Airbnb News and Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb continues to be a major force in the travel industry, redefining how people book and experience accommodations worldwide. At PhocusWire, we bring you the latest Airbnb news, along with broader coverage of the short-term rental sector, including platform innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments that shape this fast-moving space.

Updates on Airbnb, short-term rental trends, and regulatory shifts

Track how Airbnb is evolving its product offerings, enhancing guest and host tools, and adapting to consumer demand for more flexible, immersive travel. Our stories examine the intersection of tech innovation, policy, and platform strategy—providing insight into how short-term rentals continue to influence the broader hospitality landscape.

VIDEO: Customer acquisition in alternative accommodation
News / Distribution
VIDEO: Customer acquisition in alternative accommodation
By PhocusWire | September 30, 2021
The promise of convenience and not having to rub shoulders with other guests was enough to give the sector a much-needed boost after traveler volumes collapsed at the onset of COVID-19. Read More
airbnb-rate-plans-hotel-strategy
News / Online
Airbnb revives hotel strategy, moves closer to rival OTA model
By Mitra Sorrells | September 29, 2021
Airbnb is beta testing new rate plans with an eye on attracting more hotels and better competing with online travel agencies. Read More
VIDEO: Airbnb on rental regulation and working with communities
News / Online
VIDEO: Airbnb on rental regulation and working with communities
By PhocusWire | September 28, 2021
Airbnb's Chris Lehane discusses the platform's work with governments and local authorities during the PhocusWire Pulse: Rentals On The Rise event. Read More
Do online travel agencies suffer from brand blindness?
Opinion / Online
Do online travel agencies suffer from brand blindness?
By Chris Torres - Tourism Marketing Agency | September 27, 2021
To grow a successful brand, online travel agencies need to refocus how they brand and market their services. Read More
A temperature check on vacation rentals
Opinion / Online
A temperature check on vacation rentals
By Marcus Rader - Hostaway | September 22, 2021
Vacation rentals were the undoubtable success story of the travel industry in the first year of the pandemic. But it's a useful time to reflect on reality. Read More
Real estate firm JLL launches short-term rental platform
News / Online
Real estate firm JLL launches short-term rental platform
By Jill Menze | September 19, 2021
JLL Short Stays, powered by proptech company Lavanda, aims to rival Airbnb and Booking.com in the urban accommodations market. Read More
Vrbo expands program to woo Airbnb hosts, claims thousands have already joined
News / Online
Vrbo expands program to woo Airbnb hosts, claims thousands have already joined
By Kevin May | September 16, 2021
The Fast Start program began in the U.S. in March 2021 and is designed to help experienced hosts who haven't joined the site yet increase their visibility and earnings. Read More
transparent-rental-review-data
News / Online
The power of reviews in the short-term rental sector
By Mitra Sorrells | August 30, 2021
Quantity and quality of reviews matter for alternative accommodations, and new data shows those factors vary based on the size of properties being managed. Read More
Tripadvisor and Airbnb join Google as local search powerhouses
News / Online
Tripadvisor and Airbnb join Google as local search powerhouses
By Kevin May | August 23, 2021
Google is the web service of choice for the vast majority of consumers looking for information on local businesses and activities - but a new survey indicates other brands are definitely in the... Read More
Opportunity for rental arbitrage remains in U.S. cities
News / Distribution
Opportunity for rental arbitrage remains in U.S. cities
By Linda Fox | August 16, 2021
Demand for multifamily short-term rentals in U.S. cities is rising, and tech providers are helping owners and renters take advantage of the opportunity. Read More
Airbnb revenue jumps 300% in Q2 2021
News / Online
Airbnb revenue jumps 300% in Q2 2021
By Jill Menze | August 12, 2021
The home-share giant was also profitable on an adjusted EBITDA basis for the second quarter of 2021. Read More
rentals-business-travel-sonder
News / Online
Will standardized rentals work for business travelers?
By Mitra Sorrells | August 2, 2021
A subset of alternative accommodations - ones that provide a standardized experience for travelers - could become more popular with business travelers coming out of the pandemic. Read More
Vacasa plots public listing through SPAC merger
News / Online
Vacasa plots public listing through SPAC merger
By Kevin May | July 30, 2021
Trading under the ticker VCSA, publicly listed Vacasa is forecast to have a valuation of $4.5 billion as a result of the IPO and will generate $485 million in cash proceeds. Read More
d-edge-distribution-report
News / Distribution
Expedia down, Airbnb up for bookings for some hotels in Europe and Asia
By Mitra Sorrells | July 26, 2021
An analysis by D-Edge Hospitality Solutions finds that while online travel agencies remain the dominant source of online revenue for its client hotels, in the last five years the share of bookings... Read More
Airbnb partner Migo taps NoiseAware for noise-monitoring solution
News / Technology
Airbnb partner Migo taps NoiseAware for noise-monitoring solution
By Jill Menze | July 7, 2021
Migo, developed by real estate software provider RealPage, offers property managers a suite of integrated services that enable smart access control, cleaning services and noise monitoring. Read More
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