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.

Touchless tech: How short-term rentals are simplifying stays amid COVID-19
News / Technology
Touchless tech: How short-term rentals are simplifying stays amid COVID-19
By Jill Menze | August 12, 2020
Property managers and hosts are investing in contactless solutions to help guests feel more confident about traveling. Read More
How the luggage experience is changing as a result of COVID-19
News / Online
How the luggage experience is changing as a result of COVID-19
By Jill Menze | August 7, 2020
To ensure safety and reduce touch points while traveling, consumers are rethinking how they transport their bags. Read More
WEBINAR REPLAY! The digital customer journey is broken. Let’s fix it.
News / Technology
WEBINAR REPLAY! The digital customer journey is broken. Let’s fix it.
By PhocusWire | August 6, 2020
There has never been a more urgent time for travel sellers to reimagine their digital customer journeys. And the way they achieve that is as Complete Retailers. Read More
Breezeway raises $8M to expand property operations platform
News / Technology
Breezeway raises $8M to expand property operations platform
By Jill Menze | August 5, 2020
Breezeway will use the funds to help property managers deliver a higher standard of service as they navigate COVID-19. Read More
REPORT: How data partnerships can speed up recovery
From Our Partners / Technology
REPORT: How data partnerships can speed up recovery
By Marisa Garcia | August 3, 2020
As travelers begin to once again pack their bags, it's not only necessary to keep them informed an safe, but also to know more about them and to keep them engaged through relevance and personalization... Read More
Hotel payment optimization long overdue - and "just in time"
From Our Partners / Technology
Hotel payment optimization long overdue - and "just in time"
By Ixaris | July 31, 2020
As travelers begin to once again pack their bags, it's not only necessary to keep them informed and safe, but also to know more about them and to keep them engaged through relevance and... Read More
expedia-q2-2020
News / Online
Abysmal April pulls Expedia Group down to record lows in second quarter
By Mitra Sorrells | July 30, 2020
Expedia Group saw an uptick in business in May and June and now a leveling off in July. Read More
Short-term rentals and misalignment of the marketplace
Opinion / Distribution
Short-term rentals and misalignment of the marketplace
By Jared Alster - Dune7 | July 29, 2020
The distribution landscape for short-term vacation rentals is dominated by marketplaces. However, the pandemic has revealed some weak points and misalignment of incentives within the traditional... Read More
str-airdna-comparison-covid
News / Online
Short-term rentals showing more resilience than hotels, but recovery still “fragile” for lodging
By Mitra Sorrells | July 24, 2020
STR and AirDNA have conducted a global analysis of hotel and short-term rental data in 27 markets globally. Read More
airbnb -cleaning-program
News / Online
Airbnb expands COVID cleaning protocol program and designation to 50 countries and regions
By Mitra Sorrells | July 21, 2020
Airbnb is now offering cleaning guidelines and materials to hosts in 50 countries and regions, up from 12 when it launched last month. Read More
Rental accommodation tech providers unite to launch consumer site
News / Online
Rental accommodation tech providers unite to launch consumer site
By Kevin May | July 20, 2020
The quartet - GuestReady, HostnFly, NOCNOC and Welkeys - have built the service in a bid to revive the national market for trips by using their respective expertise in both back-end and... Read More
Sounding Off: OTA version 2.0 is likely to come from outside the travel industry
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: OTA version 2.0 is likely to come from outside the travel industry
By PhocusWire | July 17, 2020
The brands that are able to position themselves in this as-yet undetermined role will most likely be all things to all people - selling more than just a form of accommodation and a flight. Read More
airbnb-one-million-bookings
News / Online
Airbnb claims 1 million nights booked in one day for first time since March 3
By Mitra Sorrells | July 15, 2020
Airbnb says users booked more than one million nights' worth of future stays on July 8, the first time that has happened since the outbreak triggered lockdowns in dozens of countries worldwide. Read More
How investors are taking the long view on opportunities in short-term rentals
News / Online
How investors are taking the long view on opportunities in short-term rentals
By Linda Fox | July 15, 2020
Private accommodation has been hard hit by the pandemic, leading some in the investment community to ask whether the size of the opportunity will be as great when the travel industry recovers. Read More
The next business model for the short-term rental market
Opinion / Distribution
The next business model for the short-term rental market
By Vanessa de Souza Lage - Rentals United | July 10, 2020
Diversification and risk management will be the keys for survival in the new world. Read More