Usually, in-person interactions between Airbnb hosts and guests are limited to things like handing off keys, or running into each other in the hallway if the host is staying in the home. Because let’s face it, you normally wouldn’t hang out with the concierge at the front desk of a hotel. But for those people looking for a more personal connection, the home-sharing service is looking into the idea of pairing guests with hosts for leisure activities during their stay, like going on tours and playing sports together.

Company co-founder and chief technology officer Nathan Blecharczyk told the BBC that because people seem cool with staying in the home of a stranger, which is a more intimate experience than say, an impersonal hotel room, there could be a demand for personal connections while traveling.

“What we’ve demonstrated is there’s an immense appetite to travel more authentically and immerse yourself in culture… as opposed to having a commoditized experience,” Blecharczyk told the BBC.

He says Airbnb hosts want to get in on the guests’ experiences in their cities, even with simple things like going on a bike ride on their favorite route, playing a game of Frisbee, or just you know, hanging out, like you do with your friends.

“…Connecting with real people having a good time, that’s something not currently available in the professionalized world of hospitality,” explains, adding that the company is “thinking beyond accommodation.”

Is this something you’d be into, or does the thought of spending time with strangers make you want to run and hide?

Airbnb looks at expanding into leisure activities [BBC]

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