Whats is VRBO’s Premier Host Program?

Viersen, Germany - March 1. 2021: Closeup of mobile phone screen wit logo lettering of online booking travel agency vrbo with sun hat and map

Premier Host, akin to Airbnb’s Superhost program, is a complimentary initiative that helps recognise property hosts who consistent deliver exceptional stays for guests. Upon meeting the eligibility criteria, hosts will automatically become part of this exclusive program.

Premier Hosts are distinguished by a badge displayed on their listing. VRBO also introduce the Premier Host filter, allowing guests to refine their search and view only properties that have obtained Premier Host status. This feature empowers guests to make informed decisions, ensuring a premium selection of properties by hosts committed to providing exceptional experiences.

Eligibility Criteria

To attain Premier Host status, each listing within your account must meet the following benchmarks:

  • Maintain an average review rating of 4.4 or higher.
  • Achieve a booking acceptance rate of 95% or above.
  • Sustain an owner-initiated cancellation rate of 1% or lower.
  • Have a minimum of 3 VRBO reviews.
  • Secure at least 5 bookings or 60 booked nights.
  • Premier Host Perks

Is it worth being a Premier Host?

The advantages of being a Premier Host extend to all properties within your account, encompassing:

  • A distinguished Premier Host badge.
  • Inclusion in the Premier Host filter for enhanced visibility.
  • Participation in the Boost program designed to optimise your search position.
  • Premier Host Filter

Plus the program is free, and you only need to maintain your high standards.

Quarterly Evaluations

To ensure the quality remains high for hosts consistently providing exceptional guest experiences, VRBO conducts quarterly assessments. These assessments occur on 1st February, 1st May , 1st August, and 1st November.

Ensure your keep those reviews high and get into the Premier Host program today and elevate your hosting experience to new heights.

The end of Airbnb Plus!

Airbnb has officially ended the Airbnb Plus Program as of November 6th. Airbnb Plus was an invitation-only program designed to highlight and promote listings that met Airbnb’s rigorous standards and a comprehensive checklist. It stood apart from Superhost status due to its more stringent requirements.

To earn an Airbnb Plus badge, hosts needed to receive an invitation to the program. They then underwent an initial inspection, which included professional photos taken of their property. While both Superhosts and Airbnb Plus hosts provided exceptional service, Airbnb Plus properties adhered to elevated standards for style and physical space design based on Airbnb’s checklist. Interestingly, Airbnb often used photographers themselves to conduct inspections and capture listing photos.

Once a property was accepted into the program, it received a Plus banner to enhance visibility. However, Airbnb Plus was only available in select cities, including Austin, Barcelona, Cape Town, Chicago, Lisbon, London, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Milan, Nashville, San Francisco, Shanghai, Sydney, and Toronto.

If a host was part of the Plus program, they needed to opt out and convert their listing back to a regular one. Although the Plus program started with over 70,000 listings, its growth didn’t materialise as expected. As of this month, we bid farewell to the program. Instead of Plus, Airbnb has introduced a new feature called “Guest Favorites,” earmarking over 2 million highly-rated homes.

It’s worth noting that the top tier of Airbnb properties still exists through Airbnb Luxe, which originated from the acquisition of Luxury Retreats in 2017.

Airbnb tenant finally removed after 575-days

Airbnb review system

A rouge tenant who had occupied an Airbnb property for a whopping 575 days without paying a penny has finally been forced to vacate the premises.

Ms Hisschhorn initially booked a six month stay in a out house connected to a mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles, owned by Sascha Jovanovic. However, when her initial booking expired, Jovanovic allowed her to stay in his mansion while the issues where resolved, but did this outside of the protection of Airbnb. Hisschhorn refused to leave the mansion, citing COVID-19 concerns and what she alleged to be an illegally constructed shower.

Hirschhorn’s lengthy stay, earning her the moniker of the ‘Airbnb tenant from hell,‘ has now come to an end, as she was seen being escorted off the California property by the police. She was even assisted by three male friends in moving her belongings, including several boxes, into a waiting white van.

Adding to the complications, Hirschhorn counter-sued Jovanovic for $100,000, claiming it was to cover her ‘relocation costs’.

Jovanovic, relieved by the resolution, spoke to the Daily Mail, stating, “I’m very relieved and also a bit overwhelmed. It was a long time coming, but now she is finally out! This weekend is going to be very positive.”

