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.

Hitting the mainstream - nothing alternative about alternative accommodation now
News / Distribution
Hitting the mainstream - nothing alternative about alternative accommodation now
By Kevin May | May 22, 2017
It suited the industry vernacular for a long time to pigeon hole everything that wasn't a hotel into the term "alternative accommodation". Long before the emergence of Airbnb and even HomeAway, bra Read More
HomeAway quietly introduces $1 million liability insurance
News / Online
HomeAway quietly introduces $1 million liability insurance
By Kevin May | May 16, 2017
Vacation rental giant HomeAway has started rolling out an insurance programme - the first time it has taken responsibility for the connections it makes between guests and homeowners. The $1 Million Read More
Facebook Reactions - a year of wow and haha for travel and tourism?
News / Online
Facebook Reactions - a year of wow and haha for travel and tourism?
By Nick Vivion | May 11, 2017
Facebook Reactions has just celebrated its first birthday - a reason if any to share a love heart-style - or angry - emoji. But, seriously, while not everyone greeted Reactions with excitement, the Read More
Airbnb seen as cheapest option for accommodation by many millennials
News / Online
Airbnb seen as cheapest option for accommodation by many millennials
By Kevin May | May 9, 2017
Either the marketing continues to wow younger travellers or it is correct that Airbnb is the cheaper provider of somewhere to stay when compared to hotels. That's an outcome to consider by hotel ma Read More
Content marketing - the new search?
News / Distribution
Content marketing - the new search?
By Viewpoints | May 5, 2017
Since the early days of “search”, travel brands have led the way in building new business models that cater to the changing ways that consumers shop online, engaging consumers at targeted moments when Read More
Airbnb's new business travel program offers all the comforts of home
News / Distribution
Airbnb's new business travel program offers all the comforts of home
By Michele McDonald | May 1, 2017
Airbnb introduced “Business Travel Ready,” a program that aims to provide business travelers with the most appropriate accommodations. It also offers a range of tools for corporate travel managers. Read More
Can technology address the concerns of business travellers?
News / Distribution
Can technology address the concerns of business travellers?
By Marisa Garcia | April 26, 2017
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives and American Express Global Business Travel have released a study of traveller trends including security and the so-called sharing economy. The 'Check Read More
Business travellers in the dark over Airbnb-style stays in company policy
News / Distribution
Business travellers in the dark over Airbnb-style stays in company policy
By Kevin May | April 20, 2017
Almost 40% of business trippers believe that staying in an Airbnb or similar property is allowed under corporate travel policy. But - and here's the rub - just one in six business travellers are ac Read More
The power of packages for hotels
From Our Partners / Distribution
The power of packages for hotels
By Sponsored Content | April 19, 2017
Hotels currently have a variety of ways to sell rooms. The halcyon days of basing distribution strategy around the simplistic "direct" and "third-party" options are long gone. Merchant model or net Read More
Ola adds an in-house tours and activities option for customers
News / Technology
Ola adds an in-house tours and activities option for customers
By Martin Cowen | April 13, 2017
Indian taxi app Ola will train its drivers to become tour guides as part of a tie-up with tourism authorities in the state of Maharashtra. Maharashtra is India's third largest state in terms of siz Read More
Airbnb Trips - six months on, still in the treehouses, igloos and yurts phase
News / Distribution
Airbnb Trips - six months on, still in the treehouses, igloos and yurts phase
By Viewpoints | April 11, 2017
Last November, Airbnb announced to the world its next wave of innovation to the strains of Maroon 5 with a dash of Lady Gaga. Trips was to be the next layer in the customer travel experience after Read More
How hotels beat Airbnb by getting in bed with the traveler
News / Distribution
How hotels beat Airbnb by getting in bed with the traveler
By Viewpoints | April 10, 2017
Today’s traveler is apparently digitally savvy and wants to be inspired by destinations and authentic experiences throughout the entirety of their travel lifecycle. Airbnb was one of the first to n Read More
Why OTA commissions are actually a steal of a deal
News / Distribution
Why OTA commissions are actually a steal of a deal
By Viewpoints | April 6, 2017
In the past six months I’ve written about increasing hotel brand fees (Hotel Loyalty Rate Analysis) and increasing loyalty fees (The Great Loyalty Rate Debate). Both articles prompted some very int Read More
Just some of the paths Airbnb (and vacation rental) might take in 2017
News / Distribution
Just some of the paths Airbnb (and vacation rental) might take in 2017
By Viewpoints | April 5, 2017
Fun times in the vacation rental space with the rise and rise of Airbnb, funding for startups, hotels getting in on the act and consolidation around the middle ground. Where it all might head next mak Read More
HundredRooms lands €4 million to push into new markets
News / Distribution
HundredRooms lands €4 million to push into new markets
By Kevin May | March 27, 2017
Vacation rental search engine HundredRooms has brought its total funding €11 million, with its eyes set on launching in more countries. The €4 million round was led by Seaya Ventures and featured p Read More
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