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 goes large in London
News / Distribution
Airbnb goes large in London
By Linda Fox | November 11, 2015
Airbnb and the like were always going to be an attractive accommodation alternative in big cities where many travellers like the idea of a home-from-home experience. There have been various studies Read More
After years of trying, Airbnb to formally launch Experiences service
News / Distribution
After years of trying, Airbnb to formally launch Experiences service
By Kevin May | November 10, 2015
Airbnb is likely to go mainstream in the next few weeks on its attempts to expand the product into new areas: namely activities and things to do. The company has recently sent an email to hosts in Read More
Vive Unique rebrands to Veeve as it takes $5.2 million investment
News / Distribution
Vive Unique rebrands to Veeve as it takes $5.2 million investment
By Kevin May | November 9, 2015
London, UK-focused home sharing service Vive Unique will become Veeve following Smedvig Capital injection of $5.2 million. The Series A investment comes 18 months after an initial $5.2 million was Read More
Day after Proposition F victory, Airbnb CEO speaks [VIDEO]
News / Distribution
Day after Proposition F victory, Airbnb CEO speaks [VIDEO]
By Kevin May | November 6, 2015
The morning after the night before... Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, appeared at business leaders gathering hosted by Forbes in the US. The accommodation-sharing company was fresh off its win against Read More
How Expedia will help HomeAway battle Airbnb
News / Distribution
How Expedia will help HomeAway battle Airbnb
By Sean O'Neil | November 5, 2015
Today's Expedia Inc's acquisition of HomeAway, the vacation rental platform, for $3.9 billion (mostly in stock) could be understood as an alliance of mutual interest against Airbnb, the peer-to-peer s Read More
Airbnb campaign pays off, wins battle in its own backyard
News / Distribution
Airbnb campaign pays off, wins battle in its own backyard
By Kevin May | November 4, 2015
The city of San Francisco has voted against legislation that would have put the skids under the Airbnb model in its home city. Initial results from the Proposition F (as the proposed piece of of re Read More
Internet of Things and other digital projects driving tourists beyond London
News / Technology
Internet of Things and other digital projects driving tourists beyond London
By Linda Fox | November 2, 2015
Cities up and down the UK stand to benefit from increased tourism through digital initiatives according to a report. The WTM Trends Report 2015, carried out in association with Euromonitor Internat Read More
Airbnb, HomeAway, TripAdvisor, Booking, and Rented talk vacation rentals
News / Distribution
Airbnb, HomeAway, TripAdvisor, Booking, and Rented talk vacation rentals
By Nick Vivion | November 2, 2015
The mainstreaming of vacation rentals, regional consolidation, regulation and technology-driven operational efficiency were themes at the closing session of the annual Vacation Rental Managers Associa Read More
The naked truth about trust, hotels and Airbnb
News / Distribution
The naked truth about trust, hotels and Airbnb
By Viewpoints | October 30, 2015
There’s no denying there has to be a high level of trust in the guest-hotel relationship.  After all, there aren’t many other industries that involve you getting naked to experience some of their prod Read More
Startup pitch: BnbSitter, a concierge service for Airbnb hosts, leads in Paris
News
Startup pitch: BnbSitter, a concierge service for Airbnb hosts, leads in Paris
By Sean O'Neil | October 23, 2015
Last year, BnbSitter, a start-up that offers on-demand concierge for hosts of short-term rentals, scored $450,000 of seed funding. It now says it leads the market in France and that it is active in Read More
Airbnb wants to capitalise on early growth spurt in Asia
News
Airbnb wants to capitalise on early growth spurt in Asia
By Kevin May | October 21, 2015
Airbnb claims it is seeing "incredible growth" in Asia, with Chinese consumers in particular showing signs of altering their traditional methods of travelling. The company has made a concerted effo Read More
MakeMyTrip sees opportunity in TripAdvisor challenger and Airbnb model
News / Distribution
MakeMyTrip sees opportunity in TripAdvisor challenger and Airbnb model
By Kevin May | October 21, 2015
Indian online travel agency giant MakeMyTrip claims a tough period is now behind it as looks to move into new areas for the business. CEO Deep Kalra, speaking at the WebinTravel conference in Singa Read More
Tours and activities - a little reality check and some optimism
News / Distribution
Tours and activities - a little reality check and some optimism
By Kevin May | October 20, 2015
Such is the apparent progress (and interest) in the online tours and activities sector that it can get an entire session of its own at a major travel conference these days. Hot on the heels of the Read More
Airbnb increases host fee as way to pay for Google advertising
News / Online
Airbnb increases host fee as way to pay for Google advertising
By Kevin May | October 16, 2015
Airbnb is charging hosts an additional 12-15% fee for each booking if their guest found the listing through Google advertising. The sharing economy accommodation provider quietly introduced the "tr Read More
Corporates and the extended stay - booking online and out of range
News / Distribution
Corporates and the extended stay - booking online and out of range
By Kevin May | October 13, 2015
Almost half of corporate travellers have extended their stay when travelling overseas, but the majority are doing so online and "out-of-policy", research has found. The GBTA and WWStay research (cr Read More
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