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Airbnb identifies $1bn opportunity in sponsored listings
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has identified sponsored listings and other paid host services as potential sources of high-margin revenue as the company expands its business beyond accommodation.
Awaze EBITDA grows as direct bookings reach 72%
Reading Time: 2 minutesEurope: Holiday rental group Awaze increased EBITDA to €42 million during 2025, while gross accommodation revenue remained unchanged at €1.4 billion.
TravelAI’s Sonder strategy: Urban stays, AI and a $100m target
Reading Time: < 1 minuteWorldwide: In the latest episode of The Short Scoop, STRz editor Priya Khaira speaks to TravelAI co-founder and CEO John Lyotier about the company’s acquisition of the Sonder name, trademarks and domain portfolio, and what comes next for the well-known accommodation brand.
Abode Luxury Rentals adopts storytelling strategy for AI travel search
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Abode Luxury Rentals has created individual fictional narratives for almost 200 vacation homes as part of a strategy intended to differentiate its portfolio and strengthen its visibility within AI-generated travel recommendations.
Faye raises $50m to expand AI-powered travel protection platform
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Travel protection platform Faye has raised $50 million in Series C funding to support its international expansion, develop its AI capabilities and grow partnerships with travel companies.
Wander acquires Maple team to expand WanderOS platform
Reading Time: 2 minutesUS: Vacation rental marketplace and technology provider Wander has acquired the team behind family organisation app Maple as it seeks to expand its direct booking platform for property managers.
TravelAI acquires Sonder brand and relaunches Sonder.com
Reading Time: 2 minutesCanada: Travel technology company TravelAI has acquired Sonder’s trademarks and domain portfolio and relaunched Sonder.com as a discovery and booking platform for boutique hotels and professionally managed urban accommodation.
Airbnb expands into flexible workspaces through Oneder partnership
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUK: Airbnb has expanded its offering beyond accommodation by partnering with London flexible workspace provider Oneder to enable users to book day passes, private offices and meeting rooms through the platform.
Holidu acquires Gites.com to expand Dutch vacation rental presence
Reading Time: < 1 minuteEurope: Vacation rental platform Holidu has acquired Netherlands-based holiday rental portal Gites.com as it continues to expand its European footprint through acquisitions.
Conduit introduces AI platform for the hospitality industry
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: Artificial intelligence-powered hospitality technology company Conduit has launched a new platform designed to automate daily operations across hotels, serviced apartments and short-term rentals.