Happy April Fool’s Day to our U.S. hosts!
We realize today may not be the best day to share important industry news, but we promise you: there’s no trickery here—only the most essential developments from the past few weeks.
That’s not to say we can’t have any fun: In addition to top legislation and booking platform updates, we’ll also cover Beyoncé (yes, you read that right) and some exciting news for Lodgify.
On that note, here’s the lowdown.
Airbnb news
Airbnb Experiences are (almost) back
Last September, Airbnb reopened applications for its Experiences program after having it on pause for a year and a half. Now, some six months later, it looks like Airbnb is finally ready to relaunch the program.
But these won’t be the Airbnb Experiences we’ve come to know. Instead of focusing on unique experiences off the beaten path like it did before, Airbnb plans to shift toward a more traditional online travel agency model with enhanced branding, streamlined bookings, and expanded market coverage.
The relaunch also introduces features like team management, co-hosting options, and competitive commissions, making it easier for hosts to create and manage listings.
Does Airbnb qualify as a “gatekeeper”? It says no
In less exciting news, Airbnb is challenging the European Union’s (EU) move to classify it as a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a designation that would subject it to stricter rules on transparency, data sharing, and fair treatment of business users. The European Commission has launched a five-month investigation to determine whether Airbnb meets the criteria, which include having a significant market impact and serving as a key platform for businesses and consumers.
If deemed a gatekeeper, Airbnb would need to comply with regulations designed to prevent anti-competitive behavior—similar to those imposed on tech giants like Google and Amazon—potentially affecting how it operates in the EU. While Airbnb supports broader regulatory goals, it argues that its business model differs from platforms like these and shouldn’t be subject to the same rules.
A final decision is expected later this year. In the meantime, what do you think—should Airbnb be considered a gatekeeper?
Vrbo’s vacation rentals of the year
Wondering what you can do to make your property more attractive? Consider looking for inspiration in Vrbo’s 2025 Vacation Rentals of the Year, which the platform shared earlier this month.
Highlighting the most exceptional private stays across the U.S., these top-rated properties offer standout amenities and unforgettable guest experiences in sought-after destinations. Our favorite from the list? Well, it’s hard to choose, but we couldn’t take our eyes off the Lake Michigan beach house—or, more accurately, off its absolutely gorgeous and unmarred views.
Want to check it out, as well as the other picks? Head to Vrbo’s site.
More layoffs for Expedia Group
In more serious news, Expedia Group has laid off an undisclosed number of employees in its marketing and creative teams. This comes as part of ongoing efforts to streamline operations and reallocate resources for greater business impact.
The layoffs follow a series of past restructuring efforts, including job cuts in 2023 and early 2024, as the company focuses on cost management while driving revenue growth. Despite the layoffs, Expedia Group continues to invest in strategic areas, recently strengthening its executive team with new leadership appointments.
Your monthly rules and regulations roundup
What’s been happening on the legislation front? Let’s take a look.
Arizona mayors push for more local control over STRs
First, let’s turn our attention to Arizona, where the local and state governments are grappling for power.
More specifically, mayors in northern Arizona are pushing for more local control over short-term rental regulations, citing concerns about housing shortages and community disruptions. While state laws introduced in 2016 have fueled tourism and economic growth, local officials argue that restrictions prevent them from addressing key challenges.
Essentially, the mayors want legislative changes that balance economic benefits with the needs of residents and neighborhoods.
Will they get it? We’ll have to wait and see.
A new tourism tax in London?
Meanwhile, across the pond, London Mayor Sadiq Khan is once again calling for a tourism levy that would apply to overnight stays, including short-term rentals like Airbnb. The proposed fee, estimated at £1 to £2 per night, could generate £100 million annually to support public services such as transport and street cleaning.
Khan also argues that the levy would align London with other major cities like New York, Paris, and Amsterdam, all of which have tourism taxes. While he needs government approval to move forward, he’s urging ministers to grant individual boroughs the power to choose whether they’ll implement the tax or not and set their own rates.
