Airbnb News

What started as AirBedandBreakfast.com has grown into a massive public company that IPOd in 2020. Airbnb is now the world's largest online alternative-accommodation community, allowing millions of users to list, search, and rent authentic homestays and vacation-rental experiences in countless cities across the globe.

Hotels

What is a short-term rental? Leading advocacy group isn't quite sure

Short-term apartment rentals and vacation-home rentals are two different animals, but the poll done for Airbnb, HomeAway, and TripAdvisor seeks to obfuscate the differences.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Hotels

Airbnb, Priceline and Travelocity are clunkiest sites to use, survey finds

Ease of use should indeed increase conversions, but it's difficult to compare the complexity of dealing with apartment hosts on Airbnb with simply completing a hotel booking from one brand on Hilton.com.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Hotels

The cost of Airbnb stays vs. hotel rooms in major U.S. markets

There's a clear financial benefit to the consumer when hosts don't have to pay the high costs associated with regulated transient housing.

12 years ago

Online Travel

Amsterdam relaxes short-term apartment rental rules, Airbnb breathes sigh of relief

Airbnb has taken Amsterdam’s approval of short-term holiday rentals as a wholehearted endorsement of its service; however, there are caveats involved that will continue to be violated. We’re not yet expecting the Dutch news to be followed by a wave approval in the U.S.

12 years ago

Hotels

A few reasons why vacation rentals and Airbnb aren't a huge threat to hotels

Whether it's more room, unique decor, or something as simple as a kitchen, vacation rentals and apartment shares will always offer travelers something hotels can't deliver. But its not enough to make a significant change to an industry that does so many other things quite well.

12 years ago

Hotels

Airbnb gears up for big legal and legislative battles in New York

Airbnb doesn't really have a choice here. They either pay for the appeal in the hope that the fine is overturned and then milk that for good PR -- even though the law will remain the same -- or suffer under a dark cloud that will threaten its IPO.

Jason Clampet | 12 years ago

Hotels

HomeAway: Airbnb's negative publicity "doesn't help us"

When HomeAway says Airbnb isn't a direct competitor, we think HomeAway doth protest too much. These markets will undoubtedly converge over the long term.

Dennis Schaal | 12 years ago

Hotels

Quebec investigates Airbnb hosts in crackdown on short-term rentals

Airbnb is placing the blame in Quebec on hosts not understanding local law. Wink, Wink.

12 years ago

Hotels

Can Airbnb really hide behind its murky understanding of the law until its IPO?

Quartz and the New York Times are the few sites that don't see this simply as a new Vs. old economy challenge. It's a responsible company Vs. company eager for an IPO one.

S. Mitra Kalita | 12 years ago

Hotels

New York State Senator says Airbnb's actions "pathologically irresponsible"

Businessweek magazine argued this week that the sharing and peer-to-peer economies need to stop whining about competition and start lobbying. But if they're going to win over legislators like Krueger, the new upstarts are going to need to learn that sharing goes both ways.

Jason Clampet | 12 years ago