INSIDER
A criticized Airbnb deal will let users play gladiator in Rome's Colosseum
Read full article: A criticized Airbnb deal will let users play gladiator in Rome's ColosseumThe ancient Roman Colosseum will be the venue of gladiator fights for the first time in two millennia under a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with Airbnb.
Prince fans can party overnight like it's 1999 with Airbnb rental of 'Purple Rain' house
Read full article: Prince fans can party overnight like it's 1999 with Airbnb rental of 'Purple Rain' houseA few Prince fans visiting the superstar's hometown of Minneapolis may be lucky to stay at a place that will let them go crazy over his cultural legacy.
Airbnb's second-quarter profit fell 15% despite its revenue rising 11% on stronger bookings
Read full article: Airbnb's second-quarter profit fell 15% despite its revenue rising 11% on stronger bookingsAirbnb says its profit fell 15% in the second quarter from a year earlier, as higher income taxes cut into the short-term rental giant’s bottom line even as bookings and revenue rose.
Airbnb shares slide on lower revenue forecast despite a doubling of net income
Read full article: Airbnb shares slide on lower revenue forecast despite a doubling of net incomeAirbnb's profit more than doubled last quarter, but management's disappointing revenue forecast sparked a roughly 7% drop in its stock in after-market trading.
Want to spend the night in a Paris museum or a house owned by Prince? Airbnb plans to list them
Read full article: Want to spend the night in a Paris museum or a house owned by Prince? Airbnb plans to list themAirbnb says it's going to give customers a chance at overnight stays in a Paris museum, a bedroom filled with Ferrari racing cars, and other exotic settings.
Airbnb is banning the use of indoor security cameras in the platform's listings worldwide
Read full article: Airbnb is banning the use of indoor security cameras in the platform's listings worldwideAirbnb says it’s banning the use of indoor security cameras in listings on its site around the world by the end of next month.
Airbnb agrees to pay $621 million to settle a tax dispute in Italy
Read full article: Airbnb agrees to pay $621 million to settle a tax dispute in ItalyShort-term rental platform Airbnb has agreed to pay 576 million euros ($621 million) to settle a years-long dispute over unpaid taxes in Italy but won’t try to recover the money from its hosts.
There's too much guesswork in renting an Airbnb. The short-term rental giant is trying to fix that
Read full article: There's too much guesswork in renting an Airbnb. The short-term rental giant is trying to fix thatAirbnb says the biggest reason it loses some bookings to hotels is that people never know exactly what their Airbnb rental will look like until they check in.
Airbnb posts $4.4 billion 3Q profit with help from a tax break and higher-than-expected revenue
Read full article: Airbnb posts $4.4 billion 3Q profit with help from a tax break and higher-than-expected revenueAirbnb says it made nearly $4.4 billion in the third quarter on better-than-expected revenue and a tax benefit.
Airbnb profit jumps to $650 million in 2Q, as bookings increase and rental rates hold steady
Read full article: Airbnb profit jumps to $650 million in 2Q, as bookings increase and rental rates hold steadyAirbnb says its second-quarter profit rose more than 70% from a year ago to $650 million thanks to strong bookings for summer-vacation rentals.
The pub from ‘Ted Lasso’ is an Airbnb and you can win a chance to stay there for $13
Read full article: The pub from ‘Ted Lasso’ is an Airbnb and you can win a chance to stay there for $13Not only can you have a pint at the famous pub from the hit AppleTV+ show “Ted Lasso,” Airbnb is also giving the opportunity for fans of the award-winning TV show to actually stay at the pub.
Living out a childhood fantasy: Guests to enjoy overnight stay on iconic boat from children’s series
Read full article: Living out a childhood fantasy: Guests to enjoy overnight stay on iconic boat from children’s seriesTheodore TOO, currently stationed in Hamilton, Ontario, will be open for Airbnb stays on Saturday and Sunday.
Airbnb’s party ban policy to be permanent in Michigan just before Fourth of July weekend
Read full article: Airbnb’s party ban policy to be permanent in Michigan just before Fourth of July weekendAirbnb announced a temporary ban on all parties and events in listings globally in August 2020. The temporary ban has reportedly proved effective, so the company has announced the ban will now be their official policy.
