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.

Peer-to-peer rentals receive clarity from San Francisco, paving way for legal status
News
Peer-to-peer rentals receive clarity from San Francisco, paving way for legal status
By Nick Vivion | October 9, 2014
The evolving regulatory environment surrounding short-term rentals accelerated this week, with San Francisco's Board of Supervisors releasing clear rules framing short-term rentals. Board President Read More
The slowly evolving Airbnb - is it a distribution or hospitality company?
News
The slowly evolving Airbnb - is it a distribution or hospitality company?
By Viewpoints | October 3, 2014
In the latter half of 2013, Airbnb began making more direct comparisons between itself and the hotel industry. Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder and chief technology officer, told the Telegraph in Nov Read More
UK government wants in on sharing economy
News / Distribution
UK government wants in on sharing economy
By Linda Fox | September 30, 2014
The UK government is looking to "open doors" for the sharing economy and make the country a global centre for businesses such as Airbnb and ZipCar. It seems a slightly out of left-field move for a Read More
HouseTrip founders quit amid restructuring and staff redundancies
News
HouseTrip founders quit amid restructuring and staff redundancies
By Kevin May | September 23, 2014
A major restructuring and shift in strategy is expected to lead to a widespread axing of staff at vacation rental brand HouseTrip. The company says in a statement issued this week that it is "chang Read More
Cosmopolit Home secures Euro 2 million for free night-swapping service
News
Cosmopolit Home secures Euro 2 million for free night-swapping service
By Kevin May | September 11, 2014
CouchSurfing trend returns, maybe - French startup Cosmopolit Home has raised Euro 2 million from a string of European investors. The company, which launched in mid-2013, has received the backing f Read More
Uber banned across Germany, temporarily
News / Technology
Uber banned across Germany, temporarily
By Linda Fox | September 2, 2014
Uber must wonder whether its coming or going in Germany having been slapped with a nationwide injunction preventing it from operating across the country. Media reports say the temporary injunction, Read More
Airbnb extends reach further via tie up with Ostrovok
News / Distribution
Airbnb extends reach further via tie up with Ostrovok
By Linda Fox | August 27, 2014
Marking its first distribution deal outside the US, Airbnb is making its inventory available through Russia-based online accommodation service Ostrovok. According to a statement the deal will exten Read More
Travel technology, boutique bidding, and innovations in travel [VIDEO]
News / Online
Travel technology, boutique bidding, and innovations in travel [VIDEO]
By Nick Vivion | August 19, 2014
Travel technology, boutique bidding and innovations in travel from Airbnb and Concur were all recent topics of conversation on Bloomberg West network, demonstrating the continued interest in the techn Read More
A short lesson on the history and future of the sharing economy [VIDEO]
News / Distribution
A short lesson on the history and future of the sharing economy [VIDEO]
By Kevin May | August 15, 2014
[video_popup width="805" height="454" video_link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcK6m3kVZxk" video_image_link="https://www.tnooz.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/sharing-economy.jpg"] So much is be Read More
Couchsurfing's new CEO is optimistic, as Erik Blachford and Joel Cutler join board
News
Couchsurfing's new CEO is optimistic, as Erik Blachford and Joel Cutler join board
By Sean O'Neil | August 11, 2014
Last autumn, the board of Couchsurfing met to review Tony Espinoza's stormy tenure as CEO. The travel social network had seemed powerless in the face of a small, but vocal minority of digital stone Read More
Three online travel giants and three approaches to the new travel ecosystem
News / Distribution
Three online travel giants and three approaches to the new travel ecosystem
By Viewpoints | August 11, 2014
This year has illustrated that major online players now appear to want the traveler to get everything they need in a single point of sale. The evolution of the Airbnb brand, Priceline's acquisition Read More
Lab-testing new formulas for digital travel
News
Lab-testing new formulas for digital travel
By Gene Quinn | August 4, 2014
Question: What do you call take-out tacos, oceans of Red Bull, midnight beer-and-pizza, bottomless pots of coffee, dozing on beanbag chairs and futons, wads of cash as prizes and bulletproof wifi? Read More
The travel sharing economy is having its Napster Moment right now
News
The travel sharing economy is having its Napster Moment right now
By Viewpoints | July 31, 2014
Remember 1999? Sure you do. The dotcom bubble was in full effect: come up with any idea, really any idea, and add ".com" to it, and you could raise millions. We now know in hindsight that many of t Read More
The sharing economy begins assault on business travel
News / Distribution
The sharing economy begins assault on business travel
By Nick Vivion | July 30, 2014
The annual Global Business Travel Association Convention is generally the bastion of big business, with legacy companies exhibiting to retain and grow their corporate client lists. Some startups targe Read More
Airbnb goes after business traveller, seals deal with Concur
News / Distribution
Airbnb goes after business traveller, seals deal with Concur
By Linda Fox | July 28, 2014
It was only a matter  of time before Concur and Airbnb formed some sort of partnership and today the wait is over. Back in April, Concur revealed use of the peer-to-peer accommodation platform by C Read More
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