Airbnb Rolls Instacart Groceries Out Across the US, With Canada Next

Airbnb is adding more in-stay services to its app, and groceries are now one of them. The Instacart integration is live across most US stays, and it gives hosts a new, optional role in the pre-arrival experience.

What launched

• US-wide availability. Guests on eligible trips across the US can order groceries powered by Instacart directly in the Airbnb app, up to three weeks before check-in.
• No separate account. No Instacart app or account is required, and the listing address is pre-populated, so guests don't need to enter reservation details.
• $0 delivery fees on orders of $10 or more (subject to Airbnb's terms).
• Host stocking pilot. In Phoenix and Orlando, hosts who opt in can receive the order and stock the fridge and pantry before the guest arrives.
• Canada next. Groceries will come to Airbnb guests in Canada "in the coming weeks", which will be the first time Instacart is available through Airbnb there.

Airbnb says grocery has been one of the most-requested services on the platform and that the expansion covers "the vast majority of stays across the US", with coverage continuing to grow.

What the order data shows

Airbnb and Instacart shared destination-level ordering patterns compared with Airbnb guests nationwide:

• Guests in Madeira Beach, Florida order sunscreen about 4.5x more than the national average.
• Nashville guests order energy drinks at more than double the national rate.
• Bottled yerba mate orders in Miami run +3,088% versus the national average; oat milk in Los Angeles +214%; baby food purees in the Orlando area +188%; navel oranges in Austin +272%.

What they said

"We wanted groceries to feel like a natural part of a stay, not another errand, so guests can have everything they need waiting for them when they arrive," said Juan David Borrero, Global Head of Partnerships & Business Development at Airbnb.

Ryan Hamburger, Chief Commercial Officer at Instacart, said the service is "driving new demand for our retail partners."

Why it matters

This fits Airbnb's push to make money across the whole stay, not only the booking. For hosts, the Phoenix and Orlando pilot matters most. Pre-arrival stocking has usually been an off-platform side service. If it scales, it becomes an opt-in, platform-mediated feature, which raises the question of whether it will eventually influence guest expectations or listing competitiveness in those markets.