Obama, Airbnb's Brian Chesky launch $100M in scholarships
Read full article: Obama, Airbnb's Brian Chesky launch $100M in scholarshipsThe co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, has donated $100 million to the Obama Foundation to fund scholarships for students pursuing careers in public service and includes multiple stipends for travel.
Woman flies in from San Francisco to meet with Novi boy she’d been talking to for year, police say
Read full article: Woman flies in from San Francisco to meet with Novi boy she’d been talking to for year, police sayA woman was arrested after she flew in from San Francisco, rented an Airbnb in Royal Oak and sent an Uber to pick up a Novi boy she’d been talking to for more than a year, officials said.
Kamala Harris art, 'Daily Show' lead Anthem Awards finalists
Read full article: Kamala Harris art, 'Daily Show' lead Anthem Awards finalistsAn art installation inspired by Vice President Kamala Harris, The New York Times’ “The 1619 Project” and “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah,” as well as charitable programs from Airbnb, Google, PayPal and the National Football League, are among the finalists for the inaugural Anthem Awards announced Tuesday.
Airbnb: Ann Arbor property owners stand to reap big profits during Michigan-Ohio State weekend
Read full article: Airbnb: Ann Arbor property owners stand to reap big profits during Michigan-Ohio State weekendAirbnb says Ann Arbor hosts are poised to make significant profits as Wolverines and Buckeyes fans descend upon Tree Town for The Game.
I stayed at a ‘haunted’ Airbnb for two nights and this is what happened
Read full article: I stayed at a ‘haunted’ Airbnb for two nights and this is what happenedTo some, staying in a haunted hotel or Airbnb is a bucket list experience, but when I found out my friends booked an Airbnb in a building that used to be a psychiatric hospital, all I could think was that some ghosts were going to visit me at night.
Airbnb reports 1Q loss of nearly $1.2 billion, revenue rises
Read full article: Airbnb reports 1Q loss of nearly $1.2 billion, revenue risesAirbnb says it lost nearly $1.2 billion in the first quarter, about three times as much as it lost a year ago, as travel remains depressed because of the pandemic.
Airbnb reports huge loss in first time out as public company
Read full article: Airbnb reports huge loss in first time out as public companyHome-sharing site Airbnb posted a $3.9 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2020 as it suffered from the pandemic downturn in travel and recorded one-time costs for becoming a public company. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)Home-sharing site Airbnb posted a $3.9 billion loss in the fourth quarter of 2020 as it suffered from the pandemic downturn in travel and recorded one-time costs for becoming a public company. In results released Thursday — Airbnb's first as a publicly traded entity — the company took a charge of $2.8 billion for stock compensation related to the IPO. The company did say revenue will not decline as much in the current quarter as it did in the fourth quarter of last year. Since the start of the pandemic, Airbnb has shifted its focus to beach towns and mountain destinations — outdoorsy places where the risk of contracting the coronavirus is perceived to be lower.
Airbnb reviewing booked reservations in Lansing due to safety concerns over Capitol protest
Read full article: Airbnb reviewing booked reservations in Lansing due to safety concerns over Capitol protest(AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)LANSING, Mich. – Airbnb is reviewing booked reservations in Lansing due to safety concerns over a Capitol protest scheduled to begin at noon Sunday. Government buildings in Lansing are boarded up in preparation of the expected armed protest at the state Capitol. “Due to increased law enforcement and safety concerns, we are reviewing recently booked reservations in Lansing set to take place during Inauguration week. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel also commended the company for their efforts to keep Lansing safe. “The Lansing Police Department is appreciative for the assistance Airbnb is offering to help with potential future criminal investigations related to hate crimes here in Lansing,” Lansing Police Chief Daryl Green.
Airbnb to block, cancel DC bookings ahead of inauguration
Read full article: Airbnb to block, cancel DC bookings ahead of inaugurationAirbnb says it will be blocking and cancelling reservations in the Washington, D.C. area during the week of the presidential inauguration. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)NEW YORK – Airbnb said Wednesday it will be blocking and canceling all reservations in the Washington, D.C., area during the week of the presidential inauguration. But over Presidents' Day weekend, the site lists more than 300 rentals in the Washington area. Meanwhile, a hotel labor union representing 7,200 hotel workers in the Washington area, called for hotel closures in the area to protect staff and the public. Marriott International said Wednesday that its hotels in the Washington area will remain open leading up to and through the inauguration.
