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.

Dtravel integrates vacation rental AI agent into Fetch.ai marketplace
News / Technology
Dtravel integrates vacation rental AI agent into Fetch.ai marketplace
By Mitra Sorrells | October 17, 2024
Dtravel has also joined the Fetch.ai Foundation, which is focused on research and development of AI, Web3 and multi-agent technologies.   Read More
Could Airbnb’s new co-host marketplace challenge property management companies?
News / Online
Could Airbnb’s new co-host marketplace challenge property management companies?
By Mitra Sorrells | October 16, 2024
Hosts enter their address to find approved co-hosts nearby and then the two communicate directly to establish the scope of the partnership and the fee for the services – none of which goes to Airbnb. Read More
Hilton partners with Be My Eyes to assist blind and low-vision guests
News / Online
Hilton partners with Be My Eyes to assist blind and low-vision guests
By Mileva Sapic | October 15, 2024
The Be My Eyes app directly connects Hilton guests who are blind or have low vision with a team of trained agents who can view the guest's surrounding through the mobile device's camera. Read More
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021
News / Startups
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021
By Mileva Sapic | October 14, 2024
Beachy, Chekin, Kyte, Vouch and Zartico update PhocusWire on what they've been up to since they were named part of PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2021. Read More
Flexible living drives hospitality and residential technology convergence
News / Technology
Flexible living drives hospitality and residential technology convergence
By Matthew Parsons | October 8, 2024
The growing number of mixed-use properties creates gaps for a new breed of tech-enabled hospitality companies, in particular non-hotel brands, to enter new markets. Read More
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2020
News / Startups
Where are they now? Catching up with the Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2020
By Mileva Sapic | October 7, 2024
AllFly, Mize, Questo, Magpie and FutureStay update PhocusWire on what they've been up to since they were named part of PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2020. Read More
RentalReady launches fully autonomous AI agent for STRs
News / Technology
RentalReady launches fully autonomous AI agent for STRs
By Mileva Sapic | October 2, 2024
RentalReady's AI agent, Maia, will handle guest communication and assist with upselling, reviews, tasks and revenue management. Read More
Hype versus reality: How fast is generative AI changing the travel industry?
News / Technology
Hype versus reality: How fast is generative AI changing the travel industry?
By Morgan Hines | October 2, 2024
Industry leaders from Accor, Sabre, Cloudbeds, Navan, MakeMyTrip and more share their thoughts on generative AI and whether it has lived up to expectations thus far. Read More
Travel startup funding in Q3 dominated by earlier rounds
News / Startups
Travel startup funding in Q3 dominated by earlier rounds
By Linda Fox | October 1, 2024
Check out who received investment and the deals that were done in PhocusWire's Q3 roundup of funding and M&A activity. Read More
Chesky on Airbnb's future in travel and beyond
News / Online
Chesky on Airbnb's future in travel and beyond
By Morgan Hines | September 20, 2024
Chesky referenced Apple and Amazon’s trajectory - what if Apple never launched the iPod, or Amazon never sold more than books? - to explain why he believes Airbnb should offer much more than a place to... Read More
“Founder mode” or "manager mode"? Travel execs weigh in on leadership styles
News / Startups
“Founder mode” or "manager mode"? Travel execs weigh in on leadership styles
By Morgan Hines | September 18, 2024
Travel leaders share their take on recent comments from Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky about the management style he believes is most effective.   Read More
Guesty launches two additional AI features with new tools for property managers
News / Online
Guesty launches two additional AI features with new tools for property managers
By Mileva Sapic | September 12, 2024
Property management software platform Guesty is adding AI-tools for website creation and review management. Read More
Alliants, Hospiria partner to launch flexible rental platform
News / Technology
Alliants, Hospiria partner to launch flexible rental platform
By Linda Fox | September 12, 2024
1LiVNG aims to provide the combined strengths of Alliants and Hospiria technology to the residential real estate market including branded residences owned by hotels, timeshare owners and serviced... Read More
Airbnb quietly reopens platform to new Experience listings
News / Online
Airbnb quietly reopens platform to new Experience listings
By Morgan Hines | September 11, 2024
 After saying last month that it would accept submission of new Experiences beginning next year, Airbnb quietly reopened to new listings on Tuesday.   Read More
Booking Holdings' new CFO expects connected trip "is really there" in 3 to 5 years
News / Online
Booking Holdings' new CFO expects connected trip "is really there" in 3 to 5 years
By Morgan Hines | September 10, 2024
Ewout Steenbergen, chief financial officer at Bookings Holdings since March, called out the company's work in alternative accommodations and artificial intelligence and strong demand in Asia as key... Read More
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