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.

How mobile technology is changing travel [INFOGRAPHIC]
News / Online
How mobile technology is changing travel [INFOGRAPHIC]
By Kevin May | May 2, 2012
Well, yes, we all know it is (especially now with this latest research), but sometimes the speed in which mobile travel has evolved is lost in the midst of constant app launches and new devices. Read More
HomeAway on phishing, peers and professional managers
News / Online
HomeAway on phishing, peers and professional managers
By Dennis Schaal | April 25, 2012
The vacation rental industry has truly gone international -- "international criminals" are directing phishing scams at owners and renters, says HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples. Read More
Travel startups and celebrities - strategic value or PR puff?
News / Online
Travel startups and celebrities - strategic value or PR puff?
By Kevin May | April 7, 2012
What is it these days with celebrities and travel startups? Or, more likely, travel startups and celebrities. Read More
Rental sites Roomorama and Lofty come together, secure $2.1 million funding
News / Online
Rental sites Roomorama and Lofty come together, secure $2.1 million funding
By Kevin May | April 5, 2012
More consolidation in the rental sector with short-term site and US-based Roomorama merging with Europe specialist Lofty and attracting a seed funding round of $2.1 million. Read More
Can consumer travel startups make it without being bought?
News / Online
Can consumer travel startups make it without being bought?
By Alex Kremer | March 30, 2012
Expedia. Travelocity. TripAdvisor. Kayak. These are all household names that even your mother will likely know. Read More
Wimdu sees revenue quadruple in three months, says social travel sky-rocketing
News / Online
Wimdu sees revenue quadruple in three months, says social travel sky-rocketing
By Linda Fox | March 23, 2012
Accommodation rental specialist Wimdu attributes a fourfold increase in revenue in the past quarter to mass market appeal of the concept Read More
CanaryHop wants comedian Andy Samberg to be what William Shatner was to Priceline
News / Online
Airbnb buys UK apartment rental service Crashpadder
News / Online
Airbnb buys UK apartment rental service Crashpadder
By Kevin May | March 21, 2012
Airbnb is starting to sweep up some of its competition around the world with confirmation that it has this week bought rival brand Crashpadder in the UK. Read More
TLabs Reprise - Tripedge 12 months on
News / Online
TLabs Reprise - Tripedge 12 months on
By Kevin May | March 6, 2012
Tripedge is a UK-based consumer-to-agent referral service, which first featured on Tnooz in March 2011. So what happened in the intervening 12 months? Read More
Love Home Swap targets high-end owners with home swap service for travelers
News / Online
Love Home Swap targets high-end owners with home swap service for travelers
By Dennis Schaal | February 28, 2012
TLabs Showcase on travel startups featuring UK-base Love Home Swap, a new platform for luxury home and apartment owners to exchange properties in short-term deals. Read More
ShortTermHousing challenges rental sector with free to list and book service
News / Online
ShortTermHousing challenges rental sector with free to list and book service
By Dennis Schaal | December 28, 2011
TLabs Showcase on travel startups featuring US-based ShortTermHousing, a new vacation rental platform with zero payment and commission system. Read More
Sharples of HomeAway: We have the vacation rental pipe for online travel agencies, but ...
News / Online
Sharples of HomeAway: We have the vacation rental pipe for online travel agencies, but ...
By Dennis Schaal | November 16, 2011
How soon will it be before major online travel agencies go after the vacation rental market in a really big way? Read More
Could this whizzy pee-2-pee app be a big opportunity for Airbnb hosts?
News / Online
Could this whizzy pee-2-pee app be a big opportunity for Airbnb hosts?
By Kevin May | November 4, 2011
No idea if this is someone with a very good sense of humour or just another genuine yet wacky startup idea - but welcome to a new take on the person-to-person travel distribution channel. Read More
Airbnb ponders UK VAT issue
News / Online
Airbnb ponders UK VAT issue
By Linda Fox | October 21, 2011
Apartment rental site Airbnb has said it is 'looking into' potential VAT issues in the UK as well as seller of travel law in Iowa. Read More
Are HomeAway and Airbnb on a collision course?
News / Online
Are HomeAway and Airbnb on a collision course?
By Dennis Schaal | October 17, 2011
HomeAway isn't ready to jump into the peer-to-peer rental market, but is watching Airbnb and others to see how the sector shakes out. Read More
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