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Articles by Olivia Chen
Fake Government Requests Led Revolut to Disclose Customer KYC and Bitcoin Data
An email address hosted on a real government domain caused Revolut to transfer customer KYC files and financial data to a fake requester. The London-based fintech confirmed the incident on September 12, stating that the fraudulent requests were processed because the emails carried valid domain authentication information and were believed to be official communications.
Vrbo hosts face September 10 deadline to opt out of automatic One Key discounts
Vrbo hosts have until September 10 to opt out of automatic Members Only Deals The discounts are set at 12 percent for Blue members, 15 percent for Silver and 20 percent for Gold and Platinum The discounts can stack with existing weekly and monthly discounts, cutting host payouts further Vrbo short-term rental hosts may want to check their inbox before September 10.
AirDNA launches new AI pricing tool for short-term rental operators
AirDNA launched Adapt, a new AI-native revenue management system for short-term rental operators The tool uses data from 15 million listings and explains the reasoning behind nightly rates and minimum stays More than 14,000 listings were connected during beta testing before the September 1 launch AirDNA wants short-term rental hosts to stop wondering why their nightly rate suddenly changed.
Wine Country’s off-platform rental market: $1,295-a-night homes bypass Airbnb, VRBO
BeautifulPlaces manages about three dozen Wine Country properties booked directly, bypassing Airbnb, VRBO and Booking.com Nightly rates range from roughly $1,295 to top-tier estates, while monthly rentals run from about $12,000 to $90,000 The company plans to add properties in Santa Barbara after 23 years operating primarily in Sonoma and Napa One boutique operator in California Wine Country manages roughly three dozen luxury homes that never appear on Airbnb, VRBO or Booking.com.
Meet the woman running South Africa’s 550 check-in-a-month short-term rental operation
Just 11 employees manage nearly 100 short-term rental apartments and roughly 550 guest check-ins during a busy month The operation sits in Ballito, a fast-growing beach destination about 25 miles north of Durban on South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast DropInn says travelers increasingly expect hotel-level responsiveness and consistency even when booking full apartments Nearly 100 short-term rental apartments. Roughly 550 guest check-ins in a busy month.
Maui council weighs adding hundreds more condos to short-term rental exemption
Twenty-six Maui condo properties could be moved into hotel-zoned districts that would allow vacation rentals to continue The proposal comes as Maui phases out exemptions covering roughly 7,000 apartment-zoned vacation rental units County Council members will decide whether to send the rezoning proposals to the Maui Planning Commission for review Dozens of Maui condo properties could get a path to keep operating as short-term rentals even as the county moves ahead with one of Hawaii’s biggest...
Popular New York vacation market moves to tax short-term rentals like hotels
Geneva City Council is considering extending the city’s 3% occupancy tax to short-term rentals beginning in 2027 The Finger Lakes city also wants Ontario County to rejoin New York’s short-term rental registry and share tax revenue with municipalities A separate resolution would ask the state to let Geneva raise its occupancy tax ceiling from 3% to 5% Short-term rental hosts could soon be taxed more like hotels in one of New York’s best-known Finger Lakes tourism destinations.
Airbnb pledges $1 million to Washington conservation nonprofits
Airbnb is dropping $1 million into Washington state’s environmental nonprofits and forestry conservation efforts. The pledge marks the company’s largest community commitment in the state to date, funding groups like Trout Unlimited and Leave No Trace. Volunteers with Washington’s National Park Fund can score a $100 Airbnb credit through summer 2027. Airbnb is putting serious money behind preserving the great outdoors in the state of Washington. The booking giant announced on Aug.
Puerto Rico short-term rental group launches campaign as new regulations loom
Puerto Rico has roughly 33,000 short-term rentals supporting nearly 19,000 jobs A new social media campaign wants to give hosts and operators a louder voice in the island’s short-term rental debate The campaign comes as lawmakers consider islandwide licensing rules and new pool-safety requirements Puerto Rico’s short-term rental industry is stepping up its public campaign as lawmakers consider new rules that could affect thousands of hosts across the island.
US court dismisses New York lawyer’s injury lawsuit over Kerry Airbnb fall
A US federal court dismissed attorney David Bright’s lawsuit over a fall at a Kerry, Ireland Airbnb rental Bright had alleged a detached retina and a concussion from a stairway fall while on holiday The docket does not show whether Bright intends to refile the claim in an Irish court A New York attorney’s bid to sue an Irish short-term rental host in a US courtroom just reportedly collapsed, along with claims of a detached retina and a concussion.
