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.

Mobile ads, user generated data and instant booking are the trends to watch in travel
News / Technology
Mobile ads, user generated data and instant booking are the trends to watch in travel
By Viewpoints | June 22, 2015
Respected and unofficial tech industry bellwether Mary Meeker from KPCB recently released her 20th Internet Trends Report. Tnooz covered it here, but I haven't another take on some of its findings. Read More
Airbnb releases pricing algorithm to devs, jeopardizing startups
News / Distribution
Airbnb releases pricing algorithm to devs, jeopardizing startups
By Nick Vivion | June 5, 2015
Airbnb has made a move that could jeopardize the budding ecosystem of pricing startups promising to help renters achieve the greatest profits: The popular platform has made its internal pricing predic Read More
Could it really take 10 years for the UK's sharing economy to thrive?
News / Distribution
Could it really take 10 years for the UK's sharing economy to thrive?
By Nick Vivion | June 3, 2015
It could take a decade for the sharing economy to truly thrive in the UK, according to the country's industry trade body. The comments came from Debbie Wosskow, the head of the recently-created Sha Read More
What social media says about the sharing economy
News / Online
What social media says about the sharing economy
By Nick Vivion | June 1, 2015
Airbnb is dominating social media discussions, according to a language analysis by Crimson Hexagon on how social media indicates travel trends in the sharing economy. The image above highlights the Read More
The consumer interface (not assets) is where the action is
News / Distribution
The consumer interface (not assets) is where the action is
By PhocusWire | May 26, 2015
Ponder this new reality for a moment - Uber, the world’s largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Read More
HomeAway fulfills promise to enter urban markets, goes head-to-head with Airbnb
News / Distribution
HomeAway fulfills promise to enter urban markets, goes head-to-head with Airbnb
By Nick Vivion | May 21, 2015
Just a few months back, Tnooz spoke with HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples about the differences between his company and Airbnb. One of the key differences — the focus on vacation markets — is becoming l Read More
Nobody's perfect - what Priceline didn't appreciate was coming next
News
Nobody's perfect - what Priceline didn't appreciate was coming next
By Kevin May | May 20, 2015
Love it or hate it - the Priceline Group, many would argue, has made very few wrong turns over the years. The company's strategy around the Booking.com acquisition and growth plan, for example, is Read More
Airbnb claims only on the first page of its business plan
News / Distribution
Airbnb claims only on the first page of its business plan
By Kevin May | May 19, 2015
It's a statement with probably enough of an edge to it to worry hospitality providers - and others - the world over, but clearly Airbnb has ambitions to grow further. Olivier Gremillon, managing di Read More
Airbnb claims to double NYC economic impact to $1.15 billion
News
Airbnb claims to double NYC economic impact to $1.15 billion
By Nick Vivion | May 13, 2015
Airbnb has nearly doubled its economic impact in New York City during 2014, a new study has found. According to the research, which was conducted by HR&A Advisors, the total impact of Airbnb guest Read More
Russia remains on the global roadmap
News / Distribution
Russia remains on the global roadmap
By Viewpoints | May 13, 2015
The economic situation remains unstable in Russia and many startups are losing faith in the Russian market. But at the same time, some major players are placing their trust in the “crisis means new op Read More
Travelport ramps up accommodation strategy, acknowledges possible role in sharing economy
News / Distribution
Travelport ramps up accommodation strategy, acknowledges possible role in sharing economy
By Kevin May | May 7, 2015
Travelport says it will soon add vacation rental properties to its distribution network, in a bid to widen the accommodation options to agencies. Speaking following its Q1 2015 results, president a Read More
GuestToGuest nabs cash from peer-to-peer insurance specialist
News / Distribution
GuestToGuest nabs cash from peer-to-peer insurance specialist
By Martin Cowen | May 6, 2015
France-based home exchange business GuestToGuest has raised €4 million ($4.5 million) and wants to have a million members within three years. French insurance firm MAIF has made the investment. Read More
Do sharing economy startups have a civic duty to share data?
News
Do sharing economy startups have a civic duty to share data?
By Nick Vivion | May 5, 2015
The sharing economy — most notably Airbnb and Uber — grapples with regulation across the world on a daily basis. One of the biggest hurdles is related to data privacy and protecting that data from Read More
Startup pitch: Misterbnb, an Airbnb alternative for gay travel, raises $2 million
News
Startup pitch: Misterbnb, an Airbnb alternative for gay travel, raises $2 million
By Sean O'Neil | May 4, 2015
Misterbnb, founded in April 2013 in Paris, is a short-term rental platform aimed at gay travelers. It says it has raised $2 million in a seed round. The round was led by Pole Capital, a French vent Read More
Travel startups: Don't bring a knife to a gunfight
News
Travel startups: Don't bring a knife to a gunfight
By Alex Bainbridge | April 28, 2015
The travel industry has not been very receptive recently to digital travel startups. Yes, articles are written, conference startup pitch invites are received, but generally the incumbents, or digit Read More
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