However, the situation may not be entirely resolved just yet, as Jovanovic had taken measures to prevent Hirschhorn from returning. Rucci, a legal representative, suggested cancelling an upcoming eviction hearing now that Hirschhorn had left the property. In response, Hirschhorn’s attorney, Amanda Seward, claimed that her departure was only ‘temporary’ and accused Jovanovic of harassment after he informed them that the locks had been changed at the house.

The lesson learnt here is make sure you stay within the Airbnb platform for all funds and conversations, otherwise it’s unlikely you’ll be protected if any thing goes wrong.

The Italian Tax office Seize Millions from Airbnb

Italian law enforcement recently seizied a staggering €779.5 million from the renowned short term rental giant Airbnb. Their motive? Allegations of tax evasion.

Prosecutors are claiming that Airbnb dropped the ball when it came to collects taxes. Specifically, they’re saying Airbnb should’ve been collecting a hefty 21% tax from Italian property owners who were renting out their places through Airbnb between 2017 and 2021. But it appears they failed to do so.

This crackdown wasn’t limited to Italy alone; it reached Airbnb’s European headquarters in Ireland. Not just that, they also singled out three individuals who were in influential roles during the period in question.

This isn’t Airbnb’s first legal skirmish in the realm of taxes. In a previous attempt to challenge an Italian law, they went to the Court of Justice of the European Union, and that endeavour didn’t quite their way. The court ruled in 2022 that member countries have the right to require platforms like Airbnb to collect income taxes.

This whole situation underlines the ongoing scrutiny that digital platforms, especially the big players like Airbnb, face when it comes to their tax responsibilities. The rules in this digital landscape are still evolving.


Airbnb might be facing even more challenging times ahead, as the government led by Prime Minister Meloni is considering increasing the tax rate on short-term rentals to a hefty 26%.

Airbnb Guest Refuses to Leave Million Dollar Luxury Home

Palm tree boulevard

Back in September 2021, periodontist Aleksandar “Sascha” Jovanovic put his home on Airbnb and rented it out to a tenant named Elizabeth Hirschhorn. But upon writing this article, she has yet to depart.

This property is nestled amongst houses owned by the likes of LeBron James and singer Fergie. Jovanovic purchased the property back in 1995 and took over a year to renovate the property. In 2019, Jovanovic made the decision to list the guest house on Airbnb.

In 2021, he rented the small guest house to Ms. Hirschhorn back in September for a total of six months for just over $20,000. After four months of her stay, the relationship soured between Jovanovic and Hirschhorn.

When the Airbnb host, Mr. Jovanovic, checked on the guest house, he found that a number of areas needed repair that were not there when the guest arrived. He suggested that she stay in a hotel, and he offered some money towards the cost according to messages exchanged on the platform. He then offered that she could stay in his home whilst repairs were carried out.

Since the stay of Ms. Hirschhorn was due to end in March, Mr. Jovanovic’s downfall came after he extended her stay until she found somewhere else to live. At this point, Airbnb’s liabilities ended.

When the end of the extended stay came to an end in April, she did not depart. Since Mr. Jovanovic rented out his main house, this wasn’t compliant with building safety regulations.

Jovanovic, in his frustration and desperation, has chosen to go public with his predicament in hopes of raising awareness and preventing others from enduring similar ordeals. In the end, it falls to a judge to determine the outcome of this contentious dispute.

Beware Hosts, ensure you keep all your conversation inside the Airbnb platform and keep payments on the platform. As when things go wrong, they will have you covered.

New York City’s Airbnb Crackdown Begins

Manhattan Uptown Aerial View

New regulations in New York City, targeting illegal short-term rentals, are now in effect, impacting tens of thousands of listings. These rules, passed in January as Local Law 18, bolster the enforcement of existing regulations governing short-term rentals, requiring hosts to register with the city government.

To be considered legal short-term rentals, properties must host no more than two people, with the host residing on-site and providing guests access to the entire home. The new regulations demand eligible hosts to prove their residency and ensure their properties meet safety codes and other regulatory standards. Violators may face fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

Under these new regulations renders many Airbnb unsuitable for many families. The impact of these regulations has been swift, resulting in a significant reduction in available listings throughout the five boroughs. Airbnb, in response, has begun cancelling and refunding existing short-term rental reservations with check-in dates on or after December 2.

Airbnb and Vrbo now bear the responsibility of ensuring that their platform users comply with city regulations. There are currently more than 40,000 Airbnb listings within the city, and the introduction of these new regulations is anticipated to result in a substantial reduction in the availability of such listings.

