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EU opens Booking.com fraud investigation
Reading Time: 2 minutesEurope: The European Commission has opened formal proceedings against Booking.com over its handling of fraudulent accommodation listings, phishing scams and paid search placements.
Eight in 10 small hotel guests would consider switching to STRs, says Pricelabs
Reading Time: 2 minutesGlobal: Eighty-two per cent of travellers who stayed at a B&B, inn or small hotel would consider booking a short-term rental at the same or a slightly lower price, according to a traveller survey conducted by PriceLabs.
Booking Holdings launches Vayo AI travel agent
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Booking Holdings has launched AI travel startup Vayo and plans to invest up to $100 million in the business, subject to its continued development and market conditions.
[Interview] Booking.com on AI, changing guest expectations and the value of OTAs
Reading Time: < 1 minuteWorldwide: Booking.com’s Carlo Olejniczak speaks to STRz about the future of AI-led travel distribution, guest expectations and how OTAs demonstrate their value to property managers.
HostUplift adds Sykes distribution for UK and Ireland portfolio
Reading Time: 2 minutesUK: Short-term rental management company HostUplift has partnered with Sykes Holiday Cottages to provide eligible properties in the UK and Ireland with an additional booking channel.
Booking.com research links payment choice to booking conversion
Reading Time: 2 minutesUK: Almost two-thirds of accommodation professionals say they have seen guests abandon bookings when their preferred payment method was unavailable, according to new research from Booking.com.
EU court upholds veto of Booking’s €1.63bn ETraveli deal
Reading Time: < 1 minuteEurope: Booking Holdings has lost its legal challenge against the European Commission’s decision to block its proposed €1.63 billion acquisition of flight booking company ETraveli Group.
Airbnb appoints Pepijn Rijvers as chief business officer
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Airbnb has appointed former Tripadvisor and Booking.com executive Pepijn Rijvers as chief business officer, with responsibility for its Homes, Hotels, Global Markets and Enterprise Operations divisions.
UK short-term rental rates rise as late-summer occupancy softens
Reading Time: 2 minutesUK: Average daily rates for short-term rentals are pacing ahead of last year for August and September, although lower forward occupancy is expected to leave revenue per available rental slightly behind 2025 levels, according to Key Data.
Investigation finds Airbnb and Booking.com listings in Bucharest earthquake-risk buildings
Reading Time: < 1 minuteRomania: More than 200 short-term rental properties are reportedly being advertised on Airbnb and Booking.com in Bucharest despite being located in buildings where holiday letting is prohibited because of severe earthquake risk.