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.

TripAdvisor opens hotel Sponsored Placements
News / Online
TripAdvisor expands Sponsored Placements for hotels, adds new features
By Mitra Sorrells | March 5, 2019
TripAdvisor's Sponsored Placements for accommodations are now available to any property that provides rates and availability on the platform. Read More
bookingpal-vacation-rental-funding
News / Distribution
BookingPal lands $12M round to boost vacation rental distribution platform
By Linda Fox | March 4, 2019
Valor Capital Group with Altabix and a “new strategic investor” join Existing investors Amadeus Ventures, PAR Capital Management, Plug and Play Ventures and Thayer Ventures. Read More
Q&A: Airbnb China president on growing the business, regulators, targeting millennials
Interview / Online
Q&A: Airbnb China president on growing the business, regulators, targeting millennials
By Jill Menze | March 1, 2019
In one of his first interviews since he was appointed president in July, Tao Peng lays out his vision for Airbnb China in this extensive conversation. Read More
Startup Stage Gaffl main
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: GAFFL connects solo travelers to plan trips, split costs
By Mitra Sorrells | March 1, 2019
GAFFL, or, Get a Friend for Life, is intended to help solo travelers find others planning similar itineraries to travel together and share costs.   Read More
Booking Holdings breaks down private accommodation revenues for first time, now at 20% of total
News / Distribution
Booking Holdings breaks down private accommodation revenues for first time, now at 20% of total
By Mitra Sorrells | February 27, 2019
As part of its fourth quarter and full-year 2018 financial report, Booking Holdings is disclosing details on Booking.com's alternative accommodations business, which now accounts for 20% of the... Read More
hometogo-mid-term-rentals
News / Online
HomeToGo widens focus to offer mid-term rentals
By Linda Fox | February 26, 2019
Following a number of acquisitions, HomeToGo is widening its service to offer mid-term rental accommodation. Read More
tujia jennifer li interview
Interview / Online
Q&A: Tujia CBO Jennifer Li on Chinese homestays, overseas growth, Airbnb
By Jill Menze | February 26, 2019
The former CEO of Ctrip’s homestay business explains Tujia’s growth strategy, its relationship with Ctrip and SiteMinder and the home-share opportunities in China and beyond. Read More
oyo japan launch
News / Distribution
OYO teams up with Yahoo to launch home rental business in Japan
By Jill Menze | February 22, 2019
OYO is expanding its affordable housing services to Japan, in a joint effort with Yahoo dubbed OYO Life. Read More
Accor goes down experiences route as it unveils All loyalty platform
News / Distribution
Accor goes down experiences route as it unveils All loyalty platform
By Linda Fox | February 22, 2019
Accor has unveiled its new loyalty platform All combining its loyalty program and distribution. Read More
Home-sharing is ready to write its second chapter
News / Distribution
Home-sharing is ready to write its second chapter
By Christina Jelski - Travel Weekly | February 18, 2019
Startups are mounting fresh challenges to both traditional hotels, whose forays into the home-rental space have met with mixed results, and to a maturing Airbnb, which is showing signs of evolving its... Read More
airbnb-transportation-fred-reid
News / Online
Airbnb hires airline veteran Fred Reid to oversee "transportation", but rules out obvious options
By Kevin May | February 7, 2019
The seasoned airline exec - Virgin America, Lufthansa, American Airlines and Delta - becomes the company's global head of transportation. Read More
Can OYO capture the unbranded hotel market in the U.S. and Europe?
News / Distribution
Can OYO capture the unbranded hotel market in the U.S. and Europe?
By Mitra Sorrells | February 7, 2019
OYO Hotels & Homes is expanding again, debuting in the United States and ramping up operations in Europe. Read More
2nd Address 10 million funding
News / Startups
2nd Address raises $10M for long-term rental platform for business travelers
By Mitra Sorrells | February 6, 2019
2nd Address, an Airbnb-style platform for business travelers, has raised $10 million to expand. Read More
Bag-storage service LuggageHero bags $1.45M to expand in U.S. and Europe
News / Startups
Bag-storage service LuggageHero bags $1.45M to expand in U.S. and Europe
By Jill Menze | February 4, 2019
LuggageHero - named one of PhocusWire’s Hot 25 Startups for 2019 - has raised $1.45 million to expand its luggage-storage operations to 36 additional cities. Read More
Sounding Off: Airbnb should accept that some things are done certain ways
Interview / Distribution
Sounding Off: Airbnb should accept that some things are done certain ways
By PhocusWire | February 1, 2019
The dull mechanics behind what is known as process shouldn't be allowed to prohibit a brand such as Airbnb from making a genuine challenge to OTAs. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026