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.

Startup pitch: MyTwinPlace flips shared accommodation business model
News / Online
Startup pitch: MyTwinPlace flips shared accommodation business model
By Nick Vivion | February 23, 2015
MyTwinPlace is a new travel startup that flips the shared accommodation business model on its head by offering a 1-for-1 exchange for hosting guests. It's quite simple: users sign up for an account Read More
One decade in, HomeAway reminds us all that it is not Airbnb
News / Online
One decade in, HomeAway reminds us all that it is not Airbnb
By Nick Vivion | February 23, 2015
Vacation rental platform HomeAway has hit a major milestone, celebrating its first decade in business this month. Such moments offer a pause for reflection — or a swift kick to recalibrate a company Read More
Are Airbnb's user reviews to be trusted?
News / Technology
Are Airbnb's user reviews to be trusted?
By Nick Vivion | February 20, 2015
It appears that Airbnb users themselves have bought into the kumbaya, golden halo narrative that has long followed the sharing economy's meteoric rise to mainstream popularity. A recent academic re Read More
Airlines: think Amazon, think digital data, think revenue
News / Distribution
Airlines: think Amazon, think digital data, think revenue
By Viewpoints | February 18, 2015
Airlines are now capable of collecting and analyzing more and more traveler data including mobile app and social media behavior, session history from in-flight connectivity, travel history, and previo Read More
This site maps every Airbnb rental in New York City
News
This site maps every Airbnb rental in New York City
By Sean O'Neil | February 12, 2015
Inside Airbnb, a data visualization tool released this week activist Murray Cox, scrapes Airbnb's public data for New York City users. The site's analysis of Airbnb's data casts doubt on the compa Read More
Is Airbnb responsible for the softening in New York RevPAR?
News
Is Airbnb responsible for the softening in New York RevPAR?
By Nick Vivion | February 11, 2015
A recent analyst report from Credit Suisse suggests that Airbnb has put downward pricing pressure on hotels in New York City. The analysts identified the soft demand heading into the fourth quarter Read More
Legal softening for accommodation sharing in London
News
Legal softening for accommodation sharing in London
By Linda Fox | February 11, 2015
The UK Government says it is giving a boost to London's sharing economy through more flexible legislation currently before Parliament. The Department for Communities and Local Government has reveal Read More
Startup pitch: Pillow, after its $2.7M raise, will run your short-term rental for you
News
Startup pitch: Pillow, after its $2.7M raise, will run your short-term rental for you
By Sean O'Neil | February 3, 2015
During a gold rush, the safest business model is to be selling picks, shovels, and other mining supplies. Today's closest thing to a gold rush may be the drive to make it digitally seamless for sm Read More
HomeAway loses in its attempt to stop San Francisco rentals law
News / Online
HomeAway loses in its attempt to stop San Francisco rentals law
By Sean O'Neil | January 28, 2015
Vacation-rental provider HomeAway's attempt to stop new regulations for house rentals in San Francisco has been halted. Today a district judge dismissed HomeAway's case and denied its request for a Read More
Airbnb tipped to double in size and begin gradual impact on hotels
News / Distribution
Airbnb tipped to double in size and begin gradual impact on hotels
By Kevin May | January 20, 2015
Such a statement would be expected from Airbnb itself - but the prediction comes from one of the leading financial travel analysts in Europe. In an investor note released last week, Barclays says i Read More
2015 will be the year that the sharing economy grows up
News / Online
2015 will be the year that the sharing economy grows up
By Viewpoints | January 15, 2015
Even beyond the world of travel, it is hard to argue with the statement that 2014 was the year of the sharing economy. From Uber’s $40 billion valuation (I apologize in advance if this number is ou Read More
Here's some free geeky knowledge from Silicon Valley's engineering elite [VIDEO]
News / Technology
Here's some free geeky knowledge from Silicon Valley's engineering elite [VIDEO]
By Nick Vivion | January 14, 2015
One advantage of working for a growth-stage company is the many educational opportunities that are institutionally available. And thanks to the general open ethos of many startups in Silicon Valley Read More
Interactive Airbnb map shows where people are Airbnbing in real-time
News / Online
Interactive Airbnb map shows where people are Airbnbing in real-time
By Nick Vivion | January 13, 2015
Airbnb is no stranger to clever marketing campaigns, although some of them haven't ended so well. This time last year there was the Birdhouse campaign, which led to threatened litigation for brand co Read More
Airbnb ecosystem expands to include hosts-hosting-hosts service
News
Airbnb ecosystem expands to include hosts-hosting-hosts service
By Nick Vivion | January 12, 2015
The continued success of sharing economy companies such as Airbnb and HomeAway has led to a wholesale shift in city economics as more residents rent accommodation to visitors. And just as the pressure Read More
Airbnb takes steps in Europe to become official part of the hospitality landscape
News
Airbnb takes steps in Europe to become official part of the hospitality landscape
By Kevin May | January 7, 2015
Airbnb will start collecting taxes from property owners in Amsterdam, following complaints from hoteliers in the city. In an agreement signed between the home sharing pioneer and city officials, Ai Read More
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