Register to get free articles
Want unlimited access? View Plans
Already have an account? Sign in
Airbnb has appointed Jesse Stein to the newly created position of head of hotels as part of a strategic shift to expand its boutique hospitality offering.
Stein, who has served as the company’s global head of real estate since 2020, will now lead the division focused on integrating independent hotels into the platform.
The move follows recent earnings reports where the company identified the optimisation of the hotel experience as a primary growth lever for 2026.
His mandate includes forging new partnerships with hoteliers, building an all-star team to help shape what hotels on Airbnb become and iterating the platform’s interface for hotel listings.
Prior to joining Airbnb, Stein spent five years as a principal at KHP Capital Partners and four years as vice president of acquisitions and development at Kimpton Hotels.
His professional background also includes senior development roles at Wyndham Hotel Group and Starwood Vacation Ownership.
In a LinkedIn post, Stein said: “Expanding and optimizing the hotel experience on Airbnb is a key growth lever, and one I’m especially excited to help lead. Hotels have been a pivotal part of my career, and I believe there’s a meaningful opportunity to bring the best of boutique and independent hospitality to a global audience.”
