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.

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
Collaborative consumption model drives a new wave of travel products
News / Online
Collaborative consumption model drives a new wave of travel products
By Viewpoints | September 23, 2011
We’ve heard a lot about the rise of collaborative consumption over the last few years and Rachel Botsman’s book What’s Mine is Yours is one of the best pieces on the subject. Read More
Wimdu follows through on host insurance promise
News / Online
Wimdu follows through on host insurance promise
By Linda Fox | September 8, 2011
Wimdu has introduced a global insurance policy for its hosts which will take effect from the beginning of October Read More
Airbnb for business travelers? Rental tools for monthly sublets introduced
News / Online
Airbnb for business travelers? Rental tools for monthly sublets introduced
By Dennis Schaal | September 1, 2011
If you thought Airbnb was just for college kids looking for a couch to crash on, guess again. Read More
iStopOver to offer Daily Deals -- on booking fees
News / Online
iStopOver to offer Daily Deals -- on booking fees
By Dennis Schaal | August 29, 2011
Peer to peer accommodation specialist iStopOver isn't going full-throttle into flash sales, but will begin offering Daily Deals with a twist. Read More
CouchSurfing captures $7.6M funding, ends not-for-profit status
News / Online
CouchSurfing captures $7.6M funding, ends not-for-profit status
By Kevin May | August 25, 2011
Long before the likes of Airbnb and Wimdu got people excited and/or hot under the collar about rental marketplaces, there was enormous buzz surrounding Couchsurfing. Read More
Wimdu to check-in with global insurance, traveller protection to follow
News / Online
Wimdu to check-in with global insurance, traveller protection to follow
By Linda Fox | August 24, 2011
Wimdu is to follow rival Airbnb with the introduction of a policy to protect property hosts in the next few weeks. Read More
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