Lodgify releases free short-term rental expense-tracking spreadsheet for hosts
Lodgify just released a free spreadsheet template to track monthly and annual Airbnb income and expenses. The free tool calculates key metrics like occupancy rate, ADR, RevPAR, and net operating income. It serves as an entry point for hosts before upgrading to automated, paid owner-statement software. If your end-of-month bookkeeping routine still involves sifting through crumpled paper receipts or endlessly scrolling through chaotic bank statements, you’re far from alone.
Barcelona set to become first major European city to ban short-term rentals
Barcelona plans to let all 10,101 of its tourist apartment licenses expire in November 2028 Spain’s Constitutional Court upheld the Catalan law behind the city’s plan in March 2025 Barcelona says enforcement against illegal tourist rentals has already returned nearly 3,900 homes to permanent residential use Barcelona may soon become the first major city in Europe to shut out short-term rentals.
Franklin Templeton and HashKey Bring $15B Tokenized Money Fund to Asia
Franklin Templeton and HashKey Exchange on August 24, 2026, announced a partnership to bring the grBENJI tokenized money-market fund to HashKey’s Earn channel in Asia, expanding access for eligible and professional investors. The agreement comes as tokenized U.S. Treasuries have become one of the largest segments of the RWA market, totaling around $15.6 billion.
Lodgify’s 61-item amenities checklist shows what actually drives bookings
Lodgify published a checklist of more than 60 vacation rental amenities across every room and budget tier Airbnb-commissioned survey data cited in the guide found 97 percent of travelers say amenities shape trip quality The guide ranks coffee makers, full kitchens and air conditioning above pools and jacuzzis in guest search behavior A coffee maker beats a hot tub.
Major college town inches closer to new short-term rental permit rules despite pushback
South Bend is considering two bills that would create new permitting requirements for short-term rentals The proposals would require annual permits and contact information for STR owners No vote was taken Monday, and the measures still have more steps before reaching the full council South Bend is taking another step toward new rules for its growing short-term rental market.
HomeToGo revenue jumps 72% as Interhome acquisition reshapes vacation rental business
HomeToGo’s first-half revenue jumped 71.8 percent, driven largely by its acquisition of Interhome The booking platform’s business services division now generates about two-thirds of total revenue after growing 250.5 percent HomeToGo has a U.S. marketplace presence, even as much of its recent acquisition-driven growth remains centered in Europe Vacation rental company HomeToGo is getting a lot bigger, and one acquisition is doing much of the heavy lifting.
Vrbo says fall rental prices sit just 5 percent below summer peaks as demand surges
Fall travel interest on Vrbo rose 17 percent year over year, with rates 5 percent below summer peaks Myrtle Beach still discounts 34 percent, while Nashville, Boston, Chicago and Miami see rising fall rates European markets like Corfu and Siena hold 8 percent savings, while London, Paris and Rome stay firm Fall travel interest on Vrbo has jumped 17 percent year over year, and the discount that once defined short-term rental rates after Labor Day is nearly gone.
Navajo Nation puts $146K behind new short-term rental booking platform
The Navajo Nation approved a $146,000 contract to build its own short-term rental booking platform The site will let hosts list properties while travelers search, book and pay without relying on major third-party platforms The platform is expected to launch within roughly 8 to 16 weeks of contract approval Move over Vrbo and Airbnb, the Navajo Nation wants to have its own short-term rental booking platform.
Short-term rental rates rise in 49 of 50 top markets as RevPAR climbs 7.2%
U.S. short-term rental RevPAR climbed 7.2 percent year over year in July to $217.17 Average daily rates increased in 49 of the 50 largest U.S. markets, showing pricing growth had spread well beyond World Cup host cities Supply growth remained near 2.5 percent as elevated borrowing costs continued to limit the pace of new short-term rental inventory The summer short-term rental market isn’t losing momentum now that the World Cup is over.
New Hampshire town steps up enforcement of short-term rental permit rules
Jefferson, New Hampshire is working to identify short-term rentals operating without required town permits The town’s permit process includes a fire chief inspection and requires owners to provide contact information for problems at the property Neighboring Carroll has contacted 289 suspected short-term rental owners as it also works to improve registration and compliance A small New Hampshire mountain town is taking a closer look at short-term rentals operating without required permits as...
