Short-Term Rental and Vacation Rental News

Hotels

HomeAway CEO Downplays Booking.com as a European Competitor

HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples doesn't underestimate Booking.com as a competitor but the reality is that Booking.com isn't the most formidable rival in vacation rentals when you consider the market country by country.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Interview: HomeAway CEO on Whether His Company Is Next Acquisition Target

HomeAway just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Now there is a big question as to whether it will still be an independent company by the time the 11th anniversary rolls around. The company would be expensive to buy, but the betting here is that someone will acquire it, sooner rather than later.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Americans Are Generally OK With Airbnb Unless Their Neighbors Are Doing It

Everyone loves the concept of the sharing economy, but when it comes close to home, feelings about it are a lot more nuanced. Lots more research needs to be done at the local and neighborhood level on the effects of the sharing economy, positive and negative.

Rafat Ali, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Online Reviews in an Airbnb World Are Much More Positive

A fascinating peek into how user reviews get changed in a sharing economy platform site like Airbnb, but this paper leaves the possibility of tons more research that could be done from here.

Rafat Ali, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Airbnb to Begin Collecting Taxes in Four New Cities

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Judge Dismisses HomeAway’s Lawsuit Against the City of San Francisco

The judge's ruling tossing out HomeAway's suit against the City of San Francisco's short-term rental law may not be the end of the story. HomeAway could still be liable for collecting occupancy tax under the city's pre-existing ordinance.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Airbnb’s New Campaign Gives Hosts $10 to Be Brand Evangelists

Whether it's a spending study that says how much Airbnb contributes to a community or a campaign like this, Airbnb excels at community-minded moves that are squarely focused on its bottom line first.

Samantha Shankman, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Airbnb’s Head of Hospitality on Improving the Guest Experience

Airbnb needs to figure out a way to work neighbors into the equation.

Jason Clampet, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Hotel Urbano Launches Short-Term Rental Site With Installment Payment Option

Hotel Urbano is now offering short-term rentals while Expedia is showing HomeAway's vacation rentals and Booking.com has lots of apartment hotels. Convergence extraordinaire.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 9 years ago

Hotels

Several States Could Regulate and Tax Short-Term Rentals in 2015

It is interesting to see that the Travel Technology Association, which takes the online travel agency side on the hotel tax issue, is siding with members HomeAway and Airbnb on short-term rental legislation.

Dennis Schaal, Skift | 9 years ago