How to Host Airbnb Experiences, and Why They're Worth It

Key Takeaways

• Airbnb Experiences are unique, hands-on activities hosted by locals, offering travelers insider access to a destination.
• Airbnb takes a 20% commission on each Airbnb Experience booking.
• You must meet Airbnb’s three pillars to become an Experience host: expertise, insider access, and connection.

Making money from Airbnb hosting doesn’t have to be all about the hustle—it can be fun, too. 

Whether you're a whiz in the kitchen, a history buff, or just know all the coolest spots in town, there's money to be made from Airbnb Experiences. Not only will you wow your guests, you’ll open up a whole new revenue source. 

The best part? Airbnb just relaunched their Experiences after putting it on pause for over a year. That means you're jumping in at the perfect time, with fewer competitors and an improved platform that’s ready to help you succeed.

What Is an Airbnb Experience?

Airbnb Experiences are designed to give travelers a deeper connection to the destination they’re visiting. Unlike traditional sightseeing or tour company services, these activities or tour guiding are led by locals who provide an insider’s perspective that is more personal and authentic. Individuals who want to host an Airbnb Experience must apply.

There are many kinds of Experiences. Potential Airbnb Experiences Hosts can choose from 11 themes and countless subthemes:

• Animals: beekeeping, horseback riding class or tour, whale watching, marine line, rescue animal, birdwatching, farm animal, pet, wildlife
• Culture, society, and science: science class, cultural festival, volunteering, cultural dancing, talk; culture, factory, social cause, or office tour; and politics, science, social cause, or culture talk.
• Entertainment: fireworks, comedy, gaming, movies/TV/radio, nightlife, supernatural, circus, dance, magic, music, sporting event, theater
• History and literature: history museum tour, history or literature tour, writing class, literature reading, storytelling
• Sightseeing, shopping, and transportation: boat, cycling, helicopter, scooter, hot air balloon, or plane tour; museum, shopping, photography, sightseeing, or walking tour; flight lesson, or car ride.
• Wellness: beauty, bodywork, divination, holistic health, mindfulness, mindset, spa, and yoga
• Art and design: architectural, street art, or art museum tour; art exhibit, photoshoot; art, crafts, graphic design, photography, interior design, fashion, or visual design class.
• Drink: beer, coffee, sake, spirits, wine, tea
• Food: cooking and food making, food tasting, food and market tours, social dining
• Nature and outdoors: backpacking, hiking, plants and agriculture, nature and ecology tour, camping, natural sciences and environmental causes.
• Sport: team sports, combat sports, mountain sports, snow sports, adrenaline sports, outdoor sports, water sports, and fitness.

Experiences don’t necessarily fall into just one category, either—you can choose up to two themes when you’re submitting an application.

Why Host an Airbnb Experience?

For hosts, Airbnb Experiences offers a powerful way to diversify their income and reach a large audience with minimal overhead. Experiences are flexible—you can adjust for seasonal demand, group sizes, and pricing strategies. With Airbnb’s 20% commission fees, which is often lower than rates on other platforms, hosting an experience can be a profitable addition to your business.

If you’re a beginner Airbnb host, Airbnb Experiences allows you to quickly build your reputation by creating memorable moments for guests. For seasoned hosts, Experiences open up a new revenue stream and help you stand out in a competitive market. 

Here are some more reasons to consider becoming an Airbnb Experiences host: 

• Boost income with minimal costs: Start earning extra revenue with experiences that require little upfront investment, using your existing skills or resources.
• Cross-sell to your rental guests: Offer exclusive discounts or packages to guests staying at your property, encouraging them to book both your experience and your rental.
• Earn more 5-star reviews: Guests who enjoy a complete travel experience (both a stay and an activity) are more likely to leave positive reviews, which can improve your booking rate and visibility in Airbnb search results.
• Scale with minimal effort: If you’re managing multiple properties or you’re short on time, you can partner with co-hosts who have the expertise in the activity you're offering. This lets you expand your experience offerings without adding to your workload. If you have more than one property in a single area, you can cross-promote your Airbnb experience across multiple listings. 
• Customize for seasonal demand: Adjust the frequency, pricing, and group sizes of your experiences to match local events or high-demand periods, ensuring you maximize profitability.
• Stand out from competitors: Offering both rentals and curated experiences makes your listing more appealing to travelers who are looking for an immersive experience.

