HomeAway’s Game Plan

HomeAway, one of the oldest players in the vacation rental market, has been gearing up to adjust to new market realities over the last few months. The future strategy of the industry veteran is being shaped by the increasing competition from Airbnb, a newcomer until recently but  firmly established by now and valued at $20 Billion after its latest financing round last month.

15 Startups Supporting the Short-Term Rental Host

Numerous startups have emerged to help inspired or busy hosts on short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway and others. These new proliferating hospitality services vary from full rental management to simple key exchange, and anything in between. Here is a quick rundown.

How Cities Feel About the Travel Sharing Economy in 2014

Over the course of 2014, the term “sharing economy” became a household name. Rarely a day passes without Airbnb, Uber, Lyft or another peer-to-peer (P2P) travel startup making the news. As the trend continues to bring both new opportunities and new challenges, cities often find themselves in a love-hate relationship with the new economy. The National League of Cities (NLC) recently released a report capturing U.S. cities’ sentiment toward the travel sharing economy.

First-Ever Airbnb International Convention Opens Today

Today is the first day of the Airbnb Open, the inaugural international conference for Airbnb hosts. It takes place in San Francisco and opens its doors to 1,500 attendees from 40 countries. Here are some highlights from the program designed to educate, support, inspire and celebrate the host community over the next three days:

Travel Execs Feel the Heat as Peer-to-Peer Takes Hold (repost)

Earlier this week, the World Travel Market released a study highlighting some of the impacts of the peer-to-peer economy on the travel industry. Nearly 20% of WTM’s exhibitors and buyers say their business is being affected by the trend. Below is an article by Vicky Karantzavelou from the Daily Travel News revealing more details.

How the Sharing Economy Is Reinventing Business Travel

Up until recently, business travel was considered to be the realm of traditional travel companies. Sharing economy startups, seemingly catering to the leisure side of the market, were not privy to this targeted but lucrative segment. The status quo is bound to change, however, as business travelers vote with their feet and shift their travel patterns.

Repost: Changing of the Guard as Airbnb, TripAdvisor and HomeAway Join Travel Tech Trade Group

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Comment by TRAVLPEER

If travel sharing economy companies, such as Airbnb, HomeAway, Lyft, Uber(X), RelayRides, Vayable,  etc. continue to grow, they might form their own industry group to support research and lobbying efforts one day. At this point however, it probably makes more sense for some of them to join  forces with existing industry groups that have generally similar interests. Below is an article by Dennis Schaal from Skift discussing the latest move by HomeAway, Airbnb and TripAdvisor (owner of FlipKey) to join the Travel Technology Association.

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Changing of the Guard as Airbnb, TripAdvisor and HomeAway Join Travel Tech Trade Group

Airbnb’s Rebranding Unlocks Unexpected Humor, Opportunities

A few days ago, Airbnb unveiled a massive redesign. Its website, its app and its logo. The new design is meant to expand the brand’s presence offline and unlock opportunities for growth. As with any rebranding, it was expected to make a splash. And, so it did.  A splash that was probably bigger than predicted as it unlocked unexpected public imagination.

What’s Next for the Travel Sharing Economy?

The sharing economy is here to stay. It is getting bigger, more powerful and more responsible as it moves from its infancy to its adolescence stage. These were the observations of Lisa Ganski, author of The Mesh and a sharing economy visionary who spoke at the opening of the inaugural SHARE conference held recently by Peers in San Francisco.

So, what lies ahead as the trend unfolds in the world of travel?

New York Attorney General and Airbnb Finally in Agreement

The legal battle that had the close attention of the sharing economy world and the hotel industry over the last six months has finally  come to an end. Airbnb and New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, have reached an agreement by which the short-term rental company will turn in data to the AG’s office but will strip it from certain details in order to protect user privacy.

Coca Cola’s Jonathan Mildenhall to Become Airbnb’s New Chief Marketing Officer

Airbnb announced that it is hiring Jonathan Mildenhall from Coca Cola as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). At Cocal Cola, Mildenhall served as SVP of Integrated Marketing Communication and Design Excellence.  Starting June 1, he will report directly to CEO Brian Chesky.

Airbnb to Hotel Industry: We Can and Should Work Together

The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH&LA) announced earlier this week the launch of a nationwide plan to fight back the advancement of short-term rental companies like Airbnb. In its response, the accommodation startup avoids confrontation with the established industry and steers towards combining efforts to promote travel and tourism.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky and San Francisco Supervisor David Chiu to Speak at an Inaugural Sharing Economy Conference

Peers, the organization advocating the sharing economy, announced earlier this week an impressive lineup of speakers for its inaugural conference. Titled SHARE: Catalyzing the Sharing Economy, the event is the first of its kind in the U.S. and will bring together government officials, sharing economy startups, non-profits and the group’s members to discuss solutions for the future of the new economy.

Airbnb vs. New York City – No Ruling Made

Airbnb and New York Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, met in court in Albany, NY yesterday. The judge withheld immediate ruling. A decision could come in several days or in weeks.

HouseTrip Excludes Shared Spaces from Its Platform, Allows Entire Properties Only

HouseTrip, the UK-based vacation rental website, announced that from now on it will exclude private rooms from its database and will focus on entire properties only.