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.

Guesty Clearbanc partnership
News / Startups
Guesty eases funding process for vacation rental clients
By Mitra Sorrells | July 31, 2018
Property management companies that use Guesty can now apply for financing directly in the software platform.   Read More
Smart hotels, investments, airline JVs and more China news and trends
News / Technology
Smart hotels, investments, airline JVs and more China news and trends
By PhocusWire | July 23, 2018
Booking's move into mobility, some interesting hotel and airline partnerships, the latest tranche of travel tech startup funding and more in the latest update. Didi, Airbnb and Ctrip Didi C Read More
conversational hospitality op-ed Benbria
Opinion / Technology
We need to talk: Conversational hospitality and the guest experience
By Jordan Parsons - Benbria | July 18, 2018
In 2016, Chris Messina, the inventor of the hashtag, published a post on Medium dubbing a new trend called “Conversational Commerce.” Read More
airbnb european law
News / Distribution
Airbnb told to get in line with European consumer law
By Linda Fox | July 17, 2018
Airbnb has been told by the European Commission to clean up its pricing as well as commercial terms. Read More
Who won the FIFA World Cup? Private Accommodation FC
News / Online
Who won the FIFA World Cup? Private Accommodation FC
By Kevin May | July 16, 2018
France secured their second FIFA World Cup in two decades last weekend - but victory also came to the private accommodation sector during the tournament. Read More
airbnb china
News / Online
Airbnb boosts Chinese leadership team with Tao Peng appointment
By Linda Fox | July 10, 2018
Chinese entrepreneur Tao Peng is joining Airbnb to become its president in China. Read More
quote of the week 28
News / Distribution
QOTW: Something about a gap in accommodations
By PhocusWire | July 6, 2018
Quote from Sleepbox, in an article on PhocusWire this week. Read More
How travel providers can sell experiences better than Airbnb
News / Online
How travel providers can sell experiences better than Airbnb
By Viewpoints | July 3, 2018
This is a viewpoint from Matt Walker, chief storyteller at LikeWhere. If you want to "Live like a Local", traveling is a risk. You are better off staying home. What’s more local than waking up i Read More
Travelers waiting to book tours and activities, prefer local experiences
News / Online
Travelers waiting to book tours and activities, prefer local experiences
By Jill Menze | June 27, 2018
Summer is a busy season for tours and attractions operators, with the vacation-heavy months bringing with them an influx of people looking for things to do. But how - and when - are travelers booking... Read More
online tours and activities
Opinion / Online
Quartz (and others) are wrong about tours and activities: Here's why
By Douglas Quinby - Phocuswright | June 22, 2018
In March of this year, Quartz proclaimed that somebody should let Airbnb know that travelers don't like booking tours and activities online. Read More
Travel brands need to rethink "local" if they want to engage customers
News / Distribution
Travel brands need to rethink "local" if they want to engage customers
By Viewpoints | June 22, 2018
This is a viewpoint from Matt Walker, chief storyteller at LikeWhere If airlines and travel brands want to win in 2018, they have to incorporate the customer's preferences in their definition of "l Read More
Millennials and the changing face of the vacation rental industry
News / Distribution
Millennials and the changing face of the vacation rental industry
By Viewpoints | June 21, 2018
This is a viewpoint from Amiad Soto, founder of Guesty. The vacation rental industry, alongside the travel industry in general, is booming. Travel has become a right rather than a privilege. The am Read More
mmgy portrait of american travelers
News / Online
Travelers losing interest in home-sharing, Google gaining ground as travel resource
By Jill Menze | June 20, 2018
For all the chatter of Airbnb stealing scene time away from hotels, traveler interest in home-sharing seems to be waning. Read More
OTA Insight parity tool and report
News / Distribution
OTA Insight launches new parity tool for revenue management
By Mitra Sorrells | June 19, 2018
Hoteliers have a new tool to help them analyze and optimize distribution costs.   Read More
How Booking Holdings thinks about acquisitions and internal growth
News / Distribution
How Booking Holdings thinks about acquisitions and internal growth
By Linda Fox | June 13, 2018
Ever wondered how Booking Holdings thinks about acquisitions and growth more widely? It's recent purchase of tours and activities tech company FareHarbor offers some clues. The team has moved to Am Read More
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