The Party’s Over!

People drinking at a party

Airbnb parties are a thing of the past. As a result, parties and other gatherings are no longer permitted in any of the properties listed on Airbnb. When bars and clubs were forced to close or restrict entry owing to the pandemic of coronavirus, the accommodation-sharing company made the decision to temporarily prohibit partying behaviour … Read more

Scotland to introduce licensing for Airbnb

Scotland

According to legislation now before the Scottish Parliament, councils would be granted the authority to guarantee that short-term rentals are safe and suit the requirements of their local communities. The legislation was developed in response to the concerns expressed by residents across Scotland Each short term let will need get a licence for their rental, … Read more

Airbnb enhances the accessibility search filters for guests

wheelchair, disability, injured

Airbnb has improved its search filters and accessibility review process to make it simpler for persons with impairments to discover lodgings on its marketplace. A specialist team of Airbnb agents will now examine photos that hosts upload show casing their homes’ accessibility features, and will examine them to see if they’re acceptable for persons with impairments. Airbnb’s search criteria for accessibility features have also been modified. Filters like accessible parking spots and step free access to bedrooms and bathrooms will now be highlighted in the searchers results. Airbnb modified the filters to for broad … Read more

2021 Travel Trends for Vacation Rentals

Planning the Journey

VRBO has been in the business of helping families, couples and individuals find a great, safe place to stay when they are on vacation. That purpose has not changed even with the advent of the Covid-19 epidemic.

All groups of travelers, including business travelers, are still making plans to get to those perfect lodging options in 2021. The vacation trend seems to be picking up even though the Covid-19 is still looming large for next year.

The different travel trends for 2021

Destination and plans may be altered as different countries impose travel restrictions or quarantine stays once you arrive in their country but vacation plans have not. Here are some new trends that are being developed as the pandemic has many people scared of travel or tourists.

#1. Method of travel

62% of vacationers planning to travel next year are planning to drive instead of fly. They want to cut down any risk of exposure to Covid-19 and driving is their solution. The TSA issue may also help influence that decision.

While flying is safer than driving the risk of catching Covid-19 or some other communicable disease is greater with planes than private cars. Driving is the newest trend, even though it has been around for some time.

Then for 2021, more travelers are planning more trips than they took before this disease hit the world. 65% plan on taking more trips while 54% of those travelers are making their bucket list plans.

Then an additional 33% are planning to spend more on their trips.

#2. Destination locations

Because of the way Covid-19 is transmitted the new trend in vacationing is moving away from hotels and motels. This may be good news for those business travelers who need the amenities a good hotel has to offer as they will encounter fewer people during their stays.

Now more remote locations like lakes, rivers, and possibly mountain areas are gaining popularity. 61% of travelers are creating this new trend and it is happening right now.

Vacationers are finding it to be as much or more fun to visit national parks and other remote areas than going to a crowded, risky place like Disneyland or 6 Flags and similar tourist hot spots.

#3. Lodging locations

With a majority of travelers looking to drive and seek those in nature tourist destination, like national parks (62% & 61% respectively), it stands to reason they will be looking for an alternative, in nature lodging options.

The demand for cabins and staying at chalets went up 25% and 20% respectively at both unique lodging options. For 2021 you need to start planning your vacation now before all the good outdoor locations and lodging options are filled up.

These are great places to bring your kids and show them another side to life than the electronic one.

Some final words

Pre-covid-19, you may have been the oddball as you sought out these unique travel opportunities for you and your family. You liked them because you got away from all the crowds found at the more popular destinations.

Unfortunately, the pandemic is bringing the crowds to you. This is evidenced by the rise in these new trends. These options may have been around since the invention of the stagecoach it is just that they are being rediscovered by modern people used to plane and train travel as well as staying in hotels and motels.

The good news for you is that VRBO will be right there ready and willing to help you find that perfect location away from the crowds. Just don’t delay your holiday plans too far in the future or you may be out of luck and stay home next year.

Host advisory board created ahead of its IPO

People gathering

As everyone awaits the new IPO Airbnb has announced it is creating a new host advisory board. The members of this board will be taken from the VIP host category and those members will be announced before the end of this year.

In all, there will be 15 members on this board whose membership will be diverse and include women hostesses as well as international hosts. Along with that creation, Airbnb will create a host endowment using roughly 9.2 million shares from the home-sharing platform.

