Power Struggles in Travel: Airbnb’s Services Backlash & the Corporate Booking Revolt

We tackle two major flashpoints: the growing host rebellion over Airbnb’s new ‘Services’ feature, and why corporate travel managers are ditching outdated booking systems in favour of smarter, streamlined solutions.

Airbnb’s ‘Services’ Feature: More Add-ons, Less Autonomy?

Airbnb recently launched its much-hyped ‘Services’ feature, offering guests seamless add-ons like private chefs, massages, and fitness sessions—but the rollout has hit a nerve with the host community.

🔥 The Issue:

• Services are auto-enabled by default, catching many hosts off guard.

• Hosts must now coordinate third-party vendors, often without being consulted.

• Airbnb doesn’t offer revenue sharing for these added services, yet hosts bear the burden of managing logistics, access, and insurance risks.

Some hosts describe the move as “digital sharecropping,” a term popularized by Truvi CEO Humphrey Bowles, referring to platforms extracting increasing value from users while giving them minimal control or compensation in return.

Forums are lighting up with questions like:

• “How do I push direct bookings and bypass this?”

• “Who’s liable if something goes wrong with a third-party provider?”

• “Why didn’t Airbnb ask before auto-enabling this?”

🧭 The Bigger Question:

Airbnb built its brand on host-guest trust and authenticity. But by layering in commercial services without opt-in transparency, it risks eroding that foundation.

Yes, Airbnb offers a referral bonus for introducing service providers—but many say that’s not enough. What hosts want is:

• Curation rights over who provides services at their property

• Revenue sharing models that recognise their operational role

• A true opt-in model—not just damage control settings after the fact

This backlash reveals deeper tensions in the platform economy: Who creates the value, and who controls the experience?

Corporate Travel Tools Are Breaking—and Users Are Done Waiting

Meanwhile, in the world of business travel, a new GBTA survey paints a bleak picture of how corporate travel platforms are failing users.

✈️ What the Survey Found:

• Over 50% of travel buyers say their systems can’t easily handle ticket exchanges, refunds, or real-time availability.

• Tools like SAP Concur are being labeled “outdated” and “clunky,” leading to an increase in out-of-policy bookings as employees turn to consumer-grade apps.

This frustration is fuelling the rise of platforms like Navan, which offer an all-in-one travel experience that includes:

• Real-time inventory access

• Integrated expense and payment management

• A sleek, consumer-grade interface with built-in admin oversight

Corporate travellers no longer accept slow, siloed tools. They expect:

• Speed and simplicity, like they get from Booking.com or Google Flights

• Integration across teams and systems

• Flexible support that works in real-world scenarios—not just ideal workflows

The takeaway? Just like Airbnb’s host controversy, enterprise travel tech is facing a trust and control crisis. Users are pushing back on platforms that overreach or underdeliver.

Takeaways for STR Professionals

Whether you’re managing a holiday home or working with corporate travel clients, these two stories highlight a shared theme: tech platforms must serve the people who drive value—not just the bottom line.

✅ For Hosts Responding to Airbnb’s ‘Services’ Feature:

• Review your settings immediately—opt out if it doesn’t align with your business

• Educate guests on what you offer directly, especially via your own website

• Consider offering curated add-ons only through direct bookings, where you control the experience and keep the revenue

✅ For Those Eyeing Business Travel Opportunities:

• Stay alert to corporate needs: fast Wi-Fi, self-check-in, and expense receipts are now baseline

• If you’re near business hubs, advertise on channels that appeal to corporate bookers

• Offer longer stays and flexible check-in/check-out to cater to hybrid workers and travelling teams

Final Thought: Platforms Must Earn—Not Assume—Trust

Airbnb’s ‘Services’ controversy and the collapse of outdated business travel tools both send the same message: users are no longer passive participants. They want transparency, flexibility, and a fair share of value creation.

As a host or property manager, your power lies in owning your experience. Platforms may change, but trust, autonomy, and direct guest connection are your best long-term strategy.