Airbnb Gets Cozier With Google, Ups Its Marketing Spend

Back in 2021, a 22-year-old from Arkansas named Trevor Rainbolt shuttered himself in his Los Angeles apartment to memorize the world. For months, he spent his time studying Google Street View from his desk chair. Delivery drivers handed over his meals; a barber came to style his hair. After a while, his memory grew planetary. When you see cabbage-like plants thriving along the sides of a Russian country road, he learned, you’re most likely looking at Sakhalin Island. On a bridge lined with pea-green pavement? You’re above a river in Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province. If your vista, but for the sweep of golden grasslands, screams South Africa, you’ll be in Eswatini.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Ezra Gershanok and Jacob Halbert had made almost nothing in sales for their apartment subleasing startup until this spring. 

"Inside Out 2" is now in theaters — and Airbnb is bringing the second installation of the hit Disney and Pixar film to life in the form of a once-in-a-lifetime stay in the "headquarters" of Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, plus some new teenage emotions like Anxiety, Ennui, Envy and Embarrassment.

The clock is ticking to fill the assistant secretary of commerce for travel and tourism position before its allocated funding becomes unavailable after September 30, the end of the federal government’s 2024 fiscal year.

I love Lima—it's the city my partner is from, yes, but it's also home to mind-shattering seafood, a great surf scene, nightlife, and some seriously underrated indie fashion. I'm lucky to visit two or three times a year, but the blessing and curse is that we always stay with family. I love them, but blow-up mattresses and a shared bathroom with my 18- and 20-year-old nieces have their expiration dates.

Arid, tranquil Joshua Tree, with its unique, otherworldly landscapes, has long attracted and influenced musicians. The area has famously left its mark on Gram Parsons, Victoria Williams, U2, and the Warner Brothers roadrunner, whose startling but melodic meep-meep echoes in our memories.

Airbnb postings in New York have dwindled after a new law effectively shut down most units. And Jay Carney, global head of policy and communications at the platform, says he loves talking about it. 

Booking.com is taking a U.S.-first approach, tapping into increasing demand for short-term rentals from families and international travelers.

Short-term rental veterans for years have said “professionalization” is key to industry expansion. But Airbnb believes that its individual hosts — and not professional property managers — is one of its biggest advantages over Vrbo and Booking.com.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, May 31. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Airbnb hasn’t been vocal about its strategy for experiences since it paused adding new ones last year or even a couple of weeks ago when it confirmed it has been removing some experiences providers from its platform.