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: Airbnb on what it's learned from Amazon Prime and its community
News / Online
VIDEO: Airbnb on what it's learned from Amazon Prime and its community
By Jill Menze | November 29, 2018
At The Phocuswright Conference, Airbnb Homes executive Greg Greeley discussed the company's ambitions as it prepares for an IPO. Read More
VIDEO: Old and new players on the changing face of corporate travel
News / Online
VIDEO: Old and new players on the changing face of corporate travel
By Jill Menze | November 27, 2018
What needs to change in the backbone of the corporate travel industry in order to improve the service level to the customer? Read More
Airbnb boasts first $1B revenue quarter
News / Online
Airbnb boasts first $1B revenue quarter
By Matt Ott - Travel Weekly | November 20, 2018
Airbnb had its best quarter ever, even as cities across the U.S. have started clamping down on the short-term rental market. Read More
Direct vs. third-party: The distribution landscape for vacation rental property managers
News / Distribution
Direct vs. third-party: The distribution landscape for vacation rental property managers
By Jill Menze | November 7, 2018
Vacation rental property managers in Europe are increasingly turning to Airbnb and Booking.com as distribution channels, however they are seeing gains in direct bookings for certain kinds of properties. Read More
hometogo-metasearch-rentals
News / Distribution
Q&A: HomeToGo on metasearch in the vacation rental industry
By Phocuswire | October 31, 2018
Metasearch has tried to become a part in the rental ecosystem - with some big investment rounds going into startups and, unfortunately, some fairly high-profile casualties along the way. Read More
In the green room at Phocuswright with... Matt Curtis
Interview / Technology
In the green room at Phocuswright with... Matt Curtis
By PhocusWire | October 23, 2018
As founder of Smart City Policy Group which he set up a year ago, Curtis works with governments and companies to formulate regulations for emerging technology and the sharing economy.  Read More
European organizations unite to stand up for short-term rentals
News / Distribution
European organizations unite to stand up for short-term rentals
By Linda Fox | October 15, 2018
The short-term rental (STR) industry has been the target of finger pointing and bad press in recent years as the pressure on housing grows in cities. Read More
In the green room at Phocuswright with... David Holyoke
Interview / Online
In the green room at Phocuswright with... David Holyoke
By PhocusWire | October 8, 2018
As global head of Airbnb for Work, David Holyoke oversees the strategic direction and operation of the company's business travel vertical.  Read More
Shifts in European vacation rental as HomeToGo acquires Casamundo and Wimdu closes
News / Distribution
Shifts in European vacation rental as HomeToGo acquires Casamundo and Wimdu closes
By Linda Fox | October 8, 2018
Vacation rental metasearch specialist Hometogo buys Casamundo, with terms of the deal undisclosed. Read More
Airbnb says nothing "off-limits" with Experiences
News / Online
Airbnb says nothing "off-limits" with Experiences
By Kevin May | September 28, 2018
Airbnb would consider expanding its currently hyper-focused take on tours and activities in order to grow its market. Read More
airbnb-thailand-boutique-hotels
News / Distribution
Airbnb adds boutique hotels in Thailand via local trade partnership
By Linda Fox | September 27, 2018
Airbnb partners with local trade association in Thailand to add boutique properties Read More
homeshare-hotels-learnings
News / Distribution
Why hotels should take cues from home-sharing, stop "obsession with direct booking"
By Linda Fox | September 25, 2018
Though traditional hotel operators have been beleaguered by the march of brands such as Airbnb, they have taken steps to embrace the trend in recent years. A good example is the Marriott... Read More
Are mainstream tour and activity operators welcome on Airbnb?
From Our Partners / Distribution
Are mainstream tour and activity operators welcome on Airbnb?
By Alex Kremer - Arival | September 14, 2018
Airbnb shook the travel world when it launched Experiences in the fall of 2016. Read More
Google launches Touring Bird with 25,000 experiences in 20 cities
News / Online
Google launches Touring Bird with 25,000 experiences in 20 cities
By Jill Menze | September 7, 2018
In April, PhocusWire uncovered details of Touring Bird, the hush-hush tours and activities app Google was developing inside its Area 120 incubator. Now Touring Bird has officially launched 25,000... Read More
Airbnb for Work expands, looks beyond core business travel market
News / Online
Airbnb for Work expands, looks beyond core business travel market
By Jill Menze | September 5, 2018
Airbnb, in its tenacious quest to engage with one billion guests by 2028, is ramping up its efforts to court the professional community by expanding its Airbnb for Work offerings. Read More
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