Once the balance of that fund reaches $1 billion or more, the money will be shared by the 4 million host members. This money will be invested upon the advice of the advisory council and will reach into areas like education, financial resources, and other projects that CEO Brian Chesky hopes to keep Airbnb and its hosts fully supported.

He is proud of the hosts who are involved in Airbnb and calls his hosts resilient, very adaptable, and kind. Mr. Chesky is looking to keep hosts and hosting as the center of Airbnb and this endowment, as well as the advisory board, is rewarding them for their service over the years.

The board will meet once a month to discuss how the money will be invested as well as share the updates that come with each meeting. In a separate move, Airbnb will be splitting its shares in order to lower the new stock prices that will hit the NASDAQ very soon.

Glitches in Airbnb Causes Thousands of Bookings to Be Cancelled

glitches-in-airbnb-system

No matter how much technology is improved, it seems that the possibility of errors and glitches become more frequent. One shining example is the latest in Airbnb’s series of glitches.

This new glitch cancelled reservations and automatically refunded the customers’ deposits. How widespread it was is anyone’s guess as Airbnb is downplaying the issue.

It is not the first time for a glitch in the system

This new error does not seem to be that large. According to Airbnb it only affected a small number of accounts and those were not very major ones at that. In this glitch, reservations were cancelled and some hosts saw at least 12 reservations disappear in a blink of an eye.

Unfortunately, Airbnb has not been very quick to respond to the complaints made by both guests and hosts. Some have waited up to three days for a response, while some hosts are still waiting for the company to contact them.

But this is not the first time this online company has experienced glitches. Another glitch happened 2 months ago and allowed hosts to see the private inboxes of other hosts. That includes their conversations and other data.

The company’s solution was to recommend clearing cookies and cache from the user’s browser or changing the browser they currently use.

Bad timing

Neither this new glitch or the one that took place 60 days ago came at a good time for Airbnb. It was supposed to file an IPO (initial public offering last week) Plus, the company had planned on being listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, as well as the LTSE or Long Term Stock Exchange.

The effect of these glitches may have investors a bit worried as the move to become public comes with a $30 billion+ valuation. Glitches do not help nor do they attract long term investors which is the purpose of the LSTE.

The Party’s Over – Airbnb Suspends 800 UK listings

Airbnb Suspend Party Listings

Airbnb has suspended more than 800 listings in the UK after they believed that they have been used as party houses. The suspension covers the listings that have defied policies or received complaints on events and parties which are banned by the company.

In the company’s commitment to crack down on the antisocial behaviour, they have blocked UK reservations attempts over 13,500 in a single month by introducing a pilot restriction that put a stop to some reservations from the people living nearby and under the age of 25 years.

Airbnb has introduced some ground rules to be followed to prevent certain behaviour at its listed rental properties. This included banning parties at their rental properties internationally, the introduction of the pilot booking restrictions, and launching of the neighbour tools, this is where neighbours can share their concerns about any of their listings to them directly for investigating.

It started as the organization stated they will be restricting reservations in England following the lockdown introduction by the government, to make sure that no one goes against the Covid restriction rules.  From Friday 6th November to Wednesday the 2nd of December during this time all the new reservations will be done with the new temporary restrictions.

Guests who are legally not subject to the restrictions will be allowed to have long-term reservations on Airbnb. But the company will be continuously reviewing measures and keeping an eye on the way forward by the government.

The director of public policy at the organization, Patrick Robinson, issued a “zero tolerance” warning to any guest using the platform.

With the plans of filing the necessary Initial Public Offering (IPO) documents before the end of November, just before the stock market launching in December. This company is completed to its pledge to find and remove guests and hosts may still want to hold the house parties and large gatherings and fail to follow the social distancing rule.  Airbnb is positive about attracting more investors as they pursue a new IPO deal exceeding $30 billion.

Host Update with Catherine Powell | August 20th, 2020

Hosts Now Must Enrol to Airbnb’s Cleaning Policy

Airbnb is mandating extra cleaning protocols for homes and buildings to stay in compliance.

Airbnb is looking to make new safety measures that are set to go in place by November 20th to make sure everything is clean during this global crisis.

If a host does not comply with these new protocols they may be removed from the Airbnb platform.

The new Enhanced Cleaning Protocol was first brought out in April due to the lockdowns that happened all over the world. There is a five-step process for cleaning. This includes scrubbing all of the floors, wiping down and disinfecting surfaces that are high touch areas, washing all bed sheets and linens on the high heat setting, and make sure rooms are properly ventilated.

