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: 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
Pivotal moments in 2014 - when Airbnb got in bed with Concur
News / Distribution
Pivotal moments in 2014 - when Airbnb got in bed with Concur
By Linda Fox | December 22, 2014
Concur’s partnership with Airbnb, announced back in July, feels like a pivotal moment in 2014. It’s a sort of establishment meets disruptor. It’s recognition that there’s a generation of travellers Read More
Pivotal moments in 2014 - when digital travel finally matured
News / Distribution
Pivotal moments in 2014 - when digital travel finally matured
By Alex Bainbridge | December 19, 2014
It would very difficult to put your finger on something that significantly altered in 2014. Yet perhaps the pivotal moment isn't a moment at all, but a sense. Airbnb, Uber and HotelTonight, for Read More
Slow acceptance of Airbnb by mainstream travel brands starts with KLM
News / Online
Slow acceptance of Airbnb by mainstream travel brands starts with KLM
By Kevin May | December 15, 2014
Until now, many of the leading travel brands in the industry have avoided doing anything with Airbnb and its sharing economy kin. It will probably remain unclear whether this was because of the leg Read More
APAC travel sweet spot: Forget the rich, here come the value-conscious
News / Online
APAC travel sweet spot: Forget the rich, here come the value-conscious
By Pamela Whitby | December 12, 2014
With the younger generation earning more and intra-APAC travel on the rise in 2014, online travel companies better be in fighting form in 2015. NB: This is a report by Pamela Whitby, editor for Eye Read More
Trying to get a handle on 5 years of consumer travel startups
News / Technology
Trying to get a handle on 5 years of consumer travel startups
By Viewpoints | December 4, 2014
Numerous consumer-focused travel startups have launched in the past five years. They tackle many facets of travel, ranging from hotel and flight search to ground transport, social travel, trip plan Read More
The rise of mobile to drive bookings of in-destination services
News / Technology
The rise of mobile to drive bookings of in-destination services
By Viewpoints | December 3, 2014
Mobile devices are now outperforming PCs in terms of both product sales and broadband subscriptions. As a result, mobile is going to play an increasingly central role in the travel industry in the Read More
Uber and Jetblue are leading a dumbing down of travel
News / Technology
Uber and Jetblue are leading a dumbing down of travel
By Timothy O'Neil-Dunne | November 25, 2014
This is the story of two brands in travel. One respected, one trying to get respect. One is Uber, the other is JetBlue. Both, however, have sadly started down a path that will likely undermine thei Read More
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