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.

STARTUP STAGE: Welcome Compass provides personalized guest guidebooks at scale
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Welcome Compass provides personalized guest guidebooks at scale
By Morgan Hines | June 20, 2024
Welcome Compass uses artificial intelligence to generate a personalized digital guide for guests that can include house rules, local recommendations, check-in/check-out instructions and more. Read More
Lighthouse acquires market data specialist HQ revenue
News / Technology
Lighthouse acquires market data specialist HQ revenue
By Linda Fox | June 20, 2024
Lighthouse (formerly OTA Insight) is making its fifth acquisition in recent years as it continues to roll up hotel data and distribution technology providers. Read More
Travel investment analysis shows shifts in funding, opportunities for innovation
News / Online
Travel investment analysis shows shifts in funding, opportunities for innovation
By Morgan Hines | June 20, 2024
F-Prime Capital partner Gaurav Tuli and Lufthansa Innovation Hub analyst Anna Schneider share their take on innovation and funding across the global travel industry, with additional perspective from a... Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Stellar allows consumers to repurpose their unused reservations
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Stellar allows consumers to repurpose their unused reservations
By Mileva Sapic | June 17, 2024
Stellar is a marketplace committed to reselling nonrefundable and noncancellable reservations and tickets across a broad spectrum of experiences, including travel, dining, concerts and sporting events. Read More
Spanish travelers: Hotel stays flat, short-term rentals surging
News / Online
Spanish travelers: Hotel stays flat, short-term rentals surging
By Phocuswright Research | June 14, 2024
This Phocuswright report, based on a survey of Spanish leisure travelers, provides a comprehensive range of data and analysis on the trip life cycle for consumers in Spain.    Read More
Why niche can be nice in the massive world of online travel
News / Online
Why niche can be nice in the massive world of online travel
By Morgan Hines | June 13, 2024
The wide-ranging conversation on the environment for smaller online travel sites touched on the challenges and rewards of working in a smaller, specialized space.   Read More
Majority of LGBTQ+ travelers experience discrimination traveling, Booking.com finds
News / Online
Majority of LGBTQ+ travelers experience discrimination traveling, Booking.com finds
By Morgan Hines | June 12, 2024
 The research comes as part of Booking.com’s mission to “make it easier for everyone to experience the world.” Read More
How travel brands are prioritizing group travel planning
News / Technology
How travel brands are prioritizing group travel planning
By Morgan Hines | June 6, 2024
Expedia Group, Airbnb, Mindtrip and many other companies are looking to simplify group travel planning. Read More
STARTUP STAGE: Trustr is a private marketplace for vacation rental discovery
Interview / Startups
STARTUP STAGE: Trustr is a private marketplace for vacation rental discovery
By Mileva Sapic | June 5, 2024
Launching publicly Wednesday, Trustr is a vacation rental marketplace that enables its members to make properties they own available to people they know and capitalize on recommendations for places to... Read More
From security to cloud, 4 tech insights from hospitality execs
News / Technology
From security to cloud, 4 tech insights from hospitality execs
By Linda Fox | June 3, 2024
Executives from across the hospitality industry discuss how new and old technologies are helping and hindering the sector. Read More
As STR industry copes with growing pains, home swapping enjoys a "Holiday"
News / Online
As STR industry copes with growing pains, home swapping enjoys a "Holiday"
By D.J. Catron | May 28, 2024
Platforms like HomeExchange and Kindred are enjoying big gains while short-term rentals endure frustrations with stricter regulations, supply gluts and more rules and fees.   Read More
Travel Tech hosts D.C. showcase, maintains ancillary fee ruling criticism
News / Technology
Travel Tech hosts D.C. showcase, maintains ancillary fee ruling criticism
By Morgan Hines | May 23, 2024
Overlooking the U.S. Capitol, the Travel Technology Association held its first Policy & Innovation Showcase with Airbnb, Sabre, Booking Holdings and more. Read More
The importance of preserving creative individuality in the STR market
Opinion / Online
The importance of preserving creative individuality in the STR market
By Matt Landau - VRMB | May 23, 2024
As the VRMA Executive Summit opens next week, Matt Landau says that while professionalism is a baseline for vacation rentals, creative individuality is its heart. Read More
HomeToGo updates on AI travel assistant Sunny
News / Technology
HomeToGo updates on AI travel assistant Sunny
By Linda Fox | May 22, 2024
HomeToGo has released a beta version of AI Sunny, a step up from its chatbot Sunny, which has been in place for a number of years, as it looks to develop a full travel assistant. Read More
Marriott's revenue and tech chief on travel retail ambition
News / Technology
Marriott's revenue and tech chief on travel retail ambition
By Linda Fox | May 21, 2024
Marriott International chief revenue and technology officer Drew Pinto discusses the hotel giant's strategy to replace its CRS, PMS and loyalty platform and its approach to newer technologies. Read More
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