Airbnb's rekindled push into luxury is its latest revival of initiatives dropped during the pandemic. Among them, Airbnb has expanded its hotels and experiences businesses, and frequently says that it will eventually debut flights.

What Changed: Chesky told hosts Airbnb is rebuilding Luxe; qualification standards are already circulating.

Who it Impacts: Upscale hosts and property managers, luxury villa specialists, advisors, and resort hotel teams.

What to Watch: Launch timing, Luxe supply size, whether a service layer returns, and how homes rank against hotels.

The question of how homes rank against hotels is a supply and capital question, and in the Gulf that capital is moving fastest.

Skift Global Forum East puts the hotel CEOs, tourism ministers, and capital allocators shaping the region's next hospitality development cycle in one room in Abu Dhabi, December 8-9.

SPONSORED · ARDA

Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) runs about 3,800 owner events a year, and at Skift Global Forum, ARDA and HGV leaders explained how exclusive access is turning vacation ownership into a younger, experience-driven business.

Source: Skift Research’s State of Travel 2026

U.S. loyalty members are most likely to switch programs for higher point-earning rates, while European members put more appealing rewards first.

We take a closer look at the carrier's business plan and ask if its long-haul strategy could bear fruit.