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 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
Booking.com wants to "win" private accommodation but won't mimic Airbnb
News / Online
Booking.com wants to "win" private accommodation but won't mimic Airbnb
By Kevin May | March 7, 2018
What a difference a few weeks can make - Airbnb was once a big threat to hotels, yet now all the attention is on its emergence as a competitor to online travel agencies. Read More
airbnb homes exec
News / Online
Airbnb names Amazon exec Greg Greeley president of Homes unit
By Jill Menze | March 6, 2018
Following a slew of product updates announced over the past couple weeks, Airbnb has appointed a new executive: Amazon’s Greg Greeley will join the company March 18 as president of the Homes business... Read More
quote of the week 12
News / Online
QOTW: Something about room for the biggest startup in the world
By PhocusWire | March 2, 2018
Quote from Brian Chesky, in a one-to-one interview with PhocusWire this week. Read More
Which stakeholders stand to benefit the most - and least - from Airbnb's quest for a billion guests?
News / Distribution
Which stakeholders stand to benefit the most - and least - from Airbnb's quest for a billion guests?
By Nick Vivion | March 2, 2018
With last week’s rapid-fire announcements, Airbnb has joined the ranks of ‘companies that freak the industry out,’ such as Google. Just observe reactions to Google’s latest move in travel: Google is c Read More
in the big chair brian chesky
Interview / Online
In The Big Chair - Brian Chesky of Airbnb
By Jill Menze | February 27, 2018
The three co-founders started Airbnb with an air mattress in their apartment. Now, the 36-year-old CEO oversees a travel company worth $31 billion. Read More
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