Airbnb banning rioters, hate groups ahead of inauguration
Read full article: Airbnb banning rioters, hate groups ahead of inaugurationAirbnb said Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, that its reviewing reservations in the Washington, D.C., area ahead of the upcoming presidential inauguration and will bar any guests associated with hate groups or violent activity. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)Airbnb said Monday that it’s reviewing reservations in the Washington, D.C., area ahead of next week’s presidential inauguration and will bar any guests associated with hate groups or violent activity. Airbnb said it will warn all guests in the Washington region that it may bring legal action against them if they are members of hate groups or if they plan violent activities. Airbnb said it’s also banning from its platform anyone who engaged in criminal activity in last week’s riot at the U.S. Capitol. Democratic President-elect Joe Biden was the biggest recipient of Airbnb donations.
Asian stocks mixed after Wall St falls on virus pressure
Read full article: Asian stocks mixed after Wall St falls on virus pressureA woman wearing a face mask walks past a bank's electronic board showing the Hong Kong share index in Hong Kong, Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. Asian stock markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street sank following signs damage to the U.S. economy from the coronavirus is worsening while Congress is deadlocked over possible new aid. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Asian stock markets were mixed Friday after Wall Street sank following signs damage to the U.S. economy from the coronavirus is worsening while Congress is deadlocked over possible new aid. Shanghai and Tokyo retreated while Hong Kong and Seoul gained. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong advanced 0.4% to 26.524.01.
Airbnb prices shares at $68 ahead of Thursday IPO
Read full article: Airbnb prices shares at $68 ahead of Thursday IPOThirteen years after its founders first rented air mattresses in their San Francisco apartment, Airbnb is making its long-awaited stock market debut. Airbnb had initially set a price range of $44 to $50 for it shares, but raised that to a range of $56 to $60 earlier this week, indicating rising investor demand. Airbnb’s listing comes a day after another San Francisco-based company, DoorDash, soared through its initial public offering. Its stock jumped 85.8% to close at $189.51 after the company priced shares at $102 each, raising $3.4 billion with its offering. Airbnb initially planned its IPO for the spring but shelved it when the pandemic ground global travel to a halt.
Blockbuster IPO market still calls for cautious approach
Read full article: Blockbuster IPO market still calls for cautious approachThe home sharing company raised $3.7 billion in the offering, making it the largest IPO of the year, according to Renaissance Capital. “This year had a lot of large IPOs,” said Matthew Kennedy, senior IPO market strategist at Renaissance Capital. Some 19 company IPOs have brought in over a billion dollars, including DoorDash and Airbnb. Still, individual investors may want to consider waiting a few days after a company has its IPO, if not longer. The Renaissance IPO ETF, which tracks an index that holds companies that have had an IPO within the last two years, giving more weight to bigger ones, is up 108% this year.
Blockbuster IPO market still calls for cautious approach
Read full article: Blockbuster IPO market still calls for cautious approachDoorDash shares surged nearly 86% above their offering price of $102 in their market debut Wednesday. Airbnb’s own market debut on Thursday could end up blowing past that. “This year had a lot of large IPOs,” said Matthew Kennedy, senior IPO market strategist at Renaissance Capital. Airbnb put off a market debut in the spring when the pandemic crippled global travel. Uber, which raised $8.1 billion in its market debut last year, has yet to get out of the red.
DoorDash delivers 86% gain in stock market debut
Read full article: DoorDash delivers 86% gain in stock market debutDoorDash shares soared in its initial public offering Wednesday, capping a year of explosive growth for the food delivery company. Powering that service are 1 million delivery drivers, who are independent and not considered DoorDash employees. But lockdown orders and the closure of indoor dining have made DoorDash indispensable for many restaurants and diners this year. DoorDash now controls 50% of the U.S. food delivery market. Skeptics thought the economics of food delivery would fall apart in less dense areas, because there was lower demand.
