Airbnb said this week that its tourist and occupancy taxes remitted will reach $2 billion by the end of this year, and says it has resolved the “majority” of its outstanding litigation across the US. The company is unpopular with an increasing number of cities examining how home-sharing impacts housing prices and residents, as well …

Airbnb  is advancing on opportunities beyond vacation rentals by making a strategic investment in Zeus Living as part of its Series B funding round, raising $55m. Zeus Living decorates landlords’ homes and rents them to relocating workers for upwards of a month, and will list its properties on Airbnb. Within four years the company has …

This article summarises the first Skift Short-Term Rental Summit in New York last week, saying that more and more operators are moving between the traditional hotel space and short-term rentals, including Sonder and Marriott. The American Hotel and Lodging Association is for the first time recognising a “connective tissue” in hospitality, whereas previously it opposed …

In May the World Health Organisation defined burnout as an “occupational phenomenon” rather than a medical condition, resulting from “chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed”. This article says that definition of burnout is prevalent in the 24/7 hospitality industry, as there’s no “lights off” at a hotel, for either front and back …

This article on the Chart Attack website describes the top five reasons for choosing a serviced apartment when travelling for business or leisure, whether solo, as a couple, with friends or family, which the author sees as the cost-effectiveness compared with booking separate hotel rooms; amenities such as fast Wi-Fi, kitchens and your own laundry …

Airbnb has announced that Chief Operating Officer Belinda Johnson, described as the first executive co-founder Brian Chesky ever hired, will leave her post in March 2020 ahead of the company’s expected direct listing or IPO. She has cited personal reasons, and will take a seat on the Airbnb board of directors. Airbnb posted a $100 …

Businesses sending staff on overseas trips will spend the largest part of their budget on flights, followed by accommodation. This article describes serviced apartments as affordable and suitable alternatives to hotels, listing the benefits for both businesses and travellers as: cost – usually offering more for less outlay, with nightly rates reducing on longer trips, …

OYO Hotels and Homes has appointed Betsy Atkins, CEO and founder of Baja Corporation, as an independent Board Director, joining representatives from Goldman Sachs, SoftBank Vision Fund, Lightspeed India  and Sequoia Capital India. As an independent member she will play a supervisory role, providing guidance to the founder and the company’s management on “key business decisions”. This …

Investec published research in 2019 showing that over 90% of investors think ‘blended living’ schemes combining buy-to-rent, student accommodation, co-living, retirement living and serviced apartments will become commonplace over the next five years. This article in Property Week outlines the thoughts of several real estate experts exploring in a round table discussion what makes a …

Airbnb is likely to debut on the public markets through a non-traditional direct listing, and this article in Forbes considers whether it will follow Spotify and Slack into this kind of listing where current shareholders can trade their shares, but new shares aren’t issued, cutting out middlemen such as investment banks or underwriters. The company …