Airbnb is testing a service that lets guests order groceries through Instacart, At first glance this might not seem like a big deal, since guests may already be using a grocery app to keep the house stocked with snacks during their stay, However, this service can be used by customers before their stay,
This means that people can prepare for, say, a barbecue or similar event ahead of time. I can see this being quite useful during some holidays. That duty falls to the hosts, who must actually put the groceries away.
Airbnb will give hosts $25 for each completed order, as long as they place the food before guests arrive. Of course, guests can order groceries through Instacart during their stay, although they will have to carry them themselves. Customers will be allowed to place Instacart orders up to three weeks before their stay.
The pilot program starts on January 5 and Airbnb will test it for three months to see how guests and hosts respond. It will be open to “select hosts” across the US in areas like Phoenix, Orlando and Los Angeles.
This is the latest unique integration for Airbnb. The platform teamed up with ChargePoint last year to offer hosting. This is an attempt to entice hosts to install chargers on the premises.