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.

Digital natives reveal what and who gets their attention with online travel reviews
News / Online
Digital natives reveal what and who gets their attention with online travel reviews
By Kevin May | May 2, 2019
TripAdvisor does not compare to Google for getting online reviews of travel products in the minds of travelers aged between 18 and 28. Read More
Investment bubble or the reality of the private accommodation sector?
News / Online
Investment bubble or the reality of the private accommodation sector?
By Linda Fox | May 2, 2019
Headlines position recently funded brands as the next hospitality "unicorns" with big rounds coming in and eye-watering valuations. Read More
trivago-q1-2019
News / Distribution
Trivago seeks new audiences through marketing after solid start to 2019
By Linda Fox | May 2, 2019
Trivago plans to diversify its advertising as it seeks to attract a younger generation to the hotel metasearch engine. Read More
OYO Rooms acquires European rental brand @Leisure Group for €360M
News / Online
OYO Rooms acquires European rental brand @Leisure Group for €360M
By Kevin May | May 1, 2019
The acquisition marks the first big international investment by India-based OYO and puts it feet first in the Europe marketplace for private accommodation. Read More
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
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