Alternative Accommodation

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the alternative accommodation sector, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on home-sharing, short-term rentals, timeshare, homestays and other property types.

Airbnb RXR develop luxury NYC rentals
News / Online
Airbnb will convert commercial properties into luxury rentals
By Mitra Sorrells | April 30, 2019
Airbnb is partnering with New York-based RXR Realty to create 200 luxury rentals in a Midtown Manhattan commercial high-rise. Read More
Rentals United adds $4.25M in funding to boost technology platform
News / Distribution
Rentals United adds $4.25M in funding to boost technology platform
By Linda Fox | April 26, 2019
The capital comes from Stella EOC Capital and Howzat Partners, with existing investors also participating in the round. Read More
Vacasa partners with e-commerce giant Wayfair to launch interior design program
News / Online
Vacasa partners with e-commerce giant Wayfair to launch interior design program
By Jill Menze | April 25, 2019
The program, which has been in pilot mode over the past year, is designed to boost income for vacation homeowners and multifamily developers by linking them with Vacasa’s in-house design team to... Read More
email-marketing-transactions-travel-2
Opinion / Online
Transactional emails in travel: The good, the bad and the ugly
By Matt Harris - Dyspatch | April 19, 2019
Once consumers have booked a trip, the likelihood of receiving a really bad transactional email at some point between booking and departure is far too high.  Read More
lyric investment
News / Online
Airbnb leads $160M investment in hospitality platform Lyric
By Jill Menze | April 17, 2019
The Series B round will allow the San Francisco-based company to expand its relationships with local real estate developers. Read More
locale raises funds
News / Online
Apart-hotel brand Locale nabs $2.5M to expand operations
By Jill Menze | April 17, 2019
It's the first funding round for the Austin, Texas-based company since launching in 2016. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Gomingo wants to bring down commission rates for accommodation providers
Interview / Distribution
STARTUP STAGE: Gomingo wants to bring down commission rates for accommodation providers
By Linda Fox | April 11, 2019
Gomingo aims to bring down commission rates for hotels and other accommodation providers by offering 0% commission to hotels that sign up initially with a promise that they will only reach a maximum of... Read More
GuestReady acquires BnbLord
News / Online
More expansion for GuestReady with acquisition of competitor BnbLord
By Mitra Sorrells | April 11, 2019
European Airbnb property management company GuestReady has grown its property count to 2,000 with the acquisition of BnbLord, a Paris-based competitor. Read More
Booking.com speaks out on its private accommodation ambitions
News / Online
Booking.com speaks out on its private accommodation ambitions
By Jill Menze | April 9, 2019
Amid its ongoing rivalry with Airbnb, Booking.com explains how it hopes to differentiate its alternative accommodations product. Read More
Airbnb confirms investment in Indian hospitality brand OYO
News / Online
Airbnb confirms investment in Indian hospitality brand OYO
By Jill Menze | April 1, 2019
The rumors are confirmed, and the deal is estimated between $100 million and $200 million. Read More
HomeAway commits to future of VRBO with rebrand and new features
News / Online
HomeAway commits to future of VRBO with rebrand and new features
By Kevin May | March 27, 2019
Expedia Group is "doubling down on what made the business successful", HomeAway president John Kim says, almost 25 years on from the service's launch in the U.S. Read More
Airbnb counts half a billion guest arrivals, host earnings at $65B
News / Online
Airbnb counts half a billion guest arrivals, host earnings at $65B
By Jill Menze | March 27, 2019
More than 500,000 guests have stayed at Airbnb properties around the globe, the company reports, with three guests checking into listings every half-second. Read More
Google hotel search vacation rentals
News / Distribution
Google pushes further into private accommodations, rolls out vacation rentals search worldwide
By Mitra Sorrells | March 26, 2019
Google is adding vacation rental listings from the likes of Expedia Group and TripAdvisor to its Hotel Search platform. Read More
Welcome Pickups speeds off with €3.3M to grow "holistic" in-destination service
News / Online
Welcome Pickups speeds off with €3.3M to grow "holistic" in-destination service
By Jill Menze | March 22, 2019
The Athens, Greece-based company will use the funds to build a traveler app and grow its team and partnerships. Read More
Guesty leads short-term rental software race with $35M raise
News / Technology
Guesty leads short-term rental software race with $35M raise
By Jill Menze | March 21, 2019
The property management platform’s funding now totals $60 million - the highest of any other software in the short-term rental space, according to the company. Read More