Airbnb is making two key moves to build out its hotel business — elevating a former hotel executive and hiring a Booking.com veteran — in a bid to compete in what could be its biggest growth opportunity.
Airbnb’s global head of real estate, Jesse Stein, announced on LinkedIn Thursday that he is taking on the newly created role of head of hotels, while continuing in his current post.
Prior to joining Airbnb in 2020, Stein spent five years at KHP Capital Partners, and from 2009 to 2015 he served in development positions at Wyndham Hotel Group and Kimpton Hotels.
Stein said that his priorities in the new position will be building hotel partnerships, putting together a hotels team, and figuring out how hotels will appear on Airbnb.
“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,” he wrote.
Stein encouraged hotel owners, operators and leaders to contact him.
Airbnb Brings in Former Booking.com Executive
Lou Zameryka, who Airbnb hired in January as global head, hotel enterprise and connectivity partnerships, already has many hotel owners, operators and leaders, especially in North America, in his contacts. He also announced his appointment on LinkedIn Thursday, and will report to Stein.
“I can’t think of anyone in hospitality better connected than Lou,” said one industry veteran, who declined to be identified.
Zameryka was among Booking.com’s first hires in North America, worked there nearly two decades, and finished at the company in August 2023 as director of global accounts. He is also a past president of the Greater New Chapter of HSMAI, the hospitality tech trade group.
A former colleague, who is familiar with Zameryka’s track record, said while at Booking.com he helped negotiate deals with many of the major hotel brands. He also worked with owners and management companies.
“I’m here to help lead our push into hotel distribution — contributing my experience and energy toward building a platform where travelers can book the world’s best selection of soulful, welcoming, and memorable hospitality stays across hotels, lodges, inns, resorts and more,” Zameryka wrote.
Zameryka will work to convince hotels to buy into Airbnb’s role as a new and vital distribution channel.
Hotels Team Added Ex-CEO or Radisson Americas
Airbnb also recently added Jim Alderman, a former CEO of Radisson Hotel Group Americas in a business development role, focusing on supply recruitment, partner management and long-term growth strategies.
Alderman, who has also worked as chief development officer at Extended Stay America and Kimpton Hotels, joined Airbnb in June 2024, but initially focused on Airbnb’s condo business.
How Will Airbnb Display Hotels?
Stein and Zameryka will have to resolve a few issues.
For example, will hotel listings be separate from Airbnb’s core home stays? Or will they be mixed in with vacation rentals? Booking.com takes the second approach and sees it as a strategic advantage.
Below you can see the unremarkable way Airbnb presented listings for the Hilton Chicago (left) and the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago (right). The Hilton is listed as “Hotel in Chicago” and the Knickerbocker as “Hotel in Magnificent Mile.”
Another strategic question for Airbnb will be whether it sticks with boutique and independent hotels, and sees its business as filling gaps where regulation shuts out short-term rentals. It could also expand into partnerships with major hotel chains and take on Booking.com and Expedia head-on.
