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.

Thomas Cook India links up with Airbnb for international packages
News / Distribution
Thomas Cook India links up with Airbnb for international packages
By Martin Cowen | February 22, 2016
Indian travellers could soon be able to walk into a branch of Thomas Cook India and book a flight-plus-Airbnb package after the pair announced that they were looking at ways of working together. Ab Read More
Choice Hotels opens a vacation rental platform to (kind of) compete with Airbnb
News / Distribution
Choice Hotels opens a vacation rental platform to (kind of) compete with Airbnb
By Juliana Shallcross | February 18, 2016
Making good on its promise from last month, Choice Hotels confirmed that it will start offering vacation rentals. Choice Hotels CEO Steve Joyce had hinted at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Read More
Airbnb, HomeAway watch: Goldman Sachs finds strong adoption by travelers
News / Online
Airbnb, HomeAway watch: Goldman Sachs finds strong adoption by travelers
By Sean O'Neil | February 17, 2016
Last month, investment bank Goldman Sachs downgraded the stocks of Priceline Group and TripAdvisor. One of its explanations was that it is worried that travelers are opting for property-sharing ser Read More
Has the Airbnb bubble burst?
News / Distribution
Has the Airbnb bubble burst?
By Martin Cowen | February 12, 2016
Only 4% of Americans are considering Airbnb for their next vacation according to a survey from forex giant Travelex. As part of the PR around its 40th anniversary, Travelex asked more than 2000 "ce Read More
Airbnb finds inspiration in the jungle for new campaign
News / Distribution
Airbnb finds inspiration in the jungle for new campaign
By Linda Fox | February 11, 2016
Competition for the home rental customer is intensifying with all parties trying to reach the consumer through clever campaigns. A few weeks ago it was HomeAway's "The Whole House. The Whole Family Read More
These startups strive to be the sharing economy stars of meeting spaces
News / Distribution
These startups strive to be the sharing economy stars of meeting spaces
By Rob Lovitt | February 8, 2016
Underused assets: They’re what drive the sharing economy. If you have a spare bedroom (or empty vacation home), Airbnb makes it easy to rent it out. If your car’s sitting in the garage, Turo and Getar Read More
How to use gamification to design memorable travel experiences
News
How to use gamification to design memorable travel experiences
By Viewpoints | February 8, 2016
The travel industry is at a point where market differentiation has become more crucial than ever. Sounds obvious, but why? NB: This is an analysis by Roman Egger and Paul Bulencea, authors of Ga Read More
Dear hoteliers: Six things you need to get right about Airbnb
News / Distribution
Dear hoteliers: Six things you need to get right about Airbnb
By Morris Sim | January 28, 2016
As a road warrior who frequently stays in all sorts of accommodation around the world, I decided to analyze the allure of Airbnb and compare it to staying in hotels. I conducted mini-focus groups w Read More
Uber and Airbnb's business travel growth eclipsed by HotelTonight
News / Distribution
Uber and Airbnb's business travel growth eclipsed by HotelTonight
By Martin Cowen | January 22, 2016
The poster children of the so-called sharing economy - Uber and Airbnb - are now mainstream corporate travel suppliers says a detailed report into US business travellers' expense claims by Certify. Read More
Airbnb travellers shop for accommodation just like other travellers
News
Airbnb travellers shop for accommodation just like other travellers
By Kevin May | January 21, 2016
Airbnb may have created an aura of sorts around itself, not least because of its extraordinary growth, but a number of myths have also come into play. One common idea is that it has fuelled the eme Read More
Consolidation is now inevitable in ground transportation
News / Distribution
Consolidation is now inevitable in ground transportation
By Viewpoints | January 18, 2016
Changes in the hotel and accommodation industry are foreshadowing what is to come in ground transportation. Specifically, I expect 2016 to be a year of consolidation in the ground travel market. Read More
HomeAway takes aim at Airbnb in spiky new ad campaign
News / Online
HomeAway takes aim at Airbnb in spiky new ad campaign
By Kevin May | January 18, 2016
New year, new advertising campaign - nothing unusual in that, except this year the vacation rental giant HomeAway has a new owner as well. Two months after Expedia Inc splashed out $3.9 billion to Read More
Airbnb finding favour with German and Spanish travellers [INFOGRAPHIC]
News / Distribution
Airbnb finding favour with German and Spanish travellers [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Martin Cowen | January 8, 2016
A snapshot of travel booking habits across Europe, carried out by marketing tech firm Rocket Fuel, has a few eyebrow-raising findings, specifically around the popularity of Airbnb. It said that "Tr Read More
Looking back and ahead -- the sharing economy goes big
News / Distribution
Looking back and ahead -- the sharing economy goes big
By Viewpoints | December 29, 2015
As we reach 2016, Tnooz is unveiling its customary series of reflections on the year behind us and what the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry might expect looking ahead. And, as always, we' Read More
Pivotal moments 2015 - When Expedia bought HomeAway
News
Pivotal moments 2015 - When Expedia bought HomeAway
By Kevin May | December 29, 2015
There is nothing new in the concept of "alternative accommodation" - but in 2015 it went mainstream in a big way. Although many of the major online travel agencies will never directly admit it (sim Read More
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