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.

A new way to stay: Startup Stay connects galavanting entrepreneurs together with locals
News / Online
A new way to stay: Startup Stay connects galavanting entrepreneurs together with locals
By Nick Vivion | November 29, 2012
The idea is that like attracts like, and that both hosting and stay with other entrepreneurs can invigorate ideas, encourage connections, and facilitate cross-pollination across segments and industries. Read More
Come on, travel startups: Please innovate and stop replicating!
News / Online
Come on, travel startups: Please innovate and stop replicating!
By Viewpoints | November 19, 2012
The travel industry is flooded with venture capital investment. Millions of Dollars and Euros are poured into a multitude of travel startups all the time. Read More
Brian Chesky of Airbnb explains new consumption model, answers critics, takes a bow
News / Distribution
Brian Chesky of Airbnb explains new consumption model, answers critics, takes a bow
By Kevin May | November 16, 2012
Airbnb polarises opinion - on the one hand it's the tech disrupter many want to emulate, growing fast and apparently pushing north of a $1 billion valuation. Read More
A rough guide to eight big travel industry battles
News / Online
A rough guide to eight big travel industry battles
By Alex Bainbridge | November 13, 2012
To let you spend more time schmoozing (or sleeping), here is a wry take on what is often discussed in travel industry panel debates. Read More
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud hiccup takes down Airbnb, Foursquare, and other startups for hours
News / Online
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud hiccup takes down Airbnb, Foursquare, and other startups for hours
By Sean O'Neil | October 22, 2012
Many digital companies, including travel startups like Airbnb and Foursquare have been knocked offline for hours during the business day today. Read More
CasaHop uses social graph to create trust in the home swap experience
News / Online
CasaHop uses social graph to create trust in the home swap experience
By Linda Fox | October 19, 2012
CasaHop is a home exchange platform which aims to put like-minded people in touch with each other via their social graph. Read More
Travelmob, Asia's version of Airbnb, passes Go, collects $1 million, and plots its future
News / Distribution
Travelmob, Asia's version of Airbnb, passes Go, collects $1 million, and plots its future
By Sean O'Neil | October 5, 2012
Travelmob is a peer-to-peer rental site for distinctive lodging in the Asia Pacific region. It's similar to US peer-to-peer accommodation site Airbnb, and has received $1 million in funding. Read More
Airbnb buys obscure Fondu app, may create printed city guidebooks
News / Online
Airbnb buys obscure Fondu app, may create printed city guidebooks
By Sean O'Neil | October 3, 2012
Financial terms of the transaction weren't disclosed for the purchase of the restaurant recommendation app. AIrbnb wants to distribute printed guides of what's worth seeing in major cities. Read More
HomeAway retires Holiday-Rentals brand, claims poor brand recognition
News / Online
HomeAway retires Holiday-Rentals brand, claims poor brand recognition
By Kevin May | September 26, 2012
Seven years after starting its aggressive expansion strategy outside of its US homeland, HomeAway is axing the brand of one of its first acquisitions, Holiday-Rentals. Read More
Can a road-tripper make his way around the US on $11-a-day using social media sites?
News / Online
Can a road-tripper make his way around the US on $11-a-day using social media sites?
By Viewpoints | September 25, 2012
If the internet made the world into a community, social media is making it into a family. Complete strangers can catch a ride, bum a bed, and meet up for dinner. Read More
Startup entrepreneurship - the rose-tinted spectacles version? [VIDEO]
News / Online
Startup entrepreneurship - the rose-tinted spectacles version? [VIDEO]
By Kevin May | August 23, 2012
Coming up with the idea for a company can be easy, but starting and running it is far from the glamorous life which the Siliconites might have everyone believe. Read More
From not-for-profit to investment bucket in 12 months - CouchSurfing takes $15M in latest injection
News / Online
From not-for-profit to investment bucket in 12 months - CouchSurfing takes $15M in latest injection
By Kevin May | August 22, 2012
CouchSurfing was once a fine example of how a web brand could capture a market without feeling the need to make heady revenues and kowtow to the needs of its backers. Read More
Julian Assange used Airbnb to find his Ecuador Embassy home in London - maybe
News / Online
Julian Assange used Airbnb to find his Ecuador Embassy home in London - maybe
By Kevin May | August 20, 2012
Such is the circus surrounding the stand-off between Wikileaks frontman Julian Assange and the UK, Swedish and US authorities that it was only a matter of time before the jokes started. Read More
9Flats buys iStopOver, targets home turf of Airbnb
News / Online
9Flats buys iStopOver, targets home turf of Airbnb
By Kevin May | August 7, 2012
Consolidation in the world of private rental marketplaces as European startup 9Flats acquires North America specialist iStopover. Read More
What are the best cities around the world for travel tech startups?
News
What are the best cities around the world for travel tech startups?
By Sean O'Neil | July 5, 2012
Choosing a city to base your travel tech startup can be tough. You want plenty of smart developers as a talent pool. You also want affordable rental space. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026