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.

How the pandemic has impacted Airbnb supply
News / Online
How the pandemic has impacted Airbnb supply
By Jill Menze | March 30, 2021
According to AirDNA, Airbnb lost 5% of its total listings from January through June of 2020. Read More
How pandemic-led consumer behaviors might play out in travel
News / Online
How pandemic-led consumer behaviors might play out in travel
By Linda Fox | March 18, 2021
We look at some of Euromonitor's consumer trends for 2021 and how they're impacting travel and its attempts to recover from the coronavirus pandemic. Read More
Airbnb's financial performance signifies shift in traveler behavior
Opinion / Online
Airbnb's financial performance signifies shift in traveler behavior
By Luca Zambello - Jurny | March 16, 2021
As travelers begin planning trips again, it is a good time to look at the trends driving Airbnb’s popularity and what they mean for business and leisure travel in 2021 and the years to come.  Read More
Why virtual tours and activities will stick around after the pandemic
News / Online
Why virtual tours and activities will stick around after the pandemic
By Mitra Sorrells | March 4, 2021
Companies providing online tours and activities - including Amazon - say they plan to keep virtual experiences around even after the pandemic ends. Read More
Short-term rental bookings boom in the U.K. after roadmap announcement
News / Online
Short-term rental bookings boom in the U.K. after roadmap announcement
By Jill Menze | March 3, 2021
Following Boris Johnson's announcement that the U.K. would ease lockdown plans, short-term rental bookings jumped 88% over the week prior. Read More
Expedia Group and Booking Holdings slashed marketing by $6B in 2020 (but Airbnb now makes an entrance)
News / Online
Expedia Group and Booking Holdings slashed marketing by $6B in 2020 (but Airbnb now makes an entrance)
By Kevin May | March 2, 2021
The body check on marketing spend by the two giants of online travel in 2020 ends a run of gradually slowing increases in prior years. Read More
In first earnings report, Airbnb posts quarterly loss of $3.9B
News / Online
In first earnings report, Airbnb posts quarterly loss of $3.9B
By Jill Menze | February 25, 2021
Despite a massive loss in the fourth quarter of 2020, CEO Brian Chesky says the pandemic has proved Airbnb's business is "inherently adaptable." Read More
Collaboration: the key word for responsible recovery in vacation rentals
Opinion / Online
Collaboration: the key word for responsible recovery in vacation rentals
By Kevin Locraft - Expedia Group | February 25, 2021
To spur and sustain widespread economic recovery in the vacation rental sector, cities, platforms and vacation rental owners and managers must collaborate on effective public... Read More
FantasticStay attracts €1.3M investment, plans expansion and vacation rental tech development
News / Startups
FantasticStay attracts €1.3M investment, plans expansion and vacation rental tech development
By Linda Fox | February 16, 2021
Rental technology startup FantasticStay acquired rival Vreasy last year and plans expansion following its latest round of funding. Read More
Airbnb creates tool for hosts to confirm guests’ COVID status
News / Technology
Airbnb creates tool for hosts to confirm guests’ COVID status
By Kevin May | February 5, 2021
The Health Safety Assertion tool allows hosts to request guests declare their status in relation to COVID-19 symptoms. Guests will also be asked to disclose if they have recently been exposed to... Read More
your-rentals-refund-data
News / Distribution
Fully refundable vacation rentals get 4.2X more bookings, higher revenue
By Mitra Sorrells | February 5, 2021
Data from Your.rentals shows January bookings were 92% of pre-COVID levels for properties with fully refundable cancellation policies, but only 23% of the norm for those with partial or non-refundable... Read More
siteminder-channel-report
News / Distribution
Hotel direct channels gained share of bookings in 2020
By Mitra Sorrells | February 2, 2021
A new report from SiteMinder details the top booking revenue sources in markets around the world. Read More
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky: "It's going to be a year of focus"
News / Online
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky: "It's going to be a year of focus"
By Jill Menze | February 1, 2021
Speaking during Bloomberg's The Year Ahead event, Brian Chesky discussed Airbnb's priorities, market volatility and the future of travel. Read More
How travel app usage paints another picture of travel's fate in 2020
News / Online
How travel app usage paints another picture of travel's fate in 2020
By Linda Fox | January 28, 2021
Travel apps went quiet as the pandemic hit but there were some notable exceptions such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Read More
As short-term rental demand slumps, destination markets prove bright spot
News / Online
As short-term rental demand slumps, destination markets prove bright spot
By Jill Menze | January 28, 2021
While overall, short-term rental demand dropped by 15.3% in December 2020, demand trends vary considerably by location type. Read More
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