AirBnb products’ improvement?
● Based on previous answer, what is AirBnB’s
USP compared to competitors?

Product Management - IESC Career 2023

Product Strategy
Problem Statement/Market Need Solution and Unique Selling Point
Identify current market needs or problems that you What is your solution (product) for the problem?
want to solve

Customer Segment Unique Selling Point

Which segment (new or current) that the product will What makes it different from competitors?
serve?

Product Management - IESC Career 2023