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.

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
sounding off business bets
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: You don't have to always bet on business
By PhocusWire | January 22, 2021
The spirit of principled behavior that was demonstrated so well and effectively at times during 2020 should be something for the travel sector to build on. Read More
Airbnb's Brian Chesky on permanent shifts in travel and need for principles in a crisis
News / Distribution
Airbnb's Brian Chesky on permanent shifts in travel and need for principles in a crisis
By Linda Fox | January 18, 2021
Following its successful IPO, Airbnb is planning for a different future where travel could be far more distributed. Read More
Buy-now-pay-later for travel service Affirm valued at $24B after IPO
News / Technology
Buy-now-pay-later for travel service Affirm valued at $24B after IPO
By Kevin May | January 15, 2021
The company works with the likes of Expedia, Delta Vacations, Priceline, CheapOAir, Suiteness and others. Read More
Airbnb occupancy rates not expected to recover until September 2021
News / Online
Airbnb occupancy rates not expected to recover until September 2021
By Jill Menze | January 5, 2021
Even with the COVID-19 vaccine, Airbnb occupancy rates aren't expected to recover until later this year; however, national daily rates are expected to grow throughout 2021. Read More
Tech challenges (and coronavirus) were the focus for rental managers in 2020
News / Technology
Tech challenges (and coronavirus) were the focus for rental managers in 2020
By Linda Fox | December 22, 2020
Short-term rental managers wouldn't wave away the pandemic with a magic wand, according to a Hostfully report. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026