Airbnb, the epitome of 'shared accommodation' that allowed people to rent spare rooms in others' homes, has finally declared a massive paradigm shift.

With the slogan "Travel is about living like a local," they have threatened the global hotel industry, and now they are officially expanding their business model to sell hotel rooms themselves.

Originally, Airbnb grew with the sentiment of, "Why stay in an expensive hotel? Living in a local's home is the real travel experience."

In fact, many travelers have chosen Airbnb over hotels, making it a thorn in the side of the hotel industry.

However, Airbnb has now started accepting direct hotel room bookings.

When I first saw the news, I honestly laughed.

"In the end, they need to make a living, so they're taking hotel reservations too."

I've seen many local chicken shop owners who once boasted, "I will never use delivery apps," eventually struggle to survive without them a few years later.

Reality often surpasses ideals. Airbnb has found itself in a similar situation.

Cities like New York and Paris are tightening regulations on shared accommodations.

Registering properties has become more complicated, and many places are finding it increasingly difficult to operate.

As supply decreases, the company must continue to grow. Shareholders expect results every year.

Thus, they have inevitably turned their sights to the largest market.

That is, the hotel market.

When you think about it, a significant number of travelers worldwide still prefer hotels.

Business travelers look for hotels, and families traveling with children also prefer hotels.

Check-in is convenient, and if any issues arise, they can just call the front desk.

Airbnb is certainly aware of this.

So now, instead of saying, "You must choose shared accommodation," they have shifted to, "We have both hotels and shared accommodations. Choose what you want."

This change reminds me of the historical alliances and rivalries from ancient China.

A country that was at odds yesterday shakes hands today, and a country that formed an alliance today may become an enemy tomorrow.

Airbnb, which grew by competing with hotels, is now selling hotel rooms.

However, if we look at it objectively, this might just be a survival strategy for the company. Surviving is more important than pride.

From a consumer's perspective, this is not a bad thing. Now, with just the Airbnb app, you can view local homes and compare hotels.

However, those who have been using Airbnb for a long time might feel a bit strange about this.

It feels like watching a band that once vowed to only play rock music suddenly start performing pop songs.

Whether this change is for profit or an adaptation to changing times will vary from person to person.

After 18 years since its founding, this is the biggest change yet, and the bold attempt to break away from its original identity has drawn the attention of the global travel industry and consumers.