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.

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
Airbnb exec takes key role at Booking.com
News / Online
Airbnb exec takes key role at Booking.com
By Kevin May | February 26, 2018
Booking.com will take an apparent fight it now faces with Airbnb head-on after hiring one of the private accommodation sharing giant's high profile figures. Read More
Airbnb wants Experiences in 1,000 destinations, expands activities
News / Online
Airbnb wants Experiences in 1,000 destinations, expands activities
By Jill Menze | February 23, 2018
Following news of updates to its core Homes category, Airbnb has announced expansion of its fledgling Experiences marketplace. Read More
Airbnb Experiences pushes for profitability with expansion into live events
News / Distribution
Airbnb Experiences pushes for profitability with expansion into live events
By Nick Vivion | February 23, 2018
Today, Airbnb announced a notable expansion of its Experiences product: Concerts. Travelers, as well as locals (a demographic that the company already targets with Experiences) can book concerts wi Read More
Interview: Airbnb CEO says it's now "100%" battling online travel agencies
News / Online
Interview: Airbnb CEO says it's now "100%" battling online travel agencies
By Jill Menze | February 23, 2018
Airbnb views itself going all-in with a plan to compete with the giants of the accommodation world - online travel agencies. Read More
Marking it's tenth year anniversary, Airbnb pivots to a future of 1 billion annual guest nights by 2028
News / Distribution
Marking it's tenth year anniversary, Airbnb pivots to a future of 1 billion annual guest nights by 2028
By Nick Vivion | February 22, 2018
It's hard to believe but it's been a decade since Airbnb first peddled Obama O's and Captain McCain cereal in an early example of growth marketing. Yep, Airbnb has just turned ten! As part of a massiv Read More
Airbnb targets one billion guests per year by 2028
News / Online
Airbnb targets one billion guests per year by 2028
By Jill Menze | February 22, 2018
As Airbnb ushers in its tenth year in business, the home-share titan has announced a new “Roadmap” designed to bring annual guest count to more than one billion by 2028. Read More
Keynote: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky explains Plus, Beyond, Superguest, Collections, and Categories ?
News / Distribution
Keynote: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky explains Plus, Beyond, Superguest, Collections, and Categories ?
By Nick Vivion | February 22, 2018
Airbnb marked its tenth anniversary with a re-thinking of the company's approach to its listings, its search, and its general approach to matching a traveler to the best listing for a specific trip. Read More
Hostaway vacation rental system funding
News / Startups
Hostaway secures €700K to expand distribution tool for thriving rental market
By Mitra Sorrells | February 22, 2018
Helsinki, Finland-based Hostaway has raised €700,000 in funding to grow its vacation rental channel management solution.   Read More
in the big chair steve milo
Interview / Online
In The Big Chair - Steve Milo of VTrips
By Jill Menze | February 20, 2018
The founder and CEO of VTrips, Steve Milo has learned every aspect of the vacation rental industry, starting when he bought his first vacation home 15 years ago. Read More
airbnb-hotel-distribution-analysis
News / Distribution
Can Airbnb trigger a revolution in hotel distribution?
By Cesar Lopez - Mirai | February 20, 2018
Given the size of Airbnb, recent coverage of its potential to open up to hotel distribution has been well worth the fanfare. Read More
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