Airbnb News

Domio said it considers Airbnb a “trusted partner.” After Airbnb completes an investigation into Domio’s alleged misleading and shoddy business practices, let’s see if the feeling is mutual.

In coronavirus-related travel stories this week, Skift covered Marriott's views on the prospects for a business travel recovery, Barry Diller's IAC taking a minority stake in MGM, how Southwest's reduced schedule would hamper its competitive-growth plans, and Airbnb's stock market prospects.

Short-term rentals may be outperforming the hotel industry through the peak summer leisure season, but a fall downturn in family vacations could extend the drag on performance to platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.

If the future of travel will tilt toward non-urban destinations, which are not Airbnb's strength, its stock market registration papers will have to show how the company is addressing that weakness.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said last year he could see his company going public in 2020. What he didn't see was a world turned upside down by a pandemic. If Airbnb ends up trading as a public stock in the coming months, it will be a story for the ages.

Sometimes CEO views of where online travel is headed seem more about the capabilities of their companies than anything else. Will pandemic-induced travel preferences make for dominant trends five or 10 years from now? Highly doubtful.

Special purpose acquisition company, direct listing or an initial public offering — Airbnb's choice mostly matters to big-name investors and employees, past and present. But nothing is ever certain about a stock market listing — especially during a pandemic.

This was supposed to be the year when Japan's dedicated tourism push came to fruition with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. But even with the postponement — and all the uncertainty — of the Games until 2021, the tourism groundwork laid by Japan is still likely to bear fruit.

In coronavirus-related travel stories this week, Skift looked at major hotel brands seeking to buy Travelodge UK, why the current situation is a seminal moment for travel in Asia, a management shakeup at Airbnb, and whether Americans should be traveling at all.

Tapping one person to head "hosting" for both homes and experiences isn't the most savvy of moves. Airbnb has a ton of work to do to mend relations with alienated home rental hosts. Experience hosting is likewise complex — and a very different animal.