Arizona mayors push for local rental control
US: Mayors from northern Arizona are advocating for increased local authority to regulate short-term rentals in their communities.
VRMA 2024 takeaways: John Stokinger, Direct
US: John Stokinger, director of sales at Direct and co-host of the no BS short-term rental podcast, speaks to STRz editor Paul Stevens at the 2024 VRMA International Conference in Phoenix
Arizona Super Bowl sees rental bookings go through the roof
US: Ahead of Super Bowl LVII, bookings for short-term rentals in the Phoenix / Scottsdale area were through the roof for fans travelling for the big game.
iTrip Vacations launches in Arizona
US: iTrip Vacations has launched its short-term rental property management and customer services in Tempe, Arizona. iTrip Vacations, owned and managed by Peter and Meagan South, will now support property owners and guests in Tempe, Phoenix, West Phoenix, Goodyear, and Avondale. The management company includes a full-service program that provides marketing, free light maintenance, professional cleaning, and automatic […]
US rentals suffer from lack of ‘snowbird’ business
US: Snowbirds, elderly travellers, predominantly from Canada, who hire vacation rentals in the south of the US, are not travelling due to Coronavirus fears and restrictions. Snowbirds typically leave Canada to head for warmer climes for up to six months. But this year they are not travelling. “It’s not worth taking a chance. It’s not […]
Vrbo bans one-night rentals in Arizona from January
US: Vacation rental online marketplace Vrbo has banned travellers from staying for one night in any of its listed rental properties in Arizona from January onwards, in a move to curb large gatherings and so-called “Covid parties”. Complaints surrounding vacation rentals and their disruption to local neighbourhoods dates back to long before the Covid pandemic, […]
Arizona lawmakers introduce short-term rental legislation
US: Lawmakers in Phoenix, Arizona, have discussed the addition of potential regulations to the short-term rental industry. The two bills, which have gone to the floor, have received significant criticism from hosts and operators, who claim it borders on government overreach. The first bill, proposed by Senator Kate Brophy McGee, would restrict rentals to one […]
Wyndham Destinations announces Utah and Arizona developments
Wyndham Destinations has announced the proposed development of a new timeshare resort in Moab, Utah, and the construction of more suites at its existing resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Both properties are a part of the WorldMark by Wyndham brand property portfolio, which features over 90 resorts in a range of destinations from sea to ski […]
Swimply website extends Airbnb business model to swimming pools
US: A decade after Airbnb’s establishment as an online market for rental accommodation, more spin-offs of its business model are being introduced in new categories, such as aquatics. One company called Swimply is applying the successful Airbnb business model to swimming pools, whose website acts as an online hub for both swimmers and pool owners […]
Airbnb lobbies at state level to prevent cities imposing short-term rental restrictions
United States: The expansion of Airbnb in the U.S has prompted city councils and mayors in states such as Florida and New York to pass new laws on how such companies can operate. In recent months, Airbnb has sought to install more permissive measures in Florida and Tennessee after cities in those states tried to […]