Hosts will now have to log into the Airbnb system to show that they have met these requirements. Wearing a mask and establishing the social distancing protocols are expected from all host. Hosts in China do not have to follow these measures as they have their own mandated cleaning requirements.

Airbnb did make a statement regarding these changes. They want people to know that these new requirements will improve their listing and meet the needs of their customers. People are three times more likely to book a place that is enrolled in the Enhanced Cleaning Protocol than others that are not.

The company also stated that new measures are going to be added. They are looking for ways to prevent partying. Customers cannot book a room for one night during Halloween or the times when parties are common. Parties have been banned since August following violent incidents and illegal activities that have been reported.

The company is looking to improve their security and public image. Airbnb is looking to raise money to continue to offer its services to the customers.

Adapting your Airbnb Business During Covid-19

NYC Covid 19

The COVID-19 crisis has hit the short-term rental market hard and Airbnb’s revenues look like they have been cut in half. Airbnb’s business looks like it will never fully recover which they have acknowledged by cutting their workforce by 25% worldwide.

For some of the hardest-hit hosts, Airbnb has provided a Superhost relief fund, which has given grants to over 8700 hosts awarding them over $16-million which doesn’t need to be paid back.

What does this massive disruption mean for your business? You are likely going to need to work harder to gain those ever so important guests. The demographic of guests have started to change during this pandemic, so you should alter your business accordingly.

The biggest change to the Airbnb ecosystem is that guests are booking stays that are closer to home. The number of local stays has increased from 13% to 30% and this is likely to rise until more flights start to resume and people feel safer on planes.

Not only are guests booking stays closer to home, but the amount they are willing to spend has dropped massively, under $50 a night is becoming the new normal.

To adapt to this new future of travel guests are require more private spaces, whereas before many guests were happy to share, now they want to be alone and stats seem to show that they feel happier staying in an Airbnb rather than a hotel. Due to the uncertainty in the world, these guests are booking more trips closer to their travel dates, so be prepared to accept the guest’s last-minute bookings. Enable Instant Booking to give you a good catch to get those last-minute travellers.

Offer to your guests self-checkins, if this isn’t something you do already you should highly consider it, as future guests may not want to meet people to do a key exchange. If you do offer keyless entry of a self checkin, then ensure you highlight this.

Update your discount rates for longer-term stays, this will be better for you as this will reduce your amount of time you need to cleaning and reduce your own exposure.

More than ever before cleanliness will be the most important part of your business. Airbnb has introduced the enhanced cleaning protocol, which will help your guests be safe. The protocol is not mandatory and no penalties if you decide not to enrol. However, enrolling into their enhanced cleaning programme will help boost your rankings and will give you a little next extra icon in your listing.

if you don’t wish to enroll in the enhanced cleaning programme, you can set a booking buffer which basically means you will agree to leave your property empty for 72-hours, this will be automatically administered by Airbnb’s by blocking your calender, this time scale may change as we learn more about Covid-19. We recommend that you update your listing to mention your cleaning regime and truly commit to it, otherwise be prepared for a negative review.

Some tips on cleaning:

  • Ensure you disinfect surfaces that are high touch areas, likely handles, desks, toilets, remote controls, and handrails for example
  • Protect yourself by using gloves and avoid touching your face
  • Ventilate the property as soon as you arrive by opening all window
  • Use a checklist to ensure you and your cleaners don’t forget anything

Help your guests be safe by providing hand sanitizer and hand wash. Leave in the property extra tissues and travel packs to help them be safe. Some countries require face covering, if you’re able to provide these free of charge to the guests, then mention this as one of your selling points on your listing.

Lastly, don’t forget about Aribnb’s Extenuating Circumstances Policy that covers guests who have booked their trip before March-1th 2020, they are allowed to cancel their stay and will be entitled to a full refund. Reservations booked after 14th of March will not be covered under the Extenuating Circumstances Policy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EU Want Airbnb to be Clearer on Pricing

Those who have used Airbnb in the past know how upsetting it is when there are hidden charges. Also, the feeling of frustration can arise when there is no clear medium to air a dispute.

In response to these numerous complaints, the EU Commission is cracking down on home-sharing service lack of transparency. Any additional costs for the home, such as cleaning, service fees and taxes, must be listed upfront in the initial quote.

