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.

Don’t be a dinosaur - activities evolve to avoid extinction
News / Technology
Don’t be a dinosaur - activities evolve to avoid extinction
By Viewpoints | February 27, 2017
Think about it for a moment - over $600 million in capital has been raised in seven years by companies in the tours and activities sector. It is also seven years since Phocuswright published its de Read More
Hostmaker raises $6.5 million for further growth in existing cities
News / Distribution
Hostmaker raises $6.5 million for further growth in existing cities
By Linda Fox | February 23, 2017
Hostmaker, a business that helps Airbnb hosts manage their rentals, has raised Series A funding of $6.5 million. The round was led by Ventech as well as an existing investor, DN Capital. The lat Read More
BridgeStreet unveils OTA for business travel community
News / Distribution
BridgeStreet unveils OTA for business travel community
By Linda Fox | February 22, 2017
BridgeStreet Global Hospitality says its development of an online travel agency for corporate travellers aims to bridge the gap between extended stay and peer-to-peer accommodation. The company is Read More
The Airbnb effect on hotels - experiences, tech provision and convergence
News / Distribution
The Airbnb effect on hotels - experiences, tech provision and convergence
By Viewpoints | February 17, 2017
In less than a decade the twenty-something founders of Airbnb have gone from selling politics-themed cereal, back in 2007, to raising $850 million on a $30 billion valuation. In short: Airbnb is th Read More
Expedia ups the ante in Europe, undeterred by Priceline's Momondo deal
News / Distribution
Expedia ups the ante in Europe, undeterred by Priceline's Momondo deal
By Martin Cowen | February 17, 2017
Expedia Inc's CFO Mark Okerstrom is confident Europe remains a "huge opportunity" for its brands and promised it will be "more aggressive" in the region this year. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Tec Read More
Airbnb splashes out on Luxury Retreats in order to grow into new segment
News / Distribution
Airbnb splashes out on Luxury Retreats in order to grow into new segment
By Kevin May | February 16, 2017
Interesting (and not unexpected) move by Airbnb confirmed this week with the acquisition of vacation rental platform Luxury Retreats. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but speculation in recent Read More
Airbnb, its hosts and the complex world of Insurer Of Last Resort
News / Online
Airbnb, its hosts and the complex world of Insurer Of Last Resort
By Viewpoints | February 8, 2017
Unlike researching and booking an exotic trip, you receive neither the aspirational effect nor a dopamine rush when you research and purchase a travel insurance policy. In short: nobody buys travel Read More
HomeAway removes last remnant of independent guest-owner interaction
News / Online
HomeAway removes last remnant of independent guest-owner interaction
By Kevin May | January 31, 2017
HomeAway has split opinion over its decision to alter the way in which potential guests can interact with a property's owner. At the turn of 2017, HomeAway shifted the ability for a traveller to fi Read More
Airbnb - never mind the volumes, look at the growth
News / Distribution
Airbnb - never mind the volumes, look at the growth
By Martin Cowen | January 27, 2017
Certify's findings for 2016, based on expense claims filed through its system, includes some proper statistics for Airbnb. During the year just gone, Airbnb continued its run of doubling transactio Read More
Understanding the Airbnb phenomenon, using 3D maps
News / Distribution
Understanding the Airbnb phenomenon, using 3D maps
By Kevin May | January 27, 2017
There are various ways of viewing the rise of Airbnb on both a global and in individual country basis. And, depending on who you ask, you'll inevitably get a different perspective. Hotels are ei Read More
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary and Donald Trump - two men with similar issues
News
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary and Donald Trump - two men with similar issues
By Viewpoints | January 19, 2017
Let’s play a game that I like to call "Who said this: Donald Trump or Michael O’Leary?" - US president-elect versus the Ryanair CEO. NB: This is an opinion by Matt Walker, chief storyteller at Like Read More
Could a president Donald Trump protect his (and other) hotels by regulating Airbnb?
News / Distribution
Could a president Donald Trump protect his (and other) hotels by regulating Airbnb?
By Kevin May | January 18, 2017
President-elect Donald Trump is well-known now for not only mixing his metaphors but also proclaiming one thing and then saying something else later. Countless examples are being paraded in the mai Read More
Data science, China, buses and other travel trends for 2017
From Our Partners / Technology
Data science, China, buses and other travel trends for 2017
By Sponsored Content | January 18, 2017
After the failure of even the most well respected pollsters to accurately predict the outcomes of not only Brexit but also the US presidential election, predictions are out of favour. NB: This is a Read More
Startup pitch: Aviva IQ gives Airbnb hosts a helping hand
News / Technology
Startup pitch: Aviva IQ gives Airbnb hosts a helping hand
By Kevin May | January 13, 2017
Since its beta launch in late-2016, at the Airbnb Open in Los Angeles, Aviva IQ, has been tapped to automate messages for thousands of listings worldwide. The Silicon Valley startup offers messagin Read More
Airbnb bookings by corporate travellers on growth tear
News / Distribution
Airbnb bookings by corporate travellers on growth tear
By Kevin May | January 9, 2017
In some respects, booking figures for Airbnb by corporate travellers remain low compared to those for hotels - but the growth is certainly noteworthy. Business travel management platform Concur has Read More
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