Journeys connects travellers to local influencers
"During the first two weeks of December, we’re piloting a new Airbnb experience: handcrafted trips," says the global travel website of its latest Journeys venture. “We’re extending a limited number of invitations to friends of friends and travellers who are excited to explore the city of San Francisco in an entirely new way – with the locals who live here.”

The move signals a change of direction for Airbnb, which is known primarily as a website for people to list, find, and rent lodging around the globe. These far more bespoke trips promise to give users a far more personal experience – one package offers to connect travellers with San Francisco’s finest bakers, while another guarantees you’ll meet locals that have 'strong opinions on where to get the best burrito'.

This shift in strategy for Airbnb comes as no surprise to Protein. In our recent Travel Report, we published a trend briefing on travellers who are increasingly seeking authenticity in their adventures. Today, millennials increasingly no longer want to spend their holidays in luxury hotels. They want to experience another lifestyle completely with a local they can trust, be it through services like Journeys or a host of travel new apps.