Why short-term rental hosts should update listing photos more often
Outdated short-term rental listing photos can leave guests feeling misled when they arrive Furniture changes, renovations and removed amenities should trigger a new photo shoot Recent, accurate photos can help hosts set expectations and avoid preventable complaints Great short-term rental photos can win the booking. However, outdates pictures can start the stay with an unhappy guest standing in the doorway wondering what happened.
Florida man charged in shooting outside short-term rental party rental
Natarius Harvey, 24, was charged with attempted first-degree murder over a May 31 shooting near a Lake Park Airbnb party Ballistics testing matched the recovered firearm to two prior shootings in Hendry County, Florida Deputies cited ShotSpotter data, license-plate readers and recovered cellphone messages as evidence supporting the charges A 24-year-old man faces an attempted first-degree murder charge tied to a shooting outside a short-term rental in Lake Park, Florida, near West Palm Beach.
Why every short-term rental host needs a cleaning contract
Cleaning contracts should specify pre-guest, mid-stay, departure and deep-clean service standards in writing Damage reporting timelines get a dedicated clause assigning liability before disputes arise Emergency and last-minute cleaning fees are negotiated in advance to avoid mid-season surcharge disputes Turnover cleaning has quietly become one of the biggest liability gaps in short-term rental operations, and property managers are being pushed to close it with paper, not handshakes.
Airbnb searches surge for three affordable beach towns ahead of Labor Day
Airbnb searches for Surfside Beach jumped 85 percent ahead of Labor Day compared with last year Gulf Shores and Seaside also recorded growing interest as travelers looked beyond pricier beach destinations All three destinations appear on Airbnb’s list of coastal towns where family travel budgets can stretch further Travelers looking for one last beach trip before summer ends are showing growing interest in three more affordable coastal towns.
Columbia, Missouri launches 24/7 tip line for rental complaints
Columbia, Missouri launched a 24/7 phone line for short-term rental complaints Outside vendor Neumo staffs the line instead of in-house code staff Rules since June 2025 require zoning approval, compliance certificates and a 5 percent tax Columbia, Missouri now has created a dedicated phone line for neighbors to report short-term rental problems around the clock.
Maine island town takes stock of short-term rentals before deciding on new rules
Southwest Harbor is starting with a full count of its short-term and long-term rentals before deciding whether new rules are needed Nearby Tremont estimates roughly 329 of its 1,200 homes are short-term rentals Maine towns have until July 1, 2027 to update local housing rules under a new state density law A small town in Maine near Acadia National Park wants to know exactly how many short-term rentals it has before deciding what to do about them.
Short-term rentals outpace hotels as travelers seek more flexibility during travel disruptions
Short-term rentals are gaining an edge over hotels when travelers need to change plans quickly, according to a new report Flexible cancellation policies and the privacy of an entire home are helping drive the shift The report does not say how long the trend will last as travel conditions continue to change When travel plans suddenly change, more guests appear to be turning to short-term rentals instead of traditional hotels.
GuliKit stellt ES Max Bluetooth-Controller mit winkelbasierten TMR-Sticks vor
Der GuliKit ES Max kombiniert TMR-Sticks mit Winkelerfassung, Dual-Mode-Trigger, frei belegbare Rücktasten und den mitgelieferten Hyperlink-2-Bluetooth-Controller-Adapter. Die GuliKit App ermöglicht beim ES Max die Anpassung von Tastenbelegung, Turbo, Sticks, Triggern, Vibration, ABXY-Layout, Steuerkreuz und Gyro-Zielen sowie Firmware-Updates und gespeicherte Profile.
GuliKit stellt ES Max Bluetooth-Controller mit winkelbasierten TMR-Sticks vor
Der GuliKit ES Max kombiniert TMR-Sticks mit Winkelerfassung, Dual-Mode-Trigger, frei belegbare Rücktasten und den mitgelieferten Hyperlink-2-Bluetooth-Controller-Adapter. Die GuliKit App ermöglicht beim ES Max die Anpassung von Tastenbelegung, Turbo, Sticks, Triggern, Vibration, ABXY-Layout, Steuerkreuz und Gyro-Zielen sowie Firmware-Updates und gespeicherte Profile.
