← Airbnb Interview Insights

Airbnb·Product Manager·Onsite - Product Sense / Strategy·Senior

Senior
Apr 2026

Summary

Interviewed for a PM role at Airbnb and got hit with a classic growth question about increasing bookings. Pretty open-ended, which sounds easy until you're actually sitting there trying to not ramble for ten minutes.

Questions Asked (1)

Q1

As a PM at Airbnb, what would you do to increase bookings?

Product StrategyProduct Sense & IdeationProduct Analytics & Metrics
Author's notes

I went straight to supply-demand levers without grounding it in any user segment first, which I think was a mistake.

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AI HintsAI Generated

Suggested Approach

Start by clarifying the goal and scope of 'increase bookings' (e.g., new vs. repeat bookings, specific market or time frame). Then, structure your answer by identifying key levers across the booking funnel, prioritizing them based on impact and feasibility, and proposing specific initiatives with metrics to measure success.

Pro tip: Demonstrate deep understanding of Airbnb's two-sided marketplace by considering both guest and host perspectives, and how changes affect each side. Also, anchor your ideas in data—reference specific metrics like conversion rate, average booking value, or host retention to show analytical rigor.

1. Clarify the goal and scope

Ask clarifying questions to understand what 'increase bookings' means: is it overall bookings, bookings in a specific region, or from a certain user segment? Also, consider time frame and constraints.

2. Identify key levers in the booking funnel

Map out the guest journey from awareness to booking, and identify stages where improvements can increase bookings, such as search, listing detail, and checkout. Also consider host-side levers like supply and pricing.

3. Prioritize opportunities

Evaluate potential initiatives based on impact (e.g., potential increase in bookings), effort, and alignment with company strategy. Use a framework like RICE or impact/effort matrix to prioritize.

4. Propose specific solutions and metrics

For the top-priority opportunity, suggest concrete product changes or experiments, and define success metrics (e.g., conversion rate, bookings per user). Consider A/B testing and potential trade-offs.

5. Summarize and measure

Recap your approach, emphasizing how you would measure impact and iterate. Mention potential risks and how to mitigate them.

Key Points to Mention

  • Two-sided marketplace dynamics: how changes affect both guests and hosts
  • Funnel metrics: conversion rates at each stage (search to booking)
  • Personalization and recommendations to improve discovery
  • Trust and safety features to reduce booking friction
  • Pricing and availability optimizations (e.g., dynamic pricing, discounts)
  • Retention and repeat bookings: loyalty programs, re-engagement campaigns

AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.