Airbnb hikes share price ahead of expected IPO this week
Read full article: Airbnb hikes share price ahead of expected IPO this weekAirbnb has raised the price of its shares ahead of its initial public offering this week, betting investors will pay more given its resiliency during the pandemic. In a government filing Monday, Airbnb said it expects to price its shares between $56 and $60 each, up from a range of $44 to $50 earlier this month. Airbnb is expected to issue a final share price late Wednesday ahead of its Thursday IPO on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The new price would let the San Francisco-based home sharing company raise up to $3.4 billion in the offering. Airbnb has more than 7 million listings on its platform, run by 4 million hosts worldwide.
Airbnb hopes to raise up to $2.6B in mid-December IPO
Read full article: Airbnb hopes to raise up to $2.6B in mid-December IPOAirbnb hopes to raise as much as $2.6 billion in its initial public stock offering this month, betting investors will see its home-sharing model as the future of travel. It’s a remarkable comeback for the company that delayed its IPO when the coronavirus pandemic crippled global travel in the spring. Airbnb has more than 7 million listings on its platform, run by 4 million hosts worldwide. But Airbnb has recovered more quickly than traditional hotels as travelers seek whole homes in rural areas far from crowds. Airbnb said it also expects more business people will book vacation rentals, since many can now work from home.
Airbnb details years of losses ahead of planned IPO
Read full article: Airbnb details years of losses ahead of planned IPOThe San Francisco-based company has yet to set a date for the IPO but it is laying the groundwork by filing financial records with U.S. securities regulators. Its revenue jumped 32% to $4.8 billion in 2019, but it reported a net loss of $674 million that year. Airbnb said it currently has 7.4 million listings run by 4 million hosts worldwide. Earlier this year, hosts were infuriated when Airbnb allowed guests to cancel and get full refunds amid the pandemic. Airbnb later promised $250 million to hosts to make up the shortfall.
Airbnb requires hosts to commit to enhanced cleaning
Read full article: Airbnb requires hosts to commit to enhanced cleaningAirbnb said Thursday it will require hosts to comply with enhanced cleaning procedures as part of its effort to reassure guests and local officials during the coronavirus pandemic. Hosts in China are exempt because have their own local cleaning program, the company said. Airbnb is no longer requiring hosts to leave their rentals vacant for at least 24 hours between guests, as it did in April. San Francisco-based Airbnb said nearly 1.5 million listings have signed on to the enhanced cleaning standards since they were introduced in June. The company has also been removing party houses from its platform after a shooting last year at an unauthorized Halloween party in California.
Airbnb blocking some rentals over Halloween to halt parties
Read full article: Airbnb blocking some rentals over Halloween to halt partiesAirbnb will prohibit one-night rentals over Halloween weekend as part of its ongoing effort to crack down on party houses. Five people were killed in the shooting, which happened during an unauthorized Halloween party. San Francisco-based Airbnb said it will ban one-night rentals of entire homes in the U.S. and Canada on Oct. 30 or Oct. 31. Previously booked one-night rentals will be canceled and Airbnb will offer refunds. And in August, Airbnb banned parties worldwide and limited occupancy at its rentals to 16 people.
Airbnb sets age limit for bookings to prevent ‘unauthorized parties’ ahead of holiday weekend
Read full article: Airbnb sets age limit for bookings to prevent ‘unauthorized parties’ ahead of holiday weekendOfficials say individuals under 25 without the positive review requirement can book any type of listing outside of their local area. All guests of all ages are allowed to book private rooms and hotel rooms in any location through Airbnb, officials said. The age restriction is an effort to prevent “unauthorized parties” from occurring at Airbnb-listed homes, especially ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. In late 2019 a mass shooting occurred during a party at an Airbnb listing and the company has since announced steps to prevent a similar event from taking place. In East Lansing 138 COVID-19 cases have been tied to an outbreak at Harpers Restaurant and Brew Pub as of Wednesday.
Airbnb to verify all 7 million properties to improve trust
Read full article: Airbnb to verify all 7 million properties to improve trustLast Thursday, a shooting at an unauthorized Halloween party in an Airbnb rental in Orinda, California, left five people dead. A Vice story, meanwhile, revealed a scam by Airbnb hosts who put guests up at inferior properties after claiming the ones they initially booked weren't available. In an e-mail sent to employees Wednesday, Airbnb Co-Founder and CEO Brian Chesky said the company will take its most significant steps to improve trust since its founding in 2008. "People need to feel like they can trust our community and that they can trust Airbnb when something goes wrong," Chesky wrote. Beginning Dec. 15, Airbnb will be expanding manual checks of "high-risk" reservations flagged by its system to cut down on unauthorized parties.