GuliKit Launches ES Max Bluetooth Controller with Angle-Sensing TMR Thumbsticks
GuliKit ES Max combines angle-sensing TMR thumbsticks, dual-mode triggers, remappable rear buttons and a bundled Hyperlink 2 Bluetooth Controller Adapter. The GuliKit App lets ES Max users customize key mapping, turbo, joysticks, triggers, vibration, ABXY layout, D-pad settings and gyro aiming, while supporting firmware updates and saved profiles.
Airbnb loses appeal over New Orleans’ one-per-block short-term rental cap
A federal appeals court rejected Airbnb’s challenge to New Orleans’ one-per-block short-term rental limit The court found the cap does not amount to an unconstitutional government taking The ruling leaves one of the country’s strictest residential rental caps in place Airbnb has lost another round in its fight against New Orleans’ short-term rental rules.
South Bend weighs new short-term rental rules as listings climb to 1,500
South Bend has roughly 1,500 short-term rental properties, with city officials saying the number has continued to grow since 2020 Complaints involving noise, parking, trash and a shots-fired incident have added pressure for the city to establish formal rules City leaders are studying short-term rental ordinances in other Indiana communities before bringing a proposal to the Common Council Now that South Bend, Indiana’s short-term rental market has grown to roughly 1,500 properties, city...
Airbnb inks deal with hotel chain Lark, adding 75 boutique hotels onto its platform
Airbnb is adding more than 75 Lark boutique hotels across the U.S. to its platform The hotels operate in leisure destinations where they may appear alongside independently owned short-term rentals Airbnb says it is targeting distinctive boutique properties rather than trying to list every hotel available Airbnb is expanding its hotel lineup with more than 75 boutique properties across the U.S. The booking platform has signed a distribution agreement with Lark that will bring more than 75...
Colorado town revives shelved short-term rental rules
“`html A small Colorado mountain town is taking another run at short-term rental regulations after voters repealed its first ordinance The rejected rules would have capped the town at 30 short-term rental licenses A new committee has until the end of 2026 to recommend a replacement A small Colorado mountain town is reopening its short-term rental debate more than a year after voters overwhelmingly rejected its first attempt at regulation.
Niagara Falls issues $121,000 in fines against unlicensed short-term rentals
Niagara Falls has issued roughly $121,000 in penalties against unlicensed vacation rental operators The city limits short-term rentals to approved commercial and tourist zones unless an exception is granted Enforcement is continuing as officials investigate additional suspected illegal listings Niagara Falls is putting some serious money behind its short-term rental crackdown.
Solar eclipse fuels temporary increased short-term rental demand in Spain and Iceland
Short-term rental demand is surging in Spain and Iceland ahead of the Aug. 12 total solar eclipse Demand is up 123 percent in Zaragoza, Spain, while Reykjavík is running 44 percent ahead of last year Spain’s larger rental supply is helping keep prices steadier, while Iceland’s smaller market faces more pressure Two years after a total solar eclipse sent travelers racing across North America, the same booking rush is now playing out in Spain and Iceland.
Salt Lake City begins fining unlicensed short-term rental hosts $1,000 a week
Salt Lake City hosts now need a license to operate or advertise a short-term rental Unlicensed operators can be fined $1,000 for every seven days they remain out of compliance The rules include a two-night minimum stay, a 200-night annual limit and new caps in multifamily buildings Salt Lake City short-term rental hosts now need a license to operate or advertise their properties, and ignoring the new rule could get expensive fast.
College football is about to double short-term rental demand in three markets
Tuscaloosa demand is pacing up 638% for September 4 through 6, with Baton Rouge at 466% and Green Bay at 240% Alabama’s home opener is driving more than seven times last Labor Day weekend’s demand Labor Day shifting into September inflates the month’s numbers, real growth is closer to 3.4% College football is about to reshape September for short-term rental operators in a handful of markets, and the booking data is already showing it.
Airbnb heads into Q2 earnings Aug. 6
Airbnb reports second-quarter earnings after the market closes on August 6 The company expects revenue of $3.54 billion to $3.6 billion, up 14 to 16 percent Investors will be watching whether booking growth slowed as Airbnb predicted Airbnb reports second-quarter earnings on Thursday, giving hosts and investors a fresh look at the strength of 2026 summer travel demand. The company expects revenue of $3.54 billion to $3.6 billion, an increase of 14 to 16 percent from last year.
