Airbnb under investigation by EU over gatekeeper status
Europe: Airbnb has challenged claims that it qualifies as a ‘gatekeeper’ under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), after being added to a compliance list earlier this month.
Opinion: An ‘Uber’ week for the OTAs and what it means
US: STRz editor Paul Stevens explores what a potential Uber acquisition of Expedia could mean for the future of the travel and hospitality sector.
Airbnb & Expedia earn EU court backing in Italian financial dispute
Europe: Online service platforms including Airbnb, Expedia, Google and Amazon have all won a European court battle against an Italian law that would have required them to disclose more information and make financial contributions.
Airbnb names Amazon’s Carney as global head of policy
US: Airbnb has appointed Amazon executive and former White House press secretary for President Barack Obama, Jay Carney, as its new global head of policy and communications.
Amazon expands into property management tech with Alexa for Residential
Worldwide: In order to grow its footprint in the property management technology space, Amazon has launched its new Alexa for Residential service, which it believes will make it easier for property managers to set up Alexa-enabled devices to manage in residential buildings such as condos and apartment complexes. According to TechCrunch, IOTAS, STRATIS and Sentient […]
RedAwning expands guest experience partnership with Amazon
US: Vacation rental property network RedAwning has announced it has expanded its partnership with Amazon in order to further elevate the guest experience. RedAwning already offers Smart Concierge services powered by Amazon Alexa for Hospitality in a selection of its vacation rentals, and it is now adding two Amazon-powered guest enhancements: The first is the […]
Amazon’s Mike Murphy to speak at RedAwning conference
California: RedAwning has announced that Mike Murphy, Amazon’s head of Alexa smart properties, will join the lineup of speakers at the company’s inaugural partner conference in Sonoma in May. RedAwning is teaming up with Amazon Alexa for Hospitality in order develop the next RedAwning product, a smart concierge for vacation rentals. Murphy, a co-founder of […]
Interview Pt 1: RedAwning CEO Tim Choate on acquisitions and growth
RedAwning CEO Tim Choate speaks to ShortTermRentalz about the company’s recognition, its acquisitions and future plans in the first part of a feature-length interview. RedAwning has cemented its position as the fastest-growing startup for the second consecutive year and the ninth fastest-growing company in Bay Area in the San Francisco Times: what can you say […]
Airbnb names Amazon’s Dave Stephenson as its chief financial officer
Worldwide: Airbnb has ended its 10-month search for a new chief financial officer after it named Amazon finance executive Dave Stephenson in the position. Stephenson, a long-time executive at Amazon, was responsible for overseeing the finances of the company’s worldwide consumer business. He is now expected to take up the role of leading Airbnb’s potential […]