Smart Booking: AI Assistant for Airbnb
A redesigned booking journey powered by personalized AI interaction.
Role: UX & UI design
Tools: Figma, UX Pilot, Lovable.dev
About this Project
This project aims to enhance Airbnb’s booking experience by integrating a personalized AI assistant. The assistant helps users find apartments based on their trip purpose, preferred style, budget, and proximity to key landmarks.
Link to Prototype
The Main Problem
Airbnb lacks AI support with goal-based search. Users scroll through endless listings without filters for trip type and mood. The content is hard to scan. For users unfamiliar with a city, this creates confusion and decision fatigue.
Goal
To make booking smarter reducing time spent browsing and helping users find exactly what they need with less effort.
JBTD
01
To focus on creating a romantic experience without worrying about logistics.
02
To easily find an apartment that matches user’s preferred style, budget, and location.
Competitor Research
I reviewed three different travel search platforms and assessed their strengths and weaknesses.
Booking.com
Strength:
Clear titles of sections
Strong filtering and sorting options
Weaknesses:
Very long listing of filters
Every search is manual, there is no apartment style filter
Skyscanner
Strength:
Strong price Filter
Clear categories (Recommended, Top review)
Weaknesses:
Very detailed map interface
Рeavy blue color can make the experience heavier
TripAdvisor
Strength:
Strong AI approach
Unique visual decisions
Weaknesses:
In some places the font is small and invisible
User Persona & Scenario
Mark is planning a one-week trip to Paris to propose to his girlfriend near the Eiffel Tower. He’s looking for a cozy, affordable apartment, close to key landmarks.
Pains
Hates endless scrolling, anxious about overpaying.
Needs
Cozy, modern, low-cost apartment close to Eiffel Tower.
Desired Outcome
Confidently books the “right” place in minutes, not hours.
Solution
After entering basic details (destination, dates, guests), users are asked if they want AI help. If accepted, they go through four quick steps: trip purpose, style, budget, and preferences like proximity to landmarks. The assistant then shows best matches with a summary of user preferences and an interactive map.
Key features
01
AI Opt-in Pop-up - appears after destination, dates, and guests are set.
02
Four-Step Smart Flow that guides the user through personalized preferences.
03
Results Screen with AI Assistant & Interactive Map.
Wireframing with AI Tools
To design the wireframes, I used two AI-based tools - UX Pilot and Lovable AI. By providing a detailed prompt outlining the project’s main goals and platform requirements, I received surprisingly insightful results. However, most features were initially clustered on the homepage, creating cognitive overload.
Before & After
The search for suitable apartments is currently manual and lacks personalization. Scanning prices on the map is time-consuming, making it hard for users to quickly compare options or find listings that match their preferences.
The updated Airbnb interface is more personalized. On the left, an AI Travel Assistant provides tailored recommendations and simplifying the search experience. Color-coded prices making it easier to compare areas at a glance. A new AI Summary helps users quickly understand if an apartment is worth the money based on their budget.
Final Flows
To improve usability, I separated key features into logical sections, prioritized tasks step by step, and created a cleaner, more focused interface.
Link to Prototype
After a user follows all these steps AI Assistant will provide the perfect matches to user according to his preferences. On the screen user sees ai preferences (style, romantic purpose, price, landmark), on the right side of the screen user sees interactive map.
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Stay tuned for the upcoming mobile version! 💪