Short-Term Rental and Vacation Rental News

Airbnb's combative tone speaks to the severity of the issue for the sharing brand.

These new terms are out there to get Airbnb ready to go legit. But there's still much work to do, including making hosts feel comfortable as the service goes mainstream.

Once Airbnb figures out taxes, it may have a leg to stand on as it argues for a repeal of the laws that make two thirds of its NYC rentals illegal -- taxes or not. Then there are the leases, landlords, and condo boards to deal with.

For a company with few physical assets, Airbnb demands a high value for its listings. But this value reveals more about how the lodging economy is evolving more than it tells us about what the sharing economy leader is really worth.

Well, you know what they say. Regardless what the activity is, there's an app for that. And, now there is. Hourly room rentals via a mobile app. We know HotelTonight is poised to broaden its offerings a bit, but we doubt the company will try to mimic Breather on this one.

With so many diverse types of accommodations available these days and with the world getting younger, the timeshare business may be losing its luster (although that luster was tenuous, at best).

Airbnb's safety-device giveaway program doesn't cover its massive listing base, but it's better than nothing.

This current version of the Expedia-HomeAway vacation rental beta functions more like an advertising relationship would than a tightly integrated booking process. These are very early days for the partnership, and what you see undoubtedly won't be the finished product.

Airbnb is in an interesting position: These super hosts provide a good experience to guests, but they present problems when it comes to local regulations and the brand's sharing-economy-is-good-for-little-guy narrative.

Airbnb's business in New York is a fascinating look at how the sharing economy has evolved, as well as the challenges that remain ahead of it.