Abhijith Gaapavaram

(Reuters.) Airbnb Inc. announced Wednesday that it would let travelers split their vacation between two properties, allowing them to enjoy longer stays. The announcement comes as Airbnb Inc doubles down upon a recent pandemic trend.

This San Francisco-based business has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of shift to hybrid and remote working. Employees can now work remotely from their homes and other locations for longer periods.

Airbnb allows travelers to choose between “split stay” and long-term rentals.

According to Nathan Blecharczyk (founder of Airbnb and Chief Strategy Officer), “It is hard to find a single house that’s open for a month.” Blecharczyk said that Airbnb will continue to grow the length of long-term stays.

Blecharczyk predicted that the demand for travel will rise as companies provide more remote employment opportunities and international travel increases.

Airbnb reported that stays lasting more than 28 days reached an all-time record in the first quarter. This is more than doubled from pre-pandemic levels. They account for about 1 in 5 nights booked.

The option of split stays is part of a revamp of Airbnb’s app and website, that will also now display properties under 56 different categories such as Bed & breakfasts, Cabins and Castles, without the need for a traveler to enter a destination.

Airbnb stated that these new features will begin rolling out across the United States starting Wednesday.

The amount of the investment made in the renovation was not disclosed by the company.

Airbnb stated that its AirCover program has been expanded to allow guests. It offers safety features, such as a 24-hour line. It used to cover only hosts.