Airbnb enters Amex Travel: more than a million accommodations in a new sales channel
The partnership with American Express opens up additional access for Airbnbs to American travelers. Luxury accommodation receives a special boost, for which certain cardholders can take advantage of the benefits previously associated with hotels.
On October 22, 2026, Airbnb and American Express launched a partnership that made more than one million Airbnb accommodations worldwide available through Amex Travel. The offer includes apartments, vacation homes, and luxury residences, and is intended for users of eligible American Express cards issued in the United States.
For the tourism industry, the business-friendly combination of accommodation offers and card benefits is interesting. Airbnb gains an additional route to guests who, when booking, consider points and a partial refund of their spending. Amex Travel, meanwhile, expands its selection beyond its hotel offering.
Search through Amex, booking, and support on Airbnb
Users search for accommodation through the „Homes” section on the website or in the Amex Travel app. They link their American Express and Airbnb accounts to complete the reservation, and they finalize the reservation through Airbnb.
This division is important even after the purchase. The trip can be reviewed on Amex Travel, but communication with the host, booking changes, and customer support remain on Airbnb. The new sales channel thus retains Airbnb as the place to manage the stay.
The selected offer is included, so more than a million available accommodations does not mean that every listing from Airbnb can be booked through Amex Travel.
Luxury homes are becoming part of the hotel experience
American users of the personal and business Platinum cards can earn five Membership Rewards points per dollar spent for eligible prepaid Airbnb reservations through Amex Travel.
The bigger change concerns Airbnb Luxe. Eligible prepaid stays of at least two nights qualify for an annual statement credit of up to $600, with up to $300 available per calendar half-year. The former “Hotel Credit” has therefore been renamed “Lodging Credit”. A qualifying Luxe booking also unlocks an additional statement credit of up to $250 per year for eligible Airbnb Experiences, subject to the programme’s terms.
From a distribution perspective, this move could strengthen competition between luxury hotels and private vacation homes. A guest can now direct part of the same card benefits towards different types of accommodations.
For villa and house managers in Croatia and the region, the potential lies in additional visibility to American guests, provided that their properties are included in the offer. The real question for agencies working with this market remains: how to clearly demonstrate the value of their own service, local knowledge, and support to a guest who receives financial incentives through another channel.