Requirements for Becoming an Airbnb Experience Host

Airbnb Experience guidelines ensure that all Airbnb Experiences are high quality, safe, and compliant with local regulations. If you want to succeed as an Airbnb Experiences host, you and any co-hosts need to make sure you meet these standards before you apply. 

Airbnb Experience Host requirements

Your experience on Airbnb must meet these three essential criteria to get approved:

• Expertise: You need to show that you have in-depth knowledge or skill in the subject of your experience. This could be a specific talent, formal training, or years of practice. For instance, if you're offering cooking classes, your expertise should go beyond basic culinary skills—you should be able to share advanced techniques or regional recipes that set your experience apart.
• Insider access: Your experience should offer guests something they wouldn't typically find on their own. This could be access to a private location, an off-the-beaten-path local spot, or a unique cultural insight. Think of it as giving travelers a behind-the-scenes look into your world that goes beyond traditional tourist activities.
• Connection: Airbnb encourages hosts to foster meaningful interaction. Your experience should be engaging and interactive, giving guests the chance to connect with you and the local culture on a deeper level. Airbnb wants to see that you’ve taken into consideration how to serve guests with varying backgrounds and abilities, and how to help people from around the world connect while participating in your Airbnb Experience.

In addition to the three pillars, hosts must list as an individual, not a business. When you list as an individual, guests see your host photo and know exactly who will be hosting their experience (be it you or a co-host). 

Hosting an Airbnb Experience is not exclusive to Airbnb hosts, either. Experiences are part of the broader Airbnb marketplace and are not limited to short-term rental operators.

What activities are allowed for Airbnb Experiences? 

Certain types of activities are encouraged, while others are restricted. Here's a quick breakdown:

• Allowed:
• Hands-on workshops (e.g., photography, pottery)
• Guided tours (e.g., city walks, nature hikes)
• Cultural activities (e.g., traditional cooking, historical storytelling)
• Not allowed:
• Accommodations (unless it’s part of a multi-day Airbnb Adventure)
• Basic services (e.g., transport, tickets)
• Dangerous activities (e.g., bungee jumping, shark diving)
• Political activities (e.g., campaigning, fundraising)

Important hosting guidelines

To remain listed on Airbnb Experiences, you must follow these rules:

• No third-party providers: Either you or your co-host must personally lead the experience from start to finish—guests cannot be handed off to third-party providers. If you’re partnering with someone, add them as a co-host on Airbnb so guests know who will be hosting.
• Airbnb guests only: The experience must be exclusive to Airbnb guests for the specific date and time listed. 
• No minimum group size: Solo travelers must be welcome to book, no matter how small the group.
• Honor reservations: All confirmed bookings must be honored unless extreme circumstances arise (like dangerous weather).
• Maintain high ratings: Too many low-rated reviews (1-3 stars) may result in your experience being removed.

For a full breakdown of requirements, safety standards, and restricted activities, visit Airbnb’s Experience Hosting Requirements.

How to Host an Airbnb Experience: Steps to Get Started

As an Airbnb Experience Host, you can add a touch of magic to the guest experience. Here’s how to get started on creating your Airbnb Experiences offering: 

Brainstorm and develop your idea 

• Tap into your expertise: Think about the skills, knowledge, or connections that set you apart. Perhaps you aren’t an artist yourself, but maybe you’re a patron that can facilitate connections with local artists through your network.
• Offer something different: Guests choose Airbnb Experiences because they want access to places or insights they wouldn’t discover on their own. Perhaps you’re a street artist, and what sets your mural tour apart is the concluding hands-on workshop where guests can create their own artwork under your expert instruction.
• Focus on personalized experiences: Guests often want more than just facts—they want to feel like part of your world and to understand what sparks your passion.  If you own or have access to a winery, for example, let guests participate in the winemaking process and share the story behind your vineyard.

