Airbnb Plus and Luxe relaunch / Vrbo's bet on loyalty / New influencers / Outdoor noise monitor

I would like to invite you to?my upcoming live event?on February 28th at 12 pm EST (6 pm CET)?where we will be discussing the impact of ChatGPT AI , pricing algorithms, and AI-powered personalization in the short-term rental industry.

As technology continues to advance in our industry, it is important that we understand how to leverage these developments for our benefit. During this talk, I will explore whether it's?us versus the machines?or?us with the machines?as we integrate these technologies into our businesses.

We will examine?how Airbnb, Booking, and Vrbo are already using such technologies to affect your daily listings. Additionally, I'll uncover ways in which you can?leverage similar technologies for your own benefit?- whether it's creating content or increasing revenues through more direct bookings.

Register now for free here.?I look forward to engaging with you during this event and exploring how technology can help take your business to new heights.

Best regards,

Thibault Masson

Founder, Rental Scale-Up

Grow your network, add me on?LinkedIn.

-> This is a preview of Rental Scale-Up's free weekly newsletter that delivers vacation rental news, trends, data and much more for hosts, property managers, and industry suppliers alike. Click on any article title to read the article in full.?Sign up here?to get our newsletter in your inbox every week.

Top articles this week?

Airbnb Plus and Luxe in 2023: A Comeback Story for Premium Stays?

• Airbnb Plus and Airbnb Luxe are set to relaunch in 2023
• The article shows?how Airbnb is already driving more visibility for and demand?to these categories
• The relaunch promises?more visibility and autonomy for hosts,?as well as?redesigned listing pages
• However, the challenges that caused Airbnb Plus to fail in the past may still persist:
• Issues with exclusivity requirements?and?high application fees?have yet to be fully addressed

• It remains to be seen whether these changes will enhance the?distinct value of joining Airbnb Plus
• We’ll need to wait and see how these changes will impact both programs’ success and popularity in the coming years.

Vrbo to Switch to Expedia Group Platform in 2023: Challenges and Opportunities

• Vrbo will be switching to? Expedia Group 's online tech platform in 2023
• For Vrbo hosts and property managers,?there may be challenges during the transition period, such as?glitches?and sub-par conversion rates
• This change will enable Vrbo to join Expedia Group's loyalty program,?for instance allowing guests to earn points they can spend on Expedia.com to book a flight
• Joining the same platform as other brands in the group will bring benefits for Vrbo regarding technology advancements and resources available through the group
• Meanwhile,?Airbnb is firmly turning its back to such a loyalty program
• Overall, this move marks a significant step forward for Vrbo in improving its customer service while benefiting from being part of a larger network within Expedia Group.

New Faces: Airbnb and Short-Term Rental To Watch Out for in 2023

• My colleague Ishani Appaya from the product marketing team over at PriceLabs , our parent organization, has put this nifty resource together that I think you might find useful.
• In this list you will find?short-term rental industry experts on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, podcasts, newsletters?and other platforms that look set to make waves in 2023.
• The list has been curated with the intention of helping you?discover new faces, and emerging names?sprinkled across your favorite media platforms, from TikTok to Podcasts.
• While each of these names is popular in its own right, they may have missed your ‘must follow’ radar.

Maintain Peace with Neighbours and Prevent Unauthorised Backyard Parties with Minut’s Outdoor Sensor

• Minut ?has recently unveiled their newest product:?an outdoor sensor?that follows the same success as their existing indoor noise and occupancy monitoring system.
• This new generation of sensors?will work both indoors and outdoors?and are weather-proof.
• Unauthorized parties and events?held at short-term rental properties can cause disruption to neighboring residences, resulting in?numerous complaints?and?potentially leading to bans on short-term rentals?in the area.
• The introduction of outdoor noise monitors would help address this issue by detecting any excessive noise levels emanating from the property’s outdoor areas.
• This would enable property managers and hosts to?take swift action and prevent unauthorized parties?from taking place.

Industry Events

Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA) Spring Forum 2023

Replacing VRMA’s Eastern and Western Conferences, the?VRMA Spring Forum?brings together leading minds across the vacation rental industry for an interactive