Smart Authenticity Experience Design With and For Airbnb Hosts

This paper presents a co-design study that aimed to explore how to design authentic experiences for prospective guests by collaborating with seven Airbnb hosts. Through contextual inquiry, we investigated the authentic requirements of different hosts and co-created design ideas with them. Together, we generated 58 interactive design concepts, 19 of which were contributed by the hosts themselves. By discussing these concepts with Airbnb participants and systematically analyzing the qualitative data, we identified five new dimensions for designing authentic guest experiences: serendipity of discovery, sense of welcome, extensions and connections, taking or leaving mementos, and co-generating experiences. Our findings provide valuable insights for designers and researchers looking to create more authentic experiences for Airbnb guests.