Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky is navigating a landscape marked by evolving consumer habits, regulatory challenges, and ambitious product reinvention. In a recent wide-ranging interview with CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Chesky discussed the latest redesign of Airbnb’s app, the strategic return of Airbnb Experiences, and the persistent strength he sees in consumer spending—even as economic anxieties simmer across markets.

Chesky emphasized the company’s unique vantage point as a global platform operating on 1.6 billion devices, calling Airbnb “a pretty good bellwether for the economy.” He noted, “About $90 billion a year is spent [on Airbnb]. So, for every like $1,100 or so dollars spent in the world, $1 is spent [on] Airbnb. So we get a pretty good front row seat in the economy,” Chesky told CNBC. Despite headlines about tariffs, trade disputes, and inflation, Chesky said, “We are still seeing people spending a lot of money.”

The recently launched Airbnb app redesign introduces an expanded suite of services—from spa treatments to chef-prepared meals and personal training—integrated with Airbnb’s signature Experiences. “We’re trying to broaden our appeal,” Chesky explained, revealing a push to capitalize on Airbnb’s established platform to deliver more than lodging, and to become a one-stop portal for travel and lifestyle services.

However, this ambitious strategy unfolds as global travel patterns shift. Chesky acknowledged a “redirection” in the business rather than a slowdown, telling CNBC that travel into the United States appears “a little bit lower.” He observed, “Canadians are traveling a little bit more within Canada. Europeans are starting to stay a little bit more intra regionally. So they might be staying a little more in Europe.” While international inbound travel to the U.S. moderates, Chesky sees this as a potentially temporary phenomenon rather than a harbinger of deeper weakness.

But not all changes are shaped by consumer preference. Regulatory disputes, especially with the city of New York, remain at the forefront. The city’s crackdown has made it nearly impossible to book short-term stays via Airbnb, amid claims this would relieve New York’s acute housing shortage. Chesky, however, pushed back on the effectiveness of these policies: “They played out that experiment and, over a year later, what we found is rental prices did not go down. In fact, they went up, even accelerated, and hotel prices didn’t go down. They went up.” He argued the main beneficiaries of the restrictions were the hotel industry, not ordinary New Yorkers.

Chesky remains optimistic about finding common ground, proposing that Airbnb could restrict listings to primary residences or limit nights rented, alongside remitting local hotel taxes—an approach used in other major cities. “If Paris can figure this out, if London can figure this out, if even San Francisco can figure this out, I don’t see why New York can’t,” he remarked during his CNBC appearance.

Notably, Airbnb’s evolving model and steady demand have translated into investor confidence; the company’s stock has risen about 22% in the last month, according to CNBC. Chesky’s ability to pivot, double down on company culture, and review strategic projects personally—as reported by CNBC Make It—has played a pivotal role in Airbnb’s resilience and growth in a challenging environment.

As Chesky continues to steer Airbnb through regulatory tides and shifting consumer currents, the company’s trajectory will remain closely watched as a key indicator of travel, technology, and the broader global economy.