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 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
OTA Insight on Google and Airbnb
News / Distribution
Google, Airbnb and the evolving distribution landscape
By Mitra Sorrells | February 15, 2018
Airbnb and Google made notable announcements in the first week of February – the former opening its platform to hotel distribution and the latter rolling out updates to expand and simplify travel... Read More
New generation of business travellers demand new generation tech
From Our Partners / Technology
New generation of business travellers demand new generation tech
By Sponsored Content | February 14, 2018
This is a viewpoint from Dr Martin Buck, senior vice president for Messe Berlin GmbH. Travel technology has tremendously changed the way we travel, from sharing our photos on social media to voice Read More
quote of the week 9
News / Distribution
QOTW: Something about the beginning of a new battle
By PhocusWire | February 9, 2018
Quote from Airbnb in its plea to hotels. Read More
Expedia earnings: Cloud migration, supply expansion, and HomeAway
News / Distribution
Expedia earnings: Cloud migration, supply expansion, and HomeAway
By Nick Vivion | February 8, 2018
Earnings calls generally get interesting towards the end. While it's useful to hear how a business is doing, it's equally revealing to hear how executives respond to analyst questions. Outside of the Read More
Airbnb teams with SiteMinder to streamline bookings for boutique hotels and B&Bs
News / Distribution
Airbnb teams with SiteMinder to streamline bookings for boutique hotels and B&Bs
By Michele McDonald | February 8, 2018
Airbnb signed its first global hotel technology deal with SiteMinder, a provider of one of the top channel managers in the industry. The partnership will give traditional hospitality businesses – s Read More
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