Airbnb at Goldman Sachs conference: Chesky sees wider runway

On Tuesday, 08 September 2026, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky presented the company's growth strategy at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026. Chesky acknowledged the need to slow down at times to rebuild the platform in order to expand into hotels, services, experiences, car rentals, resort passes and longer-term rentals.

He compared the major technology rebuild to adding 10 floors to a one-story house, emphasizing that Airbnb is evolving from a focused marketplace into a broader travel and living platform.

Chesky stated that the goal is to turn Airbnb into a platform where users can plan many parts of a trip in one place, focusing on independent hotels and boutique properties to maintain its brand identity. The company's core business is still growing and approaching $100 billion in gross booking value, with nearly 90% of traffic coming directly or organically. Operating margins have remained around 35%, even as the company has invested heavily in growth.

International expansion, particularly in Asia and India, is a major focus for Airbnb. Localization, including local product design and payment providers, is crucial for success in these markets. In Japan, for example, users prefer a browse-based experience, while in India, local payment providers are essential. Chesky highlighted that the company's capital-light model and strong margins allow it to expand internationally without heavy spending on physical assets.

AI is playing a significant role in the company's operations, with nearly half of customer service tickets handled by AI systems and feature development increasing by 80% year over year. Chesky expects feature output to roughly double over time, providing a competitive advantage for the growing platform.