Additionally, the hosts must now disclose if it is a private or professional listing since the short-term rentals market has attracted more professional hosting services. Furthermore, there must be easy to find a link to the Online Dispute Resolution service on the site.

There are further checks and balances added to the terms of service as well making it known that consumers have the right to sue in case of personal harm or damages in one’s country of residence. Airbnb is also not allowed to change their terms and conditions without informing present clients and giving them the right to cancel their contracts when they do change their terms and conditions.

The EU Commission and EU Consumer Authorities contacted Airbnb in July 2018 to make known these complaints. The parties were ensuring that the company complied with the current standards stipulated in EU consumer law. Overall make it whole service much more transparent.

From Air Beds to Exclusive Villas and Private Islands

Airbnb has been scaling to greater heights as time goes by, just to ensure that the company’s clients receive the best of services. As a customer, you no longer have to put up with the “good old days” when the best you could get was an air mattress on the floor.
The mega-wealthy now have a better chance to use their cash to get them the luxury they crave, with the availability of a luxury rental property. Those who have been opting for luxury hotels can now relax and enjoy their stay in what should be considered as some of the most extravagant homes in the entire world.
Airbnb Luxe is the new rental tier that has made it possible for clients to enjoy the new high-end services. We are talking options ranging from entire islands to medieval castles, archery ranges, dinosaur skulls, mansions decked out with water slides, and more.
Brian Chesky, Airbnb’s chief executive and co-founder says that the motivation behind the introduction of the Luxe tier is their strategy of providing a suitable product for every traveler. As such, they introduced the tier to cater for those seeking luxury.
The tier’s portfolio of 2,000 homes is comprised of ski lodges in New Zealand, Villas in Tuscany, as well as castles in France. These homes were picked from the various properties listed on the high-end vacation rental company that was acquired by Airbnb in 2017.
Chesky reveals that the customers opting for the properties are the ones who rented sofas with the company before the grew to the level they are at currently. Now that these customers are earning more and prefer better services, they seek upscale accommodation. That’s why Airbnb has, in the past year, had a 60% increase in bookings that would set you back $1,000 or more a night, according to Chesky.

Before selecting the different property for consideration to the Luxe tier, different factors such as the home’s design, view, and location had to be considered. The activities at the property also go a long way in helping the guest have an idea of the area’s culture and way of life as well. At Castello di Vicarello in the Tuscan countryside, visitors can enjoy activities like hiking through 100 acres of land as well as helping local farmers with harvests.
To book for Luxe’s entry-level listings in the Caribbean, one has to part with $600 each night for the low season. The most expensive listing, on the other hand, would set you back $1M every week. At such an expensive price, however, you have four pools, 21 bedrooms, and a staff of 50 at your disposal.

The average listing, as quoted by Chesky is $2,000 a night for the Luxe tier, compared to the normal listings where one can find a listing as cheap as less than $20 each night. For customers who would wish to have the upmarket though not luxury home, $150 per night is what one would have to part with on an average basis.

The Luxe package also offers a trip designer, who helps the clients during their stay with things such as airport transfers, local tours, and more.
Rummy Pandit, of Lloyd D. Institute of gaming, however, thinks that it will still be a challenge for Airbnb to get credibility in the luxury travel sector even after offering such a package. He says that Airbnb has had a reputation of offering affordable packages, so the company should concentrate on building a track record in a new area.

Besides, Airbnb has to face competition from companies such as Oliver’s Travels and others. However, the increasing demand for vacation home rentals might favour Airbnb. Research by Skift shows that 2018 had rentals that included home rentals generating roughly $22.7 billion as revenue. Skift only expects the revenue to expand by 30% to approximately $30 billion this year.

 

Airbnb to Hand Over Data to NYC and Other Cities Could Be Next

The feud between Airbnb and New York is not new. For the past decade, they have embroiled in a high profile rivalry. On the one hand, this hospitality service brokerage wants to be legitimized in its biggest market. But on the other, New York City’s strict short term rental laws make Airbnb’s rentals illegal. This ongoing enmity has also affected New Yorkers as finding affordable housing is difficult.

In February, New York’s mayor, Bill de Blasio subpoenaed the company for records of more than 17,000 listings that weren’t anonymized. The mayor explained that this was a measure to force this enterprise to provide transparency about their rentals. But after years of lawsuits, countersuits and lobbying campaigns, New Yorkers can now be relieved since the company has found a way to share that information with the government without privacy being compromised.

