News

Airbnb has won a legal claim against VRBO concerning the use of Nick Saban's commercials. This ruling impacts how competitors can use advertising involving public figures. The implications could affect marketing strategies for both platforms. This victory highlights the importance of intellectual property rights within the short-term rental market.

This article discusses a complaint filed against Vrbo regarding their Super Bowl ad, originating from a competitor, Airbnb. While the specifics of the complaint aren't detailed, the event highlights ongoing competition and marketing strategies within the short-term rental market. The implications are potentially relevant to other hosts, specifically regarding how marketing tactics align with current regulations and ethical business practices within the OTA world.

Airbnb and the Vatican are collaborating to accommodate pilgrims for the 2025 Jubilee. This partnership signifies a strategic move to address the anticipated surge in visitors, offering a new avenue for Airbnb to expand its market reach and provide accommodation solutions for a significant global event. This collaboration is likely to create new opportunities for hosts in the area.

This article discusses insights on scaling a short-term rental business, optimizing listings, and balancing work and personal life. Suzanna and Jared Styles of Pink Door BnB share their experience of growing from 11 to 80 properties. Hosts can learn actionable advice on enhancing property management and improving Airbnb visibility.

This article from Get Paid For Your Pad dives into the power of email marketing for STR hosts, offering actionable strategies to boost direct bookings and guest engagement. It covers building an email list, using automation, and creating engaging content, alongside insights on revenue management and CEO-level focus. Hosts can learn how to drive more direct bookings and optimize their operations.

This article highlights key platform updates for short-term rental hosts. Airbnb is launching a co-host marketplace in Japan, offering hosts new support options. Vrbo plans to delist underperforming listings, impacting host visibility. Booking.com is investing in India and AI. These changes signal shifts in the STR landscape.

This article discusses Expedia's recent marketing staff cuts and potential impacts on VRBO hosts. The cuts may lead to changes in marketing strategies and decreased visibility for listings. Hosts should stay informed about platform changes and optimize their listings for search to maintain bookings.

This article from Get Paid For Your Pad highlights how to drive direct bookings using influencer marketing. Hosts can download free resources, including a creator guide and an influencer collab calculator, to align with creators and assess the ROI of partnerships.

A little-known vacation rental company launched a billboard campaign poking fun at Airbnb. While the specifics of the campaign are unknown, this move highlights the competitive landscape of the short-term rental market and the ongoing strategies to gain market share among platforms. This could signal a potential shift in platform popularity, and hosts should monitor the situation.

Airbnb's Community Fund is donating over $8.5 million to more than 160 non-profits worldwide. This signifies the platform's commitment to social impact, allocating resources to various community initiatives. While not directly impacting pricing or operations, hosts should understand how Airbnb contributes to global causes, potentially enhancing their brand perception.

Vrbo is implementing new marketing technology to enhance its traveler targeting capabilities. The goal is to provide a more personalized and relevant experience for guests, potentially improving booking rates for hosts. This update reflects the platform's commitment to optimizing its offerings for both travelers and property owners, enhancing its competitive position in the STR market.

Airbnb's Community Fund is donating to Florida-based non-profits. This financial support reflects Airbnb's commitment to the local communities where hosts operate. The donations are meant to address local needs and support community development. This news is a signal of the platform's community focus.

Vrbo's marketing strategy is taking a playful approach, directly contrasting itself with Airbnb in its latest ad campaign. The article suggests Vrbo is focusing on differentiating its platform through humorous content. This shift highlights the ongoing competition for user attention and market share within the short-term rental industry.

HotelTonight is offering Airbnb users a new perk: earning Airbnb credit with every hotel stay booked through their platform. This partnership aims to incentivize users to utilize both platforms. Hosts can anticipate increased user activity and potential cross-platform promotion benefits.

This article discusses VRBO's marketing strategy, specifically its billboard campaign targeting Airbnb. The focus is on whether the 'trolling' approach is effective advertising for VRBO. It raises questions about brand perception and the competitive landscape of the short-term rental market. The impact examines what works for VRBO in this campaign.

Airbnb and AMB Sports and Entertainment are partnering in Atlanta to drive economic growth, particularly during major events. This collaboration is likely to increase demand for short-term rentals in the area. Hosts should monitor the impact of this partnership on occupancy and pricing. This initiative may affect local market strategies for Atlanta-based hosts.

This Skift article highlights the market share and relative growth of Airbnb and Booking.com in the short-term rental space. Hosts can use this information to inform their distribution strategy, potentially prioritizing platforms based on performance.

This article from PhocusWire announces Airbnb's upcoming relaunch of Experiences. Hosts should pay attention to this update to potentially leverage new features for their listings or explore opportunities for offering Experiences.

Vrbo's new marketing campaign directly challenges Airbnb with claims of being 'hotter' and 'cooler', signaling increased competition between the two major platforms. This campaign highlights the ongoing efforts of Vrbo to attract hosts and guests. The outcome could shift market share and influence host platform choices.