Airbnb introduces new social features for Experiences
US: Airbnb has introduced new social features for Airbnb Experiences, allowing guests to connect with one another before, during, and after their trip. The update forms part of a wider product rollout that includes enhanced search, flexible payment options, and expanded AI-powered customer support. The new features mark Airbnb’s latest effort to position Experiences as […]
Airbnb and VisitBritain launch £1m ‘Best of British’ fund to boost local tourism
UK: Airbnb has launched a £1 m “Best of British” fund, supported by VisitBritain, to help communities across the UK transform local traditions into must-visit cultural experiences. The initiative aims to disperse tourism more evenly across the country while boosting the UK’s hospitality sector. Grants of up to £100,000 per applicant will be available to […]
Ibiza removes more than 2,800 illegal listings from Airbnb
Spain: Ibiza’s governing body has removed over 2,800 illegal short-term rental listings from Airbnb as part of a crackdown on unlicensed accommodation across the island. The action, carried out between July 2024 and September 2025 by Ibiza’s Illegal Short-Term Rentals Taskforce in collaboration with travel data company Mabrian, resulted in 2,831 listings and more than […]
Airbnb to integrate hotels into its app
US/Worldwide: Airbnb will integrate a dedicated hotel interface into the Airbnb app, in a move that follows Airbnb’s 2019 acquisition of HotelTonight and a full rebuild of its platform to support new service offerings.
Vrbo introduces full penalties for hosts who leave guests stranded
US: Vacation rental platform Vrbo will begin imposing 100 per cent penalties on US hosts who fail to provide guests access to a booked property, starting October 1.
Airbnb adopts single service fee, poised to compete with OTAs
US: Airbnb is transitioning most hosts using PMS to a single service fee structure next month, signalling a move toward competing with PMS
Airbnb has $20.3 billion economic impact in Australia says report
Australia: New research by Oxford Economics, commissioned by Airbnb, shows that spending associated with Airbnb contributed an estimated $20.3 billion to Australia’s economy in 2024.
Trump appoints Gebbia as government head of design
US: Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, has been appointed by the White House to oversee the design of the government’s online footprint
Airbnb announces ‘Reserve Now, Pay Later’ feature
US: Airbnb is introducing a Reserve Now, Pay Later policy to offer US guests an option to pay $0 upfront when booking eligible domestic stays. The ‘Reserve Now, Pay Later’ feature applies to US-based stays with flexible or moderate cancellation policies. Guests pay the full amount shortly before the end of the listing’s free cancellation […]
Airbnb eyes ‘AI-first’ future with autonomous trip-planning agents
US: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has outlined plans for the company to become an “AI-first application”, with autonomous agents able to plan trips, manage bookings and provide real-time support. The announcement, made during Airbnb’s Q2 2025 earnings call on 7 August, followed the release of results showing double-digit revenue growth and steady global demand. Chesky […]