Airbnb News

Washington Commissioner Fines Airbnb for Acting as Unauthorized Insurer

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler fined Airbnb $20,000 for acting as an unauthorized insurer in the state. Kreidler also ordered the vacation rental company to obtain a surplus lines insurance policy to continue offering its Host Damage Protection program in …

Airbnb Aims to Convince More People to Rent Out Their Homes

Convinced that the boom in leisure travel is permanent, Airbnb aims to expand its listings by convincing more people to turn their homes into short-term rentals. The company said Wednesday that it will increase the amount of liability coverage for …

Airbnb Beefing Up Guest Services With Satisfaction Guarantees, AirCover Protection

Wednesday morning Airbnb Inc. revealed what it’s calling its “biggest change in a decade.” Beyond modifications to its user interface and nifty new bells and whistles, it’s also addressing one of the company’s greatest pain points: poor consumer protections for …

50 Big Corporations Pushing Congress for Clean Energy Tax

As Congress is poised to return from a break, nearly 50 major reporting at least $200 million in annual revenue urged lawmakers to pass an economic package with massive investments into clean energy projects. A letter from businesses including Adobe, …

Honolulu Looking at New Ways to Regulate Vacation Rentals

Honolulu officials are looking at new ways to regulate short-term vacation rentals in residential areas to address not only parking concerns but the need to create affordable, longer-term rentals. A bill approved by the Honolulu City Council’s zoning and planning …

Airbnb Bets on Remote Work With New Tools Including Insurance

Airbnb Inc. is rolling out new features, including verified internet speeds at hosts’ homes and options to search for listings up to a year in advance, as the vacation-rental company bets that remote work and flexible travel is here to …

Short-Term Rental Firms Move to Tighten Safety for Travelers

Expedia Group Inc.’s short-term rental business Vrbo has banned hosts who use its platform from leaving house keys in public places, and TripAdvisor Inc. is reviewing its safety policies to better protect travelers. The two companies said the moves were …

Short-Term Rental Sites Combat Party Houses, Complaints as COVID Shuts Nightclubs

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down bars and concert halls in March, a new phenomenon was born: the vacation-rental nightclub. Professional party promoters started scanning Airbnb, Vrbo and other short-term rental sites for mansions and luxury condos for hire. Tickets …

Molokai Homeowners Sue Maui Over Vacation Rental Permits

A vacation rental association and four homeowners have filed a federal lawsuit against the county of Maui claiming their rights have been violated by restrictions placed on short-term vacation rentals on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. In a statement released …

Gaining a Risk Manager Seat at Technology’s Table: Interview with RIMS Leader Langone

The culture at technology startups like Uber, Airbnb and PayPal is all about risk-taking. They start by offering a unique, untested or reimagined product or service or by disrupting an industry’s established production, distribution or sales methods. To succeed long-term, …