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.

Airbnb gets $1B investment to mitigate coronavirus hit
News / Online
Airbnb gets $1B investment to mitigate coronavirus hit
By Jill Menze | April 6, 2020
The investment from Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners will help the home-share giant manage the fallout from the COVID-19 coronavirus. Read More
investors-coronavirus-impact
News / Distribution
Investors on travel survivors, pent-up demand and bailouts
By Linda Fox | April 2, 2020
Seeking Alpha asked some of its marketplace authors to comment on the outlook for travel stocks, the likelihood of travel returning to pre-coronavirus levels and the segments that might come... Read More
Airbnb gets serious on long-term stays, denies hosts are finding new platforms
News / Online
Airbnb gets serious on long-term stays, denies hosts are finding new platforms
By Kevin May | April 1, 2020
The company claims there has been a 20% increase in long-stay bookings in the last two weeks compared to the same period in 2019. Read More
Airbnb apologizes to hosts, dedicates $250M to coronavirus-related cancelations
News / Online
Airbnb apologizes to hosts, dedicates $250M to coronavirus-related cancelations
By Jill Menze | March 30, 2020
In a letter sent to hosts, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says he's “sorry” for mangling communication about refund policies. Read More
airbnb china coronavirus
News / Online
Airbnb hosts in China are “confident” about market recovery
By Jill Menze | March 27, 2020
According to data from Airbnb, 99% of hosts in China feel positively or neutral about engaging in the short-term rental market following the COVID-19 outbreak, while 1% say they will “definitely not”... Read More
Airbnb urges U.S. government to alter rules for hosts during coronavirus crisis
News / Online
Airbnb urges U.S. government to alter rules for hosts during coronavirus crisis
By Kevin May | March 18, 2020
In a letter to the speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, as well as the Republican Party leader in the house, Kevin McCarthy, Airbnb is asking for four alterations to existing tax and... Read More
Lyric lays off 25 employees, closes nearly 30% of units as part of restructuring plan
News / Online
Lyric lays off 25 employees, closes nearly 30% of units as part of restructuring plan
By Donna M. Airoldi - Business Travel News | March 9, 2020
Lyric, an apartment-style accommodation provider, has cut 25 people from its 150-person workforce and will close 179 of its 600 units nationwide amid a downsizing and restructuring. Read More
European Commission agrees to data-sharing pact with short-term rental giants
News / Distribution
European Commission agrees to data-sharing pact with short-term rental giants
By Linda Fox | March 6, 2020
Online accommodation platforms Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and Tripadvisor have agreed to share short-term rental data with the European Commission. Read More
Airbnb house list
News / Startups
Airbnb tops lists of marketplace startups, ResortPass among fastest-growing
By Steven Lerner | February 24, 2020
 Travel startups were well-represented in the Marketplace 100, which identifies the largest and fastest-growing consumer-facing marketplace private companies. Read More
How technology and eco-friendly practices are helping short-term rentals go green
News / Online
How technology and eco-friendly practices are helping short-term rentals go green
By Jill Menze | January 31, 2020
Along with other corners of the travel sector, the short-term rental industry is starting to steer its attention toward sustainability efforts as players take stock of their impact on the environment... Read More
Why 2020 will be the "Year of Airbnb"
Opinion / Online
Why 2020 will be the "Year of Airbnb"
By Guy Westlake | December 17, 2019
With Airbnb’s announced IPO, 2020 is set to be a defining moment in the alternative accommodation industry’s lifecycle. Read More
VIDEO: What will the travel purchase funnel look like in the future?
News / Online
VIDEO: What will the travel purchase funnel look like in the future?
By Mitra Sorrells | December 12, 2019
Executives from Skyscanner, HotelTonight, TripTuner and Fareportal discuss the future of the funnel in travel at The Phocuswright Conference. Read More
Travel startup investments 2019 - a year in review
News / Startups
Travel startup investments 2019 - a year in review
By Steven Lerner | December 11, 2019
Investors were pouring money into travel startups in 2019. Here's where that money went.   Read More
Zeus Living Airbnb
News / Online
Airbnb part of $55M round for corporate housing platform Zeus Living
By Steven Lerner | December 10, 2019
Funds from the $55 million round will enable Zeus Living to expand its portfolio of furnished homes for stays of 30 days or longer. Read More
VIDEO: How tech-enabled solutions can improve safety and security of short-term rentals
News / Technology
VIDEO: How tech-enabled solutions can improve safety and security of short-term rentals
By Mitra Sorrells | December 5, 2019
Leaders from Vrbo, TurnKey Vacation Rentals and Certistay discuss safety and security solutions for short-term rentals. Read More
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