The Lost Battle

The data dump involved listings from January 2018 through February and was given to the city on April 5th. The agreement came to be as a response to a subpoena from the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) in Manhattan Supreme Court on May 15th.

Now, OSE can request listing information containing user records from this hospitality service enterprise but only if they can prove that the info will be helpful to an investigation. They were given one year to make that request. The city will be using the data to determine operators who disrupt the city’s housing stock and damage New Yorker’s neighbourhood, placing residents and visitors in danger.

Liz De Fusco spoke on behalf of Airbnb and said that this deal is the first step towards finding a lasting solution to this problem. With this agreement, the company hopes that they can work with the city to find a consistent solution that’s within its lawful rights and obligations.

More To Come

But, this enterprise and OSE still have other four separate cases awaiting in the same court against each other on whether Airbnb should be compelled to share user information with the city. The company was however ordered to respond to the OSE subpoenas for records from listings in three cities: Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens which the city suspects they are illegally used. The information in these files, however, is to remain confidential as per court orders.

Create Travel Experiences as Unique as Your DNA

DNA String

With the simplicity of at-home genetics such as the 23andMe, has resulted in the growth of the heritage’ travel. Different people from different corners of the world have made trips in order to link up with their ancestry. This is the main reason as to why 23andMe and Airbnb have collaborated to make it easier to unearth an individual’s ancestry.

Both organizations will work to assure the best product ancestry experience. According to 23andMe, whenever a customer secures their reports regarding ancestry’, they have an opportunity to peruse through their ancestral database and find experiences that match and individuals roots.s.

“Airbnb is aimed at offering the most authentic travel experience, that will enable you to perfectly link up with your local cultures, and at the same time build a great sense of belonging around the world. We are proud to have joined hands with 23andme, in order to help many learn about their ancestry and genes. This will make it easy for travellers to organize trips that are unique just like their DNA.”

According to the founder CEO and co-founder of 23andMe – Anne Wojcicki, “they are geared to help customers to understand much about themselves and their associated ancestry by use of a unique genetic code”

Heritage Travel On the Increase

For individuals who have not yet taken an at-home test, according to the survey’s 73% resolved that they will understand their heritage through exploration of the personal DNA.

The curiosity regarding one’s ancestry led to the rise of travel heritage, which is currently spreading all over the world. Following the study records of that was commissioned by Airbnb, in April 2019. At least 8,000 individuals across Mexico, USA, Brazil, France, UK, Argentina, and Australia have had an opportunity to travel to a country of their origin.

Ancestry trips have proved to be highly enriching’ compared to the common vacations. At least 83% of the Argentines consider heritage trips to be of more value than the normal vacation. Perhaps the biggest contributor to heritage travel is what individuals are willing to forgo.

The discovery of DNA travel’ has also become very common in Airbnb. Since the year 2019, travellers that use Airbnb to trace their ancestral origin have increased by at least 500%. At least 78% of these particular’ trips are usually taken in solo or pairs. This is a clear indication of highly introspective’ journeys highly important to share with others. Also, as the guest increases, they develop more desire to know more about the origin. And guest within the age bracket of 60 to 90′ has a high likelihood of embracing the heritage trip.

The highly popular areas for DNA origin are the areas which are typical’ more popular because of their immigration history. They include the United States, Australia, Canada, Korea, China, France, Brazil, Taiwan, and New Zealand.

According to 23andMe some of the best areas where their clients claim recent’ ancestry beyond Canada and United States include Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Nigeria, Russia, Ireland, Mexico, and India. Following the data from 23andme, they indicate that a huge number of their customers boasts of 5′ populations on their Ancestry’ report, that offers several opportunities that allow one manoeuvre through the heritage’ travel.

Nonetheless, you don’t necessarily have to move in order to explore your roots’. Through the experiences from Airbnb, you will be able to link with your land or origin in the best way from your’ hometown. For example, in Chauhan – Fransisco their husband lead through tea tasting’ experience and the Chinese calligraphy. Their parents and grandparents have a number of calligraphy’ masterpieces most of which have been sold through the art auctions. In Paris’, you are allowed to go for West’ African ‘ tour that has Chayet.

Whether it’s a distance trip to an upcountry or a class of the neighbourhood’ which is your ancestral home will be a great eye-opening, enchanting experience. With the help of 23andMe and Airbnb, you will be able to plan a unique trip just like your DNA.