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.

News / Startups

AvantStay locks in $20M in funding, looks to expand short-term rental portfolio

By Linda Fox | September 18, 2019

AvantStay is looking to bring in more properties for its short-term rentals for groups concept following $20 million in funding. Read More

News / Technology

Lavanda houses $5M capital raise as real estate and hospitality get closer

By Kevin May | September 17, 2019

The U.K.-based company had previously raised two angels tranches in the $1.5 million range in 2016 and 2017. Read More

News / Online

Holidu raises €40M to target new markets and boost Bookiply distribution platform

By Kevin May | September 17, 2019

The round eclipses the $20 million brought in by HomeToGo in April 2016 and the $35 million for the ill-fated Tripping in the same year. Read More

Interview / Startups

STARTUP STAGE: Padlifter wants to connect vacation rental service providers

By Mitra Sorrells | September 6, 2019

Padlifter is a marketplace to connect vacation rental hosts with providers of services such as property management, security, marketing, maintenance, laundry, accounting and more. Read More

News / Distribution

Google adds Vacasa to vacation rental search

By Jill Menze | September 5, 2019

In March, Google added vacation rental properties to its Hotel Search function, and it’s now adding the first vacation rental management brand to the mix through a partnership with Vacasa. Read More

News / Technology

Marriott picks BookingPal as exclusive tech partner for home-rental unit

By Jill Menze | September 3, 2019

Marriott International has selected BookingPal as the exclusive technology partner for its Homes & Villas vacation rental division. Read More

News / Technology

OYO acquires data shop Danamica to help drive dynamic pricing in rentals

By Linda Fox | September 3, 2019

OYO is seeking to refine its dynamic pricing capabilities for vacation rentals through the acquisition of Danamica. Read More

News / Technology

Q&A: Ritz-Carlton founder Horst Schulze on tech's role in luxury hotels

By Mitra Sorrells | September 3, 2019

Ritz-Carlton co-founder Horst Schulze shares his views on how the luxury category has changed, the best ways to integrate technology and his changing views on online intermediaries and crowd-sourced... Read More

News / Technology

Hostelworld invests $3M in accommodation tech provider Tipi

By Kevin May | September 2, 2019

The investment is the first major strategic initiative at Hostelworld since Gary Morrison took over as CEO in mid-2018, following the departure of Feargal Mooney. Read More

News / Online

Festicket in double acquisition for Event Genius and Ticket Arena

August 28, 2019

Event Genius is a ticketing and point of sale system for customers, whilst sister brand Ticket Arena is a competitor of Festicket. Read More

Interview / Startups

Startup Stage: Anyplace wants to make flexible-term housing as easy to book as hotels

By Jill Menze | August 27, 2019

Anyplace is a B2C marketplace where travelers can book fully furnished accommodations on a monthly basis. Read More

News / Online

Zhiketong raises $42.5M to develop WeChat-led hotel marketing tool

By Kevin May | August 27, 2019

The service is designed entirely around using the WeChat social media platform for brands. The latest round brings its total raised to date in the region of $53 million. Read More

News / Distribution

LuggageHero buys bag-storage competitor Knock Knock City

By Jill Menze | August 26, 2019

The short-term luggage storage market is consolidating, with LuggageHero - one of PhocusWire’s Hot 25 Startups for 2019 - acquiring one of its competitors, Knock Knock City. Read More