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.

Japan-based cabin stay startup secures oversubscribed pre-seed funding
News / Startups
Japan-based cabin stay startup secures oversubscribed pre-seed funding
By Abby Crotty | April 17, 2025
A Cabin Company said it will use the funding to accelerate its rollout in Japan, strengthen partnerships with local landowners and integrate wellness tech. Read More
You've spent 20 years optimizing for humans: Now it's time to optimize for AI
Opinion / Technology
You've spent 20 years optimizing for humans: Now it's time to optimize for AI
By Brennen Bliss - Propellic Travel Marketing | April 17, 2025
Brennen Bliss, CEO of Propellic Travel Marketing, shares tips and tactics to optimize travel websites for AI systems. Read More
Lighthouse adds marketing tech with acquisition of The Hotels Network
News / Technology
Lighthouse adds marketing tech with acquisition of The Hotels Network
By Linda Fox | April 16, 2025
The Hotels Network is a cloud-based platform that helps hotels attract, engage with and convert guests using real-time user behavior, predictive algorithms and artificial intelligence agents. Read More
Latin America-based corporate travel startup Onfly raises $40M
News / Startups
Latin America-based corporate travel startup Onfly raises $40M
By Morgan Hines | April 15, 2025
Brazil-based Onfly, founded in 2018, aims to streamline and digitize corporate travel and expense management, now working with more than 2,000 companies. Read More
Report—The short-term rental guest: 2025 trends, insights and research
From Our Partners / Online
Report—The short-term rental guest: 2025 trends, insights and research
By Cathy Walsh | April 15, 2025
This report is based on findings from a study of the short-term rental market in the United States conducted by Phocuswright in partnership with Expedia Group and other travel leaders. Read More
HostAI becomes Conduit, raises $3.1M
News / Startups
HostAI becomes Conduit, raises $3.1M
By Morgan Hines | April 11, 2025
Conduit, which started out calling itself “Shopify for Travel,” has grown from a tool for automated guest messaging for STRs “into something much bigger.” Read More
Vacation rental techs talk investment, acquisitions and organic growth
News / Technology
Vacation rental techs talk investment, acquisitions and organic growth
By Linda Fox | April 11, 2025
Vacation rental tech platforms discussed the current investment landscape and creating a balance between acquisitions and organic growth at the Short Stay Summit. Read More
The path to growing alternative revenue for short-term rentals
News / Distribution
The path to growing alternative revenue for short-term rentals
By Phocuswright Research | April 10, 2025
For companies that serve short-term rentals, it is critical to understand what type of technological and ancillary tools operators are turning to. Read More
Phocuswright Europe 2025: Shaping the next era of travel
News
Phocuswright Europe 2025: Shaping the next era of travel
By PhocusWire | April 7, 2025
The Phocuswright Europe 2025 program is live with the speaker line-up including executives from Airbnb, Accor, Booking.com, Expedia and Lufthansa. Read More
Hospitality tech platform SuiteOp raises $3M to fund expansion
News / Startups
Hospitality tech platform SuiteOp raises $3M to fund expansion
By Abby Crotty | April 7, 2025
Guest operations platform SuiteOp said it will use the seed funding to "accelerate development" and invest in automation tools. Read More
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: airBaltic, Hostaway, Smartvel, TravelPerk and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: airBaltic, Hostaway, Smartvel, TravelPerk and more...
By PhocusWire | April 4, 2025
Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry. Read More
Vrbo plans greater traveler targeting through marketing tech
News / Online
Vrbo plans greater traveler targeting through marketing tech
By Linda Fox | April 4, 2025
Vrbo is focusing on growth, more dynamic and personalized offers and property quality. Read More
Homelike shuts down after 10 years in long-stay business
News / Online
Homelike shuts down after 10 years in long-stay business
By Linda Fox | March 31, 2025
Homelike announced $14 million in funding in 2018 and subsequently launched in the Netherlands, Spain and the United States. Read More
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: HotelTonight, Airbnb, WTTC, NextTrip and more...
News / Technology
PhocusWire's weekly travel tech news briefs: HotelTonight, Airbnb, WTTC, NextTrip and more...
By PhocusWire | March 28, 2025
 Keep up with all the latest people, partner and product news from around the global travel industry.   Read More
Airlines expressed economic concern. Should online travel giants be worried?
News / Online
Airlines expressed economic concern. Should online travel giants be worried?
By Morgan Hines | March 27, 2025
Wall Street and travel industry analysts weigh in on how factors such as trade wars, economic woes and travel warnings could impact consumers' desire to travel. Read More
The Phocuswright Conference 2026