European Short-Term Rental Surge Defies Regulatory Challenges

This August, La Vuelta a España, one of cycling’s big three Grand Tours, sets off in Lisbon for the first time since 1997, with stages one and two starting in the region. To celebrate, the team at Visit Lisbon (https://www.visitlisboa.com) has recommended five slow and scenic short rides for holidaymakers to explore the region.

Tolls have long been the curse of rental car drivers, who often find their final bills inflated by per-day charges for access to automated toll payment devices provided by rental car companies.

The number of Americans seeking secondary passports continues to surge, according to global citizen firm Henley & Partners.

The report by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency once again shows that the quality of bathing water in Croatia is among the highest in Europe and ranks first when it comes to coastal bathing areas. The bathing water quality was monitored at 22,081 bathing sites across 27 member states, as well as Albania and Switzerland. Of the 936 bathing sites tested in 2023 in Croatia, 905, or 96.7%, were of excellent quality. When it comes to coastal bathing sites alone, Croatia ranks first in Europe, with 886 out of 894 tested waters being of excellent quality, which is 99.1%. Croatia’s clear clean and blue waters are the result of a combination of factors, including its high salt concentration, its geographic location, and its connection to Africa. These factors contribute to the growth of phytoplankton and a thriving marine ecosystem, making Croatian beaches a unique and beautiful destination for travellers from around the world.

SwimTrek, the world’s leading swimming holiday operator, is excited to announce an exciting swimming challenge as its employees take on a 50 km swim around the island of Guernsey, in partnership with VisitGuernsey. This collaboration aims to highlight the stunning coastal beauty of Guernsey while promoting outdoor activity and tourism.

Short-term rental platforms have not been raising money in 2024 quite as often as last year. But they made a bit of a comeback this week with two niche platforms getting nearly $50 million in funding. 

The Skift Travel Podcast is going all-in on the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris with several interviews lined up. First up is a discussion with Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith, whose company is an official partner for this year’s Games.

While athletes from around the world will flock to Paris later this month to go for gold at the Summer Olympics, this doesn't mean travelers are following suit and heading to the City of Light.

Windstar Cruises is bringing back its annual “Christmas in July” sale this month. 

Rental Escapes has expanded its reach into new global destinations – New Zealand, Mexico, Colombia, Spain and the US – while adding more inventory in South Africa and France.

Allegiant Air is ramping up its presence in Florida this winter. The low-cost airline announced on Tuesday that it will fly eight new nonstop routes linking a total of 13 cities along the East Coast and Midwest. 

Boom launches the world’s first AI Sales Agent for the short-term rental sector, enhancing operational efficiency by autonomously handling inquiries and negotiations, allowing property managers to focus on strategic tasks.