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 counts half a billion guest arrivals, host earnings at $65B
News / Online
Airbnb counts half a billion guest arrivals, host earnings at $65B
By Jill Menze | March 27, 2019
More than 500,000 guests have stayed at Airbnb properties around the globe, the company reports, with three guests checking into listings every half-second. Read More
Google hotel search vacation rentals
News / Distribution
Google pushes further into private accommodations, rolls out vacation rentals search worldwide
By Mitra Sorrells | March 26, 2019
Google is adding vacation rental listings from the likes of Expedia Group and TripAdvisor to its Hotel Search platform. Read More
plum guide funding
News / Startups
The Plum Guide nabs £14M to expand curated vacation rentals platform to more cities
By Jill Menze | March 21, 2019
The "Michelin Guide for vacation rentals" plans to have 12,000 verified homes across its network by the end of 2019. Read More
Sounding Off: The dilemmas that face growing companies
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: The dilemmas that face growing companies
By PhocusWire | March 15, 2019
The long road ahead of Airbnb after its HotelTonight acquisition is a familiar one that many brands experience as they push the button to accelerate the business. Read More
booking-holdings-merrill-lynch
News / Distribution
Home is where the growth is as Booking.com invests in brand and tech
By Linda Fox | March 13, 2019
Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel on growth in alternative accommodation and brand awareness. Read More
Reality check: Airbnb still has a long way to go after HotelTonight deal
Opinion / Online
Reality check: Airbnb still has a long way to go after HotelTonight deal
By Max Starkov - HEBS Digital | March 12, 2019
The hoopla over the Airbnb purchase of HotelTonight needs further analysis, with more challenges than opportunities ahead for the new owner if it wants to become an OTA. Read More
Airbnb-HotelTonight - a deal at the right time for both
News / Online
Airbnb-HotelTonight - a deal at the right time for both
By Kevin May | March 11, 2019
Three experts covering the accommodation sector share their reaction to the deal by Airbnb to buy online travel agency HotelTonight. Read More
Airbnb to acquire online travel agency HotelTonight
News / Online
Airbnb to acquire online travel agency HotelTonight
By Kevin May | March 7, 2019
The deal for the OTA gives it the chance to "accelerate our work to build an end-to-end travel platform that serves everyone." Read More
Q&A: Airbnb China president on growing the business, regulators, targeting millennials
Interview / Online
Q&A: Airbnb China president on growing the business, regulators, targeting millennials
By Jill Menze | March 1, 2019
In one of his first interviews since he was appointed president in July, Tao Peng lays out his vision for Airbnb China in this extensive conversation. Read More
Home-sharing is ready to write its second chapter
News / Distribution
Home-sharing is ready to write its second chapter
By Christina Jelski - Travel Weekly | February 18, 2019
Startups are mounting fresh challenges to both traditional hotels, whose forays into the home-rental space have met with mixed results, and to a maturing Airbnb, which is showing signs of evolving its... Read More
airbnb-transportation-fred-reid
News / Online
Airbnb hires airline veteran Fred Reid to oversee "transportation", but rules out obvious options
By Kevin May | February 7, 2019
The seasoned airline exec - Virgin America, Lufthansa, American Airlines and Delta - becomes the company's global head of transportation. Read More
Sounding Off: Airbnb should accept that some things are done certain ways
Interview / Distribution
Sounding Off: Airbnb should accept that some things are done certain ways
By PhocusWire | February 1, 2019
The dull mechanics behind what is known as process shouldn't be allowed to prohibit a brand such as Airbnb from making a genuine challenge to OTAs. Read More
Why Airbnb must avoid the tech trap OTAs fell into for years
Opinion / Distribution
Why Airbnb must avoid the tech trap OTAs fell into for years
By Craig Stewart - Freetobook | January 29, 2019
Airbnb's much-lauded move into hotel distribution has been a welcome addition to the hotel ecosystem - but it should beware of age-old pitfalls. Read More
Gaest acquired as Airbnb bolsters unit for meetings and company services
News / Online
Gaest acquired as Airbnb bolsters unit for meetings and company services
By Kevin May | January 28, 2019
Danish startup Gaest is a booking tool for interview rooms, teambuilding spaces, corporate events - an area that Airbnb has been concentrating on during 2018. Read More
Airbnb and hotel distribution - (almost) one year in
News / Online
Airbnb and hotel distribution - (almost) one year in
By Jill Menze | January 23, 2019
As the Airbnb and SiteMinder deal nears its one-year anniversary, here's an update on how the platform's hotels business is faring. Read More
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