Airbnb

Airbnb 'disappointed' by Amsterdam plan to cut rentals

london - Emiratesvoice

Rent-a-room giant Airbnb has voiced disappointment in Amsterdam's plans to impose a 30-day limit on letting private homes, saying it will harm the local economy. "We have built a responsible home sharing community on Airbnb benefiting the city and its inhabitants," the company said in a letter sent to Amsterdam council, and shared with AFP on Thursday. The 19,000 AirbnbRead more

Amsterdam to curb Airbnb rentals to 30 days a year

london - Emiratesvoice

Amsterdam announced Wednesday it will impose a new 30-day curb on renting out private homes via websites like Airbnb from next year, seeking to stem a deluge of tourists flocking to its famous canals. The current 60-day limit per year will now be halved "to stem the negative influence of holiday home rentals," the city council's executive said in aRead more

Japanese regulators raid Airbnb

Tokyo - Emirates Voice

Japanese fair trade regulators raided last month the offices of Airbnb over suspected violations of antitrust laws, the home rental site said on Friday, denying any wrongdoing. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) carried out an on-site inspection of Airbnb and the company is cooperating with the regulators’ investigation, Airbnb Japan said. A JFTC spokesman declined to comment. Regulators seizedRead more

Airbnb adopts new name, doubles investment to woo China

Shanghai - Arab Today

Airbnb is showing China some love. The US home-sharing giant is adopting the name "Aibiying” in China, one that translates as "welcome each other with love,” as it doubles investment in the country and triples its local workforce to serve the world’s largest population of travellers. The start-up intends to ramp up its Chinese business after more than doubling listingsRead more

Airbnb closes $1 billion funding round with war chest for growth

San Francisco - Arab Today

Airbnb closed a funding round of more than $1 billion, valuing the home-sharing start-up at about $31 billion, according to three people familiar with the company. In December, Bloomberg first reported the company’s plans to increase the funding it was seeking by authorising the sale of an additional $153 million in equity. Investors include Alphabet investment arm CapitalG and TechnologyRead more

Airbnb valued at $31 billion in new funding round

San Francisco - AFP

Airbnb raised more than a billion dollars in a fresh funding round that valued the home-sharing startup at $31 billion, a source close to the company told AFP Thursday. Airbnb added $448 million to the $555 million in funding it took in last year, according to a filing Thursday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Airbnb became profitable inRead more

Airbnb acquires Luxury Retreats, beating out Expedia, Accor

San Francisco - Arab Today

Airbnb bought Luxury Retreats in its biggest acquisition yet as the apartment-rental website takes steps toward becoming a full-service global travel company. Airbnb unveiled the acquisition of the Canadian manager of high-end rentals and services on Thursday, declining to disclose financial terms. The cash and stock deal was worth roughly $300 million, people familiar with the matter said. Bloomberg reportedRead more

Airbnb landlord hit with record fine in Amsterdam

The Hague - AFP

Amsterdam has slapped a record fine of 297,000 euros ($318,000) on a landlord and agency which broke council rules in renting out 11 apartments via home-sharing giant Airbnb, officials said Monday. "We were called in by the neighbours who complained of disturbances," said city spokeswoman Jeanine Harders. "After investigating we found that they were illegally renting out apartments." The ownersRead more

Airbnb imposes limit on London home rentals

London - AFP

Airbnb will impose a 90-day limit on the sharing of private homes in London, the home rentals website has revealed amid fears over the British capital's housing market. The online lettings firm announced the move on Thursday after studying its impact in London and elsewhere, adding it would also enforce a 60-day limit in Amsterdam. In addition, the San Francisco-basedRead more

Airbnb adds local activities, ramps up security

San Francisco - Arab Today

Airbnb on Thursday expanded beyond home sharing services to letting travelers dive into local happenings, enhancing security measures in the process. In what it described as the most significant development in the company's eight-year history, Airbnb launched Trips, tools that tourists can use to book local offerings or happenings. "Until now, Airbnb has been about homes," co-founder and chief executiveRead more