Airbnb reported record third-quarter revenue of more than $4.5bn on Thursday, beating Wall Street estimates as peak summer travel, including demand around the FIFA World Cup in North America, lifted nights booked. The San Francisco-based company published the results after the US market close. It forecast double-digit revenue growth for the fourth quarter.

The July-to-September quarter is traditionally Airbnb's largest, and revenue rose by roughly 10 per cent from the $4.1bn reported a year earlier, according to the company's shareholder letter. Airbnb said gross booking value and nights and experiences booked both grew faster than in the second quarter. It credited improved conversion in its app and stronger international demand, particularly from Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

The World Cup, staged across 16 host cities in the US, Canada and Mexico during June and July, gave hosts in markets such as Dallas, Kansas City and Mexico City a surge in short-stay demand. Airbnb said the tournament contributed to record bookings in several host cities. Executives also pointed to early traction from the relaunched Experiences and Services offerings, which the company has positioned as its next growth engine beyond accommodation.

The results come as Airbnb tries to convince investors it can reaccelerate growth after a period of slowing expansion and rising marketing costs. Analysts at firms including Morgan Stanley and Bernstein had flagged the company's fourth-quarter guidance and margin outlook as the key test. Airbnb said it continued to buy back shares and maintained its target for full-year adjusted EBITDA margins broadly in line with its earlier outlook.

Shares moved in after-hours trading on Nasdaq as investors weighed the record quarter against heavier spending on new products. The figures follow results from Booking Holdings and Expedia that pointed to resilient travel demand among higher-income households despite softer spending elsewhere in the US economy.