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 officially opens up platform to hotel distribution
News / Distribution
Airbnb officially opens up platform to hotel distribution
By Kevin May | February 7, 2018
Airbnb is to allow hotels and other accommodation providers to list on the site for the first time through an official third party distribution network. Read More
Not building walls - Airbnb forms tourism ties with Africa, El Salvador, Haiti
News / Distribution
Not building walls - Airbnb forms tourism ties with Africa, El Salvador, Haiti
By Linda Fox | February 6, 2018
When Donald Trump reportedly had a few choice words to describe a number of destinations recently, some companies, such as Airbnb, decided to get behind those places. Airbnb put not only its money Read More
Airbnb CFO out new COO named
News / Technology
Airbnb IPO ruled out for 2018, CFO departs
By Jill Menze | February 1, 2018
Just days after Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky outlined the company’s plans toward moving into the next century, it was announced that Laurence Tosi is stepping down from his position as chief financial... Read More
Rental tech providers Hostfully and Orbirental merge
News / Technology
Rental tech providers Hostfully and Orbirental merge
By Kevin May | January 31, 2018
Two vacation rental technology startups have agreed to combine companies, three years on from their inception in the U.S. Read More
Airbnb funnels $5M into Experiences arm
News / Online
Airbnb funnels $5M into Experiences arm
By Jill Menze | January 30, 2018
Airbnb is boosting its resources behind the company’s Experiences platform to the tune of $5 million. Read More
quote of the week
News / Online
QOTW: Something about an infinite plan
By PhocusWire | January 26, 2018
Quote from Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb. Read More
airbnb next 100 years
News / Technology
Airbnb CEO outlines plans for "22nd-century company"
By Jill Menze | January 25, 2018
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky today penned an open letter outlining his vision for the company’s next 100 years and announced American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault is joining the board of... Read More
Should Airbnb start an airline?
News / Distribution
Should Airbnb start an airline?
By Marisa Garcia | January 25, 2018
A recent report in Fast Company reveals friction between Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky and CFO Laurence Tosi over the possibility of an Airbnb-branded airline. It peaked our curiosity. Should Airbnb laun Read More
lokckchain booking disruption
News / Distribution
Is this the start of blockchain-based disruption for travel?
By Mitra Sorrells | January 22, 2018
LockChain - what may be the first blockchain-based marketplace for booking hotels and private accommodations - released its alpha version on Friday.  Read More
Airbnb and the road toward a long-awaited IPO
News / Online
Airbnb and the road toward a long-awaited IPO
By Jill Menze | January 19, 2018
Two bold predictions on the Airbnb front claim that the home-share giant will finally list on the stock market this year and that by 2020, more than half of its revenue will come from services it’s not... Read More
Sharing economy spurs hotel investment in tech, loyalty programs
News / Technology
Sharing economy spurs hotel investment in tech, loyalty programs
By Mitra Sorrells | January 19, 2018
Competition from Airbnb, HomeAway and other sharing economy businesses that offer alternative accommodations is prompting hotels to beef up their marketing technology and loyalty programs.   Read More
Tech and the transforming vacation rental industry
Opinion / Online
Tech and the transforming vacation rental industry
By Steve Milo - VTrips | January 17, 2018
The vacation rental industry, a once sleepy and highly fragmented niche segment of travel, is rapidly being transformed from the “mom and pop” operations epitomized by T-shirts and flip-flops to slick... Read More
On China tourism, Ctrip latest and notable moves from other players
News / Distribution
On China tourism, Ctrip latest and notable moves from other players
By PhocusWire | January 15, 2018
For the past two weeks, ChinaTravelNews has been focusing on how Chinese tourists affect the travel sector, a series of Ctrip’s moves, and news of major players Meituan, Tencent and Airbnb. Player Read More
Research Spotlight: Airbnb looking back and forward
News / Online
Research Spotlight: Airbnb looking back and forward
By PhocusWire | January 12, 2018
Close to a decade since its foundation and $4.4 billion in funding later, Airbnb is one of the genuinely disruptive brands in the travel industry. Read More
CityStasher expansion funding
News / Startups
"Airbnb for luggage" expands in Europe following $1.1M funding
By Mitra Sorrells | January 11, 2018
London-based startup CityStasher, which describes itself as the “Airbnb for luggage,” has raised $1.1 million in seed funding. Read More
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