Airbnb’s Policy to Protect Hosts From Scammers and 10 Other Top Hospitality Stories This Week

Airbnb Will Roll Out Policy That Aims to Protect Hosts From Scheming Guests: Many Airbnb hosts of the mom-and-pop variety — yes, there are a few left — feel aggrieved when they welcome guests into their homes and have to bear the consequences of hostile reviews penned with the worst intentions. Airbnb is trying to tip the balance back toward hosts — and probably making neither party totally happy.

U.S. Hotel Expansion Threatened by Construction Worker Shortages: U.S. hotel companies are facing a shortage of construction workers just as they are building new brands and properties. The result: delayed projects and higher costs. The industry will have to get more aggressive to recruit workers if it plans to keep the momentum going on its expansion plans.

Luxury Tented Resorts Poised for a Post-Glamping Era: A lot of nature-centric hospitality experiences got lumped under the “glamping” moniker and seemed frivolous as a result. But the space is growing because luxury travelers like the ability to be closer to nature without sacrificing creature comforts.

Rise of Luxury Tented Accommodations Driven by Mindful Travel Movement: The expansion of tented resorts makes sense. More luxury customers are looking for sustainable travel options allowing them to get close to the ground, both literally and figuratively. Meanwhile, new waves of hospitality operators are keen to employ approaches to lodging that are both eco-conscious and profitable.

Developers Open New Hotels in Hong Kong Despite Plunge in Revenue: Two of the city’s wealthiest families have each opened a new hotel even though protests have severely crimped revenues. Is the show of confidence enough to keep the spirits up this Christmas?

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Explained: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is a fairly new company, but it has a complicated spin-off history from a much larger corporation. Here we explain the hospitality company’s beginnings and its distinction from Wyndham Worldwide.

What Nobu Hotels Sees in the Ascendant Luxury Market in Warsaw: Nobu Hotels is testing out its restaurant-led hospitality strategy in a market where its luxury cachet is less established. Both Warsaw locals and Nobu’s global super-fans will need to buy in.

Thailand’s Lebua Hotels Plans Public Listing to Fund New Concepts and Overseas Expansion: Deepak Ohri positioned a brand on a global scale with just one hotel. The CEO of Lebua Hotels & Resorts thinks the time has come to grow the network. But each Lebua will be different. No doubt a common trait is that each will be audacious.

Still Waiting for Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels to Transform Hospitality: Richard Branson created Virgin Hotels nine years ago, promising to deliver about two dozen boutique hotels with flair. So far, only three hotels have opened. Will it be able to accelerate its growth in 2020?

Thomas Cook Collapsed Owing at Least $12 Billion: Yes, you read that number correctly. Thomas Cook’s directors have rightly come in for plenty of criticism, but others — including the UK government — need to have their record examined as well.

Domio Raises $50 Million for Apartment-Style Hotels: Travel Startup Funding This Week: This week, travel startups, including TravelFlan, Beachy, HalalBooking, and GuruWalk, announced more than $63 million in funding. Most notably, Domio disclosed a $50 million Series B round, underscoring the ongoing growth in the short-term rental of apartments with hotel-style services.