Airbnb Plus didn't work out, and its official demise is the punctuation mark. Airbnb guests have many other ways to search for a stay, and the company's edge in exclusive listings has nothing to do with Plus.
A silver lining in the coronavirus fiasco, for companies that survive it, is that the crisis gives many the chance to reset and take stock of their operations. Neglecting to do that can be an opportunity that may never resurface.
Booking sites' guests reviews on Google have been a highly charged issue for years. The latest is that Airbnb and TripAdvisor are willingly giving Google their guest reviews of vacation rentals, but they are busy figuring out how not to give away the store in the process.
Voice has tremendous potential to transform the vacation rental or private accommodation experience as we know it — but are we there yet? And if not, how do we get there?
RedAwning's acquisition of Leavetown suggests that marketing and distribution technology built separately for rentals and hotels may one day blend into all-purpose software for all types of lodging.
Just like everyone wants a piece of the tours and activities industry right now, everyone in hospitality wants a cut of the vacation rental business, too.
Airbnb, Booking.com, and other giants in vacation rental bookings aren't providing the branding and technology needed by professional property managers in resort destinations. RedAwning's model points to one of several ways to fill the gap.