Dennis Schaal, Skift
The Airbnb Plus vision to have a portion of its listings meet hotel-like standards was sound. But the execution was lousy, and the exclusivity requirement was a big barrier.
6 days ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
The liability protections that online travel businesses such as Airbnb, Google and Tripadvisor enjoy under the Communications Decency Act could be collateral damage in President Trump's effort to go after Twitter and Google for what he views as "censorship" or biased coverage.
7 days ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Airbnb would have been eviscerated had it focused on a relief package for hosts that was primarily marketing credits. Expedia's recovery plan for partners isn't philanthropy, but although the company will likely take a revenue hit, it will benefit from increased partner engagement as the travel industry bounces back.
1 week ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Expedia Group is trying to simplify its far-flung operations, and its multifamily, short-term rental business wasn't a core endeavor. That's especially true when you consider how Covid-19 has decimated demand for such properties in urban areas.
1 week ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Many companies won't reopen for business when coronavirus ebbs, but two that will definitely still be left standing will be Expedia Group and Airbnb. They could potentially find ways to cooperate in the face of bigger threats in the form of Google and Booking.com.
2 weeks ago
Cameron Sperance, Skift
Hotel companies' similar new and heightened health and safety standards don't leave a lot of room for brand distinction unless the brand is the one lacking a new approach to cleaning.
2 weeks ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
It's a good idea that Brian Chesky is now doing weekly videos with hosts. It would be more effective — but admittedly riskier — if he took live questions. It will be a long process to rebuild trust from hosts because so many feel burned by the company's coronavirus refund policy.
3 weeks ago
Jon Henley, Stephen Burgen and Rory Carroll, The Guardian
Short-term rental hosts are turning to traditional apartment rentals during the coronavirus crisis, but no one knows how they will react when tourists eventually return.
4 weeks ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
In coronavirus-related travel stories this week, Skift covered the tardiness of banning European travel to the United States, Airbnb and Trivago's workforce cuts, staycations, Hilton's views on drive vacations, and Alaska Airlines' bets on its agility with domestic travelers.
4 weeks ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Welcome to a more focused Airbnb, one that is about homes, and not hotels and luxury properties. This may not bode well for a public offering.
1 month ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Warren Buffett provided a no-confidence vote in the near-future of U.S. airlines, but elsewhere in travel private equity firms are betting billions of dollars that Expedia Group and Airbnb will emerge from the coronavirus crisis in relatively strong positions. Uncertainty reigns.
1 month ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
An unfortunate first-mover in the pandemic, China, in turn, got an early start on its travel recovery. But officials at major travel companies there view a robust bounce back as taking a year or longer — and much of that pace depends on how quickly coronavirus gets neutralized in the rest of the world.
1 month ago
