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.

Hafner isn't having it — Kayak's CEO critiques Google, Airbnb, and others
News / Online
Hafner isn't having it — Kayak's CEO critiques Google, Airbnb, and others
By Sean O'Neil | November 18, 2016
Steve Hafner, co-founder and chief executive of Kayak, is living up to his reputation for being one of the liveliest annual on-stage interviewees at the Phocuswright Conference. On-stage he says th Read More
Airbnb claims most significant development in its history - moving beyond accommodation
News / Distribution
Airbnb claims most significant development in its history - moving beyond accommodation
By Kevin May | November 18, 2016
It's big rhetoric time at Airbnb this week, with the home sharing giant claiming at its annual hoedown that it is going to "make travel magical again". The worst kept secret in recent months has se Read More
Hotel gives like a local, lends Airbnb and rental owners its boutique services
News / Online
Hotel gives like a local, lends Airbnb and rental owners its boutique services
By Kevin May | November 11, 2016
A UK hotel has taken a novel approach to connecting into the growing world of shared or rented properties for use with travel accommodation. The Bermondsey Square Hotel in London has given access t Read More
Airbnb yet to be hit with Brits but growing impact on industry
News / Distribution
Airbnb yet to be hit with Brits but growing impact on industry
By Linda Fox | November 8, 2016
The British haven't quite got the Airbnb bug yet according to research released today. A study on usage shows only 12% of travellers say they have used the peer-to-peer accommodation platform. T Read More
Large increase in business travellers found using Airbnb
News / Distribution
Large increase in business travellers found using Airbnb
By Kevin May | November 7, 2016
The number of organisations using room and home-sharing service Airbnb has increased by a third - and the amount being spent is even higher. Research by Concur, looking at company travel expenses f Read More
Startup Pitch: MyFriendsRoom uses personal networks for vacation rentals
News / Online
Startup Pitch: MyFriendsRoom uses personal networks for vacation rentals
By Kevin May | November 6, 2016
As we all know, Airbnb has illustrated the enormous appetite that exists for the house/room-sharing concept in the travel industry. But there are many consumers that have concerns about a model tha Read More
Hostels remain outsiders (but staying the course) in chaotic accommodation world
News / Distribution
Hostels remain outsiders (but staying the course) in chaotic accommodation world
By Kevin May | November 2, 2016
"Alternative accommodation" is a title that has been banded around for a years now, primarily as a tool to separate hotels from everyone else. The umbrella term has come to prominence in particular Read More
Airbnb China reveals numbers, taps senior citizens as hosts
News / Distribution
Airbnb China reveals numbers, taps senior citizens as hosts
By Martin Cowen | November 2, 2016
More than 3.5 million Chinese travellers have used Airbnb outside China, with the number increasing by 500% during 2015. It also said that its Chinese hosts have welcomed nearly one million guest a Read More
Expedia eyes alternative accommodation bounty, plots HomeAway integration
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Expedia eyes alternative accommodation bounty, plots HomeAway integration
By Kevin May | October 28, 2016
Expedia will begin including vacation rental listings from stablemate HomeAway in the next few months as the battle for alternative accommodation heats up. The online travel agency will finally hav Read More
Airbnb's business travel glass: Half empty or half full?
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Airbnb's business travel glass: Half empty or half full?
By Martin Cowen | October 27, 2016
A global study of more than 250 corporate travel managers and buyers has found that nearly six out of ten have no plans to include sharing economy lodging options in their travel policy. And while Read More
Airbnb transparency drive as hosts worldwide asked to clarify roles
News / Distribution
Airbnb transparency drive as hosts worldwide asked to clarify roles
By Kevin May | October 26, 2016
Airbnb is to embark on programme to gather more information about the hosts of its 2.5 million listings around the world. The idea behind the initiative, which begins in November this year, is to e Read More
What a promotion reveals about how Airbnb sees resort rentals
News / Online
What a promotion reveals about how Airbnb sees resort rentals
By Sean O'Neil | October 26, 2016
Next-generation hospitality company Airbnb has been running an old-fashioned hospitality promotion to try to grab a bigger slice of the rental market in traditional resort areas. This October, the Read More
Tujia buys Ctrip's homestay business, becoming more like Airbnb
News / Distribution
Tujia buys Ctrip's homestay business, becoming more like Airbnb
By Martin Cowen | October 21, 2016
China's Airbnb-of-sorts Tujia is shaking up its existing structure and will integrate Ctrip and Qunar's homestay businesses as part of an acquisition and partnership. In a wide-ranging announcement Read More
Looking at the trust shift in online travel
News / Distribution
Looking at the trust shift in online travel
By Linda Fox | October 18, 2016
Forget about big companies, banks and institutions, who and how we trust has changed, particularly in online travel. Developments in the online travel industry, and in digital in general, have pave Read More
Accommodation rental websites see massive jump in traffic, driven by social media
News / Distribution
Accommodation rental websites see massive jump in traffic, driven by social media
By Kevin May | October 11, 2016
Whoever said social media is a low-level contributor to a travel brand's online traffic? Not execs at alternative accommodation websites, it appears. Hitwise examined the online behaviour of three Read More
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