Dublin bans lockboxes
In Dublin, the City Council has voted to ban lockboxes used for short-term rentals on public structures, such as street poles and bike stands. Hosts will be required to find alternative check-in methods by April 14, 2025, with enforcement starting six weeks later.
This move comes after multiple other European cities have taken similar measures, and aims to address safety concerns as well as visual clutter.
If you’re a Dublin-based host and currently use a lockbox attached to a public structure, don’t lose any time in finding a safe and compliant alternative! If there’s no where else you can install your lockbox, smart locks are an excellent alternative that will enable you to continue offering self check-in.
And in the rest of Europe?
It will come as no surprise that numerous other European cities have taken new measures to regulate short-term rentals in the past month. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest legislation news across Europe from March:
- Ibiza’s Island Council and Airbnb have teamed up to remove illegal short-term rentals, ensuring hosts comply with local regulations while maintaining the island’s status as a high-quality tourist destination.
- Cyprus has rejected a proposal to cap the number of short-term rental properties per owner, but ongoing discussions may lead to stricter regulations as the government aligns with upcoming EU policies.
- Murcia, Spain has partnered with Airbnb to enforce stricter short-term rental regulations, requiring all listings to display a valid tourist registration number to improve compliance and prevent illegal rentals.
- Authorities in Romania are cracking down on undeclared short-term rental income, targeting thousands of hosts and imposing hefty fines to enforce tax compliance and align with EU transparency regulations.
- Spain’s Constitutional Court has upheld Barcelona’s plan to ban all short-term tourist rentals by 2028, setting the stage for a major shift in the city’s housing market despite opposition from industry groups.
- Lisbon has banned new short-term rental licenses in 19 neighborhoods to combat housing shortages, as part of broader efforts to balance tourism with local affordability.
- Amsterdam is tightening short-term rental rules by capping stays at 15 nights per year in select districts, aiming to ease housing pressures and reduce tourist-related disruptions.
The newest travel trend? AirbnBeyoncé
After Taylor Swift’s massively popular Eras Tour, we’re all well aware of the impact that major concert tours can have on the short-term rental market. But that doesn’t make Beyoncé’s impact on Airbnb demand any less impressive.
According to a recent Axios report, Airbnb searches for stays on Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour dates are up:
- 620% in Houston (June 26-29)
- 400% in Atlanta (July 9-13)
- 150% in Washington, D.C. (July 3-7)
- 100% in Chicago (May 14-18)
These numbers highlight the continued popularity of tour tourism (or traveling for concerts), and are an excellent reminder to optimize your rates if your property is in any of Beyoncé’s tour locations!
And Vacasa goes to…
Vacation rental management platform Vacasa has been in the news quite a lot recently, having received an acquisition offer from Casago and then an unsolicited competing offer from Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP.
Now, we can confirm that Vacasa has rejected Davidson Kempner’s offer and accepted an increased offer from Casago. The vacation rental property management franchise company had increased its offer to $5.30 per share in cash, beating Davidson Kempner’s offer of $5.25.
The deal should be finalized by the end of April and bodes well for Vacasa, which has had a difficult few years and multiple recent layoff rounds.
Lodgify was nominated!
To wrap things up, let’s end on a positive note: We’re excited to announce that Lodgify has been nominated for both the Best App and the Best Property Management System (PMS) at The Shortyz 2025!
In case you’re new to The Shortyz, it’s an annual awards ceremony that recognizes excellence, innovation, and achievement in the short-term rental industry. Whether or not we win, it’s truly an honor to be nominated. We’re headed to London for the ceremony today, so stay tuned for the event recap and results!
Let Q2 begin
As we move into the second quarter of the year already (can you believe it?), keep in mind that Easter (April 20) falls three weeks later than it did last year. This will not only impact your year-over-year comparisons for Q1 and Q2, but also demand as Easter no longer coincides with spring break.
Take this into account when reviewing your booking calendars for the month ahead, and don’t forget to use a dynamic pricing tool to make the most of spring break, Easter, and everything else April has in store.
We’ll be back soon with more industry news. In the meantime, happyhoppy hosting!
