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's full-service aspirations get another airing
News / Distribution
Airbnb's full-service aspirations get another airing
By Martin Cowen | December 5, 2017
Anyone in the travel tech sector tasked with organizing the office Christmas quiz should take a look at CB Insights' freely available Mapping the State of Travel Tech report. You could ask colleagu Read More
AirBnB Experiences BTO
News / Online
Inside Airbnb's growing Experiences operation
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | December 4, 2017
Airbnb's Experiences platform is notching more than 8,000 bookings per week and receiving of 1,200 requests a week from hosts. Read More
Paysafe, Airbnb and other news briefs today...
Notated News / Technology
Paysafe, Airbnb and other news briefs today...
By PhocusWire | December 4, 2017
In our latest wrap-up of news in brief: Ethiopian Airlines on PaySafe; Air Canada opts for Flyiin; SiteMinder unites with Cloud-Hotel; Airbnb launches split bookings. Read More
Travel startup investments rise (but low level deals fall)
News / Startups
Travel startup investments rise (but low level deals fall)
By Kevin May | November 30, 2017
Travel technology and online startups have raised a massive $15 billion since 2013 across 1,300 deals - yet the climate for investment is changing. Read More
AirBnB Experiences
News / Technology
Airbnb to focus on "end-to-end" travel experiences
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | November 27, 2017
Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia says that his company wants to get involved in end-to-end travel experiences. Read More
Airbnb takes aim at Marriott and other hotel chains
News / Online
Airbnb takes aim at Marriott and other hotel chains
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | November 23, 2017
Airbnb is on the warpath - with a number of hotel chains receiving letters from the company this week. Read More
Airbnb bids to make travel more accessible
News / Distribution
Airbnb bids to make travel more accessible
By Linda Fox | November 17, 2017
Airbnb has acquired Accomable, a website listing accessible accommodation Accomable, founded in 2015, with the aim of making it easier for everyone to travel, regardless of any disabilities. The Read More
disability
News / Online
Airbnb acquires Accomable to aid travelers with disabilities
By Bernadette Giacomazzo | November 16, 2017
Adding to its portfolio, Airbnb announced today that it has acquired Accomable, a platform designed to help travelers with disabilities find accessible hotels, vacation rentals and apartments. Read More
OTA big guns on what the future holds for their businesses
News / Distribution
OTA big guns on what the future holds for their businesses
By Kerry Medina | November 14, 2017
Wall Street analysts weren’t the only ones to weigh in on Expedia Inc. and Priceline Group’s stock prices during the recent Phocuswright Conference in Fort Lauderdale. Glenn Fogel and Mark Okerstro Read More
airbnb-hammock-family
News / Online
Airbnb usage slowing, OTAs should seize opportunity
By Kevin May | November 13, 2017
Adoption of Airbnb has started to flatten sooner than some analysts have expected, with online travel agencies tipped as likely beneficiaries. Read More
Hostmaker plans global expansion as it attracts $15 million in funding
News
Hostmaker plans global expansion as it attracts $15 million in funding
By Linda Fox | November 9, 2017
Hostmaker, a company which helps Airbnb hosts manage rentals, has announced a Series B raise of $15 million. The round is led by Thailand-based Sansiri and Gaw Capital alongside existing investors. Read More
Expedia Inc Q3s home in on HomeAway
News / Distribution
Expedia Inc Q3s home in on HomeAway
By Martin Cowen | October 27, 2017
HomeAway has been given an noticeably higher profile in parent company Expedia Inc's latest earnings release, with bosses talking in terms of its "ecommerce transition" adding that it is also "growing Read More
GuestReady looks to consolidate as cash injection spurs Asia growth
News / Distribution
GuestReady looks to consolidate as cash injection spurs Asia growth
By Pamela Whitby | October 26, 2017
Just a year after launching its managed services for short-term vacation rentals, GuestReady has made its first acquisition and secured seed funding to the tune of £2.3 million. The cash injection, Read More
Airbnb to create first of several 'home-sharing communities' in Southeastern US
News / Technology
Airbnb to create first of several 'home-sharing communities' in Southeastern US
By Michele McDonald | October 16, 2017
Airbnb and Miami-based Newgard Development Group are building a “home- sharing community” in Kissimmee, Fla., that will open next year. Branded as “Niido Powered by Airbnb,” it will be the first of Read More
Ctrip gets deeper into Tujia, leads $300 million Series E
News / Distribution
Ctrip gets deeper into Tujia, leads $300 million Series E
By Martin Cowen | October 10, 2017
China's Airbnb-of-sorts Tujia.com has raised another $300 million in a Series E round, led by Ctrip. The deal values Tujia at $1.5 billion. It is the first funding round to be completed since Tu Read More
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