Industry News
Stay informed on the latest developments in the vacation rental and short-term rental industry. This category provides vacation rental managers and short-term rental managers with news on industry growth, trends, events, and insights into the future of short-term rental property management. From major updates across European markets to professional insights into industry shifts, explore the news shaping the landscape of vacation rentals.
Vrbo Just Got a Lot Bigger By Tapping Into Expedia’s Global Network
Expedia Group has announced a slate of updates for its vacation rental brand Vrbo, but one stands out as the ...
Airbnb’s “Stay Grounded” Ad Marks the Official Start of Its Identity as a Lifestyle Platform
Airbnb has a new commercial out called Stay Grounded, animated in its signature whimsical style, set to George Michael’s Freedom! ...
AI Airbnb Scams in 2025: How Artificial Intelligence Is Powering Fraud
A London traveler booked an Airbnb in Manhattan and nearly walked away with a $16,000 bill for damage she never ...
Vrbo’s Host-Initiated Cancellation Policy: Why Property Managers Are Worried
When guests arrive at a property and can’t get in, it’s more than a bad first impression. It’s a breach ...
Gathern Raises $72M in Saudi Push, Funchal Halts New Rental Licenses, Canadian Airbnb Bookings Jump 10%
Gathern Raises $72M to Power Saudi Arabia’s Vacation Rental Growth About Gathern: Founded in Riyadh in 2017, Gathern has built ...
Airbnb Host-Only Fee at 15.5%: What It Means for Property Managers
Airbnb is ending its split-fee model for PMS-connected hosts and standardizing a 15.5% host-only fee worldwide (16% in Brazil). For property managers, this raises distribution costs — but margins can stay intact by adjusting rates and increasing PMS markups to about 18.34% to fully offset Airbnb’s new fee.
What the Data Says (and What the Experts Do) to Keep Occupancy Strong in Shoulder Season
The summer rush is over, and for property managers, that usually means one thing: the shoulder season slowdown. But in ...
Airbnb’s “Reserve Now, Pay Later”: More Bookings, But Who Carries the Risk?
In August 2025, Airbnb introduced Reserve Now, Pay Later for US travelers. Guests booking eligible listings can now reserve with ...
Airbnb Talks Up Hotels Again — And This Time, It’s Strategic
During its Q2 2025 earnings call, Airbnb announced it expects moderate growth in Q3 and especially Q4. Alongside the cautious ...
Forget Airbnb’s Flashy New Services Expansion — It’s Time to Put the B&B Back in Airbnb
Airbnb has been talking up new services, experiences, and hotels — but there’s a quieter, more strategic growth lever hiding ...
How One Viral Statistic Is Skewing Europe’s Short-Term Rental Debate
Few industries are as routinely scrutinized, and misunderstood, as short-term rentals. Media coverage doesn’t just inform the public; it often ...
Vrbo Q2 2025 Results Show Clear Shift Toward Promotions, Shorter Stays, and Bundled Value
Vrbo’s Q2 2025 results confirm a clear shift: the U.S. market is growing, but just barely, and the brand is ...
Hostaway Rolls Out AI Messaging, Airbnb Challenges Restrictions in Australia, Lodgify Debuts Payments and Financing Tools
Hostaway unveils AI Auto Reply to cut response times for guest queries About Hostaway:Hostaway is a comprehensive vacation rental property ...
Airbnb’s Platform Activity: What Vacation Rental Managers Need to Know for Q2, Q3, and Q4 2025
If you’re managing vacation rentals and rely on Airbnb, it’s key to understand how many bookings are happening on the ...
Airbnb’s Long-Term Bet on Experiences & Services Faces Short-Term Skepticism
Airbnb is making one of its boldest strategic moves yet: expanding beyond homes to become a lifestyle brand. With its ...
The Airbnb Squatter Phenomenon in France: Why the “Squatteurs Airbnb” are trending in 2025
In France, Airbnb hosts face a growing risk from “squatteurs” exploiting a legal loophole that grants tenant-like rights to guests who enter a property legally. Once a guest changes locks or receives mail, police cannot intervene without a court order—turning short stays into months-long eviction battles.
6 Major Airbnb Policy Shifts Every Property Manager Needs to Understand (and Act On)
2025 Isn’t Business as Usual on Airbnb. The new Airbnb rules are tightening across the board. The levers you used ...
Booking.com Q2 2025: Alternative Accommodations Get Stronger as Platform Woos Pro Hosts
Booking.com’s Q2 2025 earnings reveal strong performance driven by its expanding alternative accommodations segment, home to its short-term rentals, as ...
Booking.com Reveals AI Trust Gap, Skift Acquires Hospitality.fm and WLT&H, Ocean City Blocks Rental Crackdown
Booking.com’s Global AI Report Shows Travelers Are Ready to Use AI, But Not Ready to Trust It Snigdha’s Views Skift ...
From Empty Gaps to Extra Bookings: PriceLabs’ Dynamic Min Stay Tackles Lost Revenue
Every property manager has wrestled with the same question: what’s the right minimum stay rule to balance revenue, operations, and ...
