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.

Vacation rental new association
News / Distribution
Vacation rental "disruption" triggers new focus for association
By Mitra Sorrells | April 10, 2018
A new non-profit association is positioning itself to be the voice of vacation rental owners and managers as they deal with changes and challenges in their business model.   Read More
Airbnb tests eliminating guest fees in new pilot program
News / Online
Airbnb tests eliminating guest fees in new pilot program
By Jill Menze | April 9, 2018
Airbnb is asking select hosts to join a pilot program that removes guest fees from listings. Read More
Guesty Agoda integration
News / Online
Guesty adds Agoda to its vacation rental property management platform
By Mitra Sorrells | April 3, 2018
Guesty, a cloud-based system to manage short-term and vacation rental listings across multiple channels, is expanding its offerings with the integration of Agoda.   Read More
travel influencer marketing report
News / Online
The state of influencer marketing for travel brands
By Mitra Sorrells | March 29, 2018
Photos, blog posts and other content shared by social media influencers can be an effective way for brands to communicate with consumers – particularly since surveys have found that between one-third to... Read More
airbnb chinese government
News / Online
Airbnb offers to de-list Chinese properties if hosts have data worries
By Jill Menze | March 28, 2018
Airbnb has alerted hosts in China that it will begin sharing host information with the Chinese government. Read More
Airbnb claims 20,000 hosts apply for Plus, 1,100 hotels also want in
News / Online
Airbnb claims 20,000 hosts apply for Plus, 1,100 hotels also want in
By Kevin May | March 22, 2018
Airbnb is clearly hoping its evolution of the brand to account for different types of properties will capture the attention of existing hosts. Read More
PODCAST: PhocusWire PundIT Show #9
News / Online
PODCAST: PhocusWire PundIT Show #9
By Kevin May | March 19, 2018
Valyn Perini, Stephen Joyce and Robert Cole get to grips with developments Airbnb and the potential for Amazon to make a return in travel (again). Read More
Airsorted looks to global expansion following £5 million investment
News / Distribution
Airsorted looks to global expansion following £5 million investment
By Linda Fox | March 16, 2018
Airsorted, a hosting management specialist, has raised £5 million in Series A funding. Investors in the round for the London-based company include Pi labs and Atami Capital. The company, whose t Read More
ITB Berlin shines a light on blue chips and startups
News / Technology
ITB Berlin shines a light on blue chips and startups
By PhocusWire | March 15, 2018
ITB Berlin 2018, which took place last week, hosted 10,000 businesses from 186 countries and regions who showcased their products and services to more than 110,000 trade visitors. Meanwhile, the ev Read More
Tujia top brass sees Airbnb collaboration as beneficial
From Our Partners / Technology
Tujia top brass sees Airbnb collaboration as beneficial
By Sponsored Content | March 15, 2018
This is an article from TravelDaily China.It appears as part of the tnooz sponsored content initiative. Back in 2015, when Airbnb announced its expansion in China, Chinese startup Tujia, which had Read More
A battle for hearts and homes - that would be Airbnb and Booking.com
Opinion / Online
A battle for hearts and homes - that would be Airbnb and Booking.com
By Douglas Quinby - Phocuswright | March 14, 2018
It's shaping up to become one of travel's great competitive rivalries: Airbnb versus Booking.com. Read More
Expedia claims it brings a "premium" customer to hotels
News / Online
Expedia claims it brings a "premium" customer to hotels
By Kevin May | March 14, 2018
With battles on multiple fronts, it appears, Expedia Inc has come out with a different tactic to keep its hotel partners happy: its customers have greater overall value. Read More
Airbnb courts hoteliers in crusade against OTAs
News / Online
Airbnb courts hoteliers in crusade against OTAs
By Jill Menze | March 14, 2018
Airbnb has made no secret of its intentions to knock off Expedia and Booking.com from the top of the travel food chain. Read More
Airbnb pounces with ads against OTA commissions and a survey showing dissatisfaction among smaller hoteliers
News / Distribution
Airbnb pounces with ads against OTA commissions and a survey showing dissatisfaction among smaller hoteliers
By PhocusWire | March 13, 2018
A new front has opened up in the battle for hotel bookings: OTAs vs Airbnb. After Airbnb announced its intentions to open up its platform to hotels, there were major implications for stakeholders acro Read More
Why Airbnb Experiences are a threat to franchised suppliers - not retailers
Opinion / Online
Why Airbnb Experiences are a threat to franchised suppliers - not retailers
By Alex Bainbridge - DestinationCTO | March 9, 2018
Innovation when an industry is watching your every move is hard, especially so when you have to bring hundreds of partners with you so have to disclose what you are doing outside of your own business. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026