Florida island holds an annual short-term rental stakeholder meeting
Anna Maria Island held its annual vacation rental stakeholders meeting with city officials and operators The session covered permit compliance, occupancy limits and noise ordinance enforcement No new restrictions were announced, with the current ordinance remaining in place until next year’s meeting One local Florida government just sat down with the people who run its vacation rentals for the year’s biggest compliance check-in.
California Airbnb host faces $70,000 loss after guest refuses to leave
A Hermosa Beach homeowner says a guest stopped paying after 48 days but refused to leave The dispute could cost the owner more than $70,000 in lost income and fees Airbnb says it removed the guest while the owner pursues a civil eviction A California homeowner is staring down a potential $70,000 loss because a guest wouldn’t leave after his reservation ended. The case underscores a legal gray zone that no short-term rental host wants to deal with.
New York county expands hotel tax to short-term rentals for first time
Jefferson County now requires short-term rental owners to register and collect the same bed tax charged by hotels and motels The county expects the expanded occupancy tax to generate $100,000 during its first six months Half of the revenue will go to the county, while the rest will return to the towns and villages where the rentals operate For the first time, short-term rental owners in a popular New York vacation region will be forced to collect the same bed tax long charged by hotels and...
Hudson Valley needs both hotels and STRs
Hudson Valley lodging supply falls short of visitor demand, a regional analysis finds The report frames new hotels and STR growth as complementary, not competing No timeline exists yet for new hotel projects or added STR capacity A Hudson Valley economic development leader is pushing back against the idea that hotels and short-term rentals must compete for the same guests.
Trip Activity Bookings Grow as Per-Person Spending Stays Flat
U.S. travelers now book more than four tours or activities per trip on average The global experiences market grew 17 percent to $271 billion in 2025 despite flat per-person spending Only 33 percent of experience bookings happen online, trailing the broader travel industry’s digital adoption rate U.S. travelers are now booking more than four tours or activities on every trip, but they are not paying more for the privilege.
Sydney Airbnb tip-off leads to $11M ketamine bust
NSW Police tied a short-term rental unit in Artarmon to a ketamine seizure worth an estimated $11 million The case grew from 2 kilograms found in a rented unit to 107 kilograms total after a hotel and car search Two UK nationals face large commercial drug supply charges and return to court on August 26 Police in Sydney tied a short-term rental stay to a haul of ketamine worth an estimated $11 million, after a tip connected to a booking set off a string of raids that ended with 105 kilograms...
Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com to report Q2 earnings this week
Airbnb reports second-quarter 2026 earnings Thursday, August 6, after market close Analysts expect EPS of $1.19 and revenue near $3.58 billion, both up more than 15 percent year over year Airbnb previously guided for a roughly 100 basis point drag on bookings from the Middle East conflict All the large booking platforms are set to report Q2 2026 earnings next week.
Business loan requirements: 9 things you will need
Many lenders require businesses to have been in operation for at least two years before approving a standard business loan. Only 48% of businesses under five years old were approved for financing in 2025, according to the 2026 Report on Employer Firms. There are some exceptions to the rule. Lenders that specialize in startup loans may only require six months in business. And some specific loan types, like equipment loans, may have no minimum time in business requirements.
Business travelers reshape how hosts stage listings
Hostfully’s guide says fast, whole-property Wi-Fi has become a baseline requirement for attracting business travelers Business travel bookings on Airbnb and Vrbo have become normalized enough to appear on company expense reports The guide recommends listing keyword changes and low-cost additions like a desk, coffee maker, and extra chargers rather than renovations Fast and reliable Wi-Fi has become a make-or-break amenity for short-term rental owners chasing corporate guests.
Airbnb.org houses Greek doctors on tourist islands
Airbnb.org and Greece’s Health Ministry launched free housing for doctors and nurses on five Aegean islands The pilot covers Santorini, Paros, Ios, Rhodes and Tinos through the end of September Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said homes become available starting in early August Doctors and nurses on five Greek islands are getting free housing this summer, courtesy of Airbnb’s nonprofit arm.
Honolulu woman’s short-term rental rental listing glitch drew $590K fine
Honolulu fined an 83-year-old woman $590,000 after her rental was mistakenly listed for short-term stays A federal lawsuit and settlement cut the penalty by 95 percent to $30,000 Attorneys say Honolulu has issued more than $90 million in similar advertising-violation fines An 83-year-old Honolulu homeowner will be able to keep the house she has lived in for more than five decades after reaching a settlement that slashed a $590,000 short-term rental fine to $30,000.
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