Short-Term Rental and Vacation Rental News

Find news stories, highlighting the latest trends, developments, and opportunities in the vacation and short-term rental markets. Read stories about property management, regulation changes, and the impact of technology on the guest experience. News stories in the archive also analyze the role of major players in the industry, such as Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, and how their strategies and innovations are influencing the overall market.

Hotels

Are Airbnbs Cheaper Than Hotels? What the Numbers Show

Staying at Airbnbs can certainly be a deal for the millions of travelers who are focused on price. But it also depends on what a guest is looking for, where and when?

Dennis Schaal | 4 days ago

Announcements

Don’t Miss Our Skift Short-Term Rental Summit This June

Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain practical insights, engage in thoughtful discussions, and connect with peers (and rivals).

Becca Smith | 5 days ago

Short-Term Rentals

When an Airbnb Moves In Next Door, It’s Neighbor vs. Neighbor

According to Airbnb lore, the short-term rental was born in 2007 when, “two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home.” Fast forward 17 years and Airbnb now has over 5 million hosts … and most all of them have neighbors. That’s led to some epic feuds.

Sarah Kopit | 7 days ago

Short-Term Rentals

Short-Term Rental Platforms Are Seeing a Paris Olympics Spike

As prices start to dip for short-term rentals during the Olympics, this could be a good time to snag a (relatively decent) deal.

Elizabeth Casolo | 2 weeks ago

Short-Term Rentals

Vacasa Laid Off 13% of Its Workforce

This was Vacasa's fourth layoff round since CEO Rob Greyber took over in September 2022.

Dennis Schaal | 2 weeks ago

Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb CEO: ‘We Are Ready to Step on the Gas’ for International Expansion

Despite risks from regulation and competition, there is a huge opportunity for Airbnb to expand further around the world beyond its five core markets. It's a big world out there.

Dennis Schaal | 3 weeks ago

Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb’s Brian Chesky Tells Us What He’s Doing With His Billion-Dollar Payday

Brian Chesky’s pay package leaves a lot of money to potentially give away. With an Obama Foundation scholarship, he’s hoping to use his money to go beyond Silicon Valley.

Elizabeth Casolo | 3 weeks ago

Mergers and Acquisitions

Guesty, Short-Term Rental Software Provider, Acquires Rentals United

The short-term rental space is fragmented to the hilt. We'll probably see more channel managers like Rentals United consolidating or seeing their businesses dry up.

Dennis Schaal | 3 weeks ago

Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb Considering an Amazon Prime-Like Membership as a Loyalty Program

Don’t hold your breath for a points program, but there could still be some benefits for ultra-loyal customers.

Jesse Chase-Lubitz | 4 weeks ago

Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb’s Chesky Talks Icons, Paid Memberships, and Who Benefits From His Billion-Dollar Payday: Full Interview

Airbnb is finally taking a big, expensive swing into the experiences category with its launch of "Icons." The non-traditional accommodations come with a non-traditional business model – they’ll be free or low-cost to guests (but they want you to post them to your socials). And Chesky promises things will only get “crazier.”

Sarah Kopit | 4 weeks ago