British couple spends $11,800 on Airbnb rental that doesn't exist
Read full article: British couple spends $11,800 on Airbnb rental that doesn't existIan and Denise Feltham, a couple from the UK, made vacation plans based on an Airbnb listing for a property that apparently didn't exist. IBIZA, Spain - Ian and Denise Feltham, a couple from the UK, made vacation plans based on an Airbnb listing for a property that apparently didn't exist. The dog-friendly listing -- the Felthams were traveling with their two Yorkshire terriers -- seems to have been based on a real apartment. The Las Boas staff member called the Airbnb listing a "fake," saying no such property even exists among the 40 units we saw on Las Boas' website. Ian Feltham has confirmed to CNN that photos on Las Boas' website match photos posted with the Airbnb listing he and his wife booked.
Airbnb plans to go public in 2020
Read full article: Airbnb plans to go public in 2020Slack's stock took a beating after its first earnings report as a public company earlier this month. Airbnb, which was valued at about $31 billion in its most recent private fund-raising round, didn't reveal how it plans to list its shares. Airbnb is one of the most well-known so-called unicorns, or startups valued at over $1 billion. This year has seen a number of high profile IPOs, including from Uber, Lyft, Zoom, Slack and Pinterest, so Airbnb has likely faced questions over the timing of its offering. In June, the company announced it was adding Airbnb Adventures trip packages in locations around the world to its platform.
New website lets you rent swimming pools by the hour for you and your friends
Read full article: New website lets you rent swimming pools by the hour for you and your friendsSwimply allows users to look up private pools in major cities that are available to rent by the hour. It's a great way for people who don't own pools to have a little summer fun, and it gives pool owners a way to earn some extra income. The company currently has pools available in 20 states across the United States, with more to come as the website becomes more popular. The price to rent a pool by the hour isn't as expensive as you might believe. If you split the cost among a couple of friends it won't be wildly expensive.
New websites lets you rent swimming pools by the hour for you and your friends
Read full article: New websites lets you rent swimming pools by the hour for you and your friendsSwimply allows users to look up private pools in major cities that are available to rent by the hour. It's a great way for people who don't own pools to have a little summer fun, and it gives pool owners a way to earn some extra income. The company currently has pools available in 20 states across the United States, with more to come as the website becomes more popular. The price to rent a pool by the hour isn't as expensive as you might believe. If you split the cost among a couple of friends it won't be wildly expensive.
You can stay in Bella Swan's house from 'Twilight' movies thanks to Airbnb
Read full article: You can stay in Bella Swan's house from 'Twilight' movies thanks to AirbnbThe house Bella Swan lived in before Edward Cullen turned her into his vampire bride in the movies is now available to rent on Airbnb for just $330 a night. You can even rehash the age-old debate of Team Jacob or Team Edward by deciding if you're going to stay in the Team Edward room or Team Jacob room. Considering the room has a Jacob cardboard cutout, it's safe to assume the owners of the house are Team Jacob. The reviews of the rental are absolutely stellar, with many "Twilight" fans praising just how fun it was to stay the night at the Swan house. You can see the full Airbnb listing (including some photos of the house) by clicking here.
Airbnb launches $1,000+ per night luxury rental tier
Read full article: Airbnb launches $1,000+ per night luxury rental tierAirbnb/CNN(CNN) - Penthouses and chateaux are a far cry from the sofas and spare rooms that launched vacation rental behemoth Airbnb. Eleven years after Airbnb founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia invited renters to sleep on air mattresses in their San Francisco apartment, Airbnb has launched an exponentially more luxurious tier of rental properties with Airbnb Luxe. The 2,000 newly listed properties were drawn from Luxury Retreats, a separate rental site acquired by Airbnb in 2017. Airbnb Luxe marks a shift in strategy for the company, which had originally intended to spin the luxury properties into a brand called Beyond by Airbnb. "And the truth is that we already had a great luxury brand in Luxury Retreats and the Airbnb brand itself is incredibly strong; it's one of our real differentiators.