Craft an Airbnb Experience listing 

Once your idea is ready, you’ll need to create a listing that captures the attention of potential guests. 

Clearly outline the details of your experience. Your Experience page will include:

• What guests will do: Outline the specific plans from start to finish. Outline the duration of the experience, the location, and what makes the Experience stand out.
• About you: What makes you uniquely qualified to host this experience? For instance, instead of simply saying, "I love cooking Italian food" you could say, "I know how to make traditional pasta from scratch, using recipes passed down through generations."
• What you’ll provide: list any modes of transportation, special equipment, food or drinks that the experience includes.
• What guests need to bring: Specify what type of clothing they should wear, if applicable. Airbnb will automatically email guests these details when they book your Experience.
• Guest requirements: Specify any age minimum, skill level, or certifications needed to participate. 
• Title: Aim for conconcise yet descriptive. For example, "Explore Local Art and Create Your Own Masterpiece" is more engaging than "Art Workshop." 
• Photos: Include bright, inviting images of your experience in action—guests cooking, exploring, or learning. If possible, show yourself in the photos to help guests feel connected to you as their host.

Set up pricing 

Setting the right price and availability will make your experience more appealing and accessible to travelers. Research similar experiences in your area and price yours accordingly. Keep in mind that Airbnb takes a 20% commission, so factor that into your pricing. For example, if you’re offering a pottery class, consider the cost of materials, your time, and local market rates to set a competitive price that still makes a profit.

Airbnb allows you to set an individual rate as well as a minimum private group rate. Private group rates apply in instances where no other bookings have been made for that Experience date and time. You can also add discounts for different group sizes, which has the potential to incentivize more bookings.

As part of the application for hosting an Experience, Airbnb will walk you through the listing description, pricing set-up, and other settings. Once you submit your application, Airbnb reviews it to ensure it meets their quality standards and hosting requirements. Once you get approval and your Airbnb Experience is listed, you can start accepting reservations. 

Is Hosting an Airbnb Experience Right for You?

Hosting an Airbnb Experience is a great opportunity if:

• You have expertise to share, access to hidden gems, or simply love meeting new people. 
• You want to diversify your income without the hassle of managing more properties. 
• You enjoy crafting memorable experiences and want to stand out in your local market.
• You serve luxury or foreign travelers that are looking for immersive experiences. 

Plus, Airbnb Experiences give you the flexibility to scale—whether through co-hosts, expanding to multiple offerings, or tapping into different seasonal opportunities. With Airbnb’s built-in marketing and global reach, it’s a great way to grow your brand without the heavy overhead (plus, it’s just plain fun!). 

If you’re still not sure whether Airbnb Experiences are right for you, offering Airbnb concierge services is a great way to test the waters. Akin to the car service or room service available through hotel concierge, Airbnb concierge services can cover everything from grocery deliveries to airport shuttles. They’re a step down from Airbnb Experiences, requiring less facilitation than a full-fledged itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Airbnb Experience Host?

An Airbnb Experience Host offers unique, hands-on activities that showcase their skills or local knowledge, such as tours, workshops, or cultural experiences. Hosts design and lead the activity, providing guests with insider access and personal connections. The goal is to create memorable experiences beyond what tourists can typically find.

How much do Airbnb Experience Hosts make?

Host earnings vary depending on pricing, bookings, and Airbnb’s 20% commission fees. Most experiences are priced between $25–$150 per person, and a successful host can earn hundreds or even thousands per month. The more sessions or co-hosts you add, the higher your potential earnings.

When do Experience hosts get paid on Airbnb?

Hosts are paid 24 hours after the experience takes place. Payments are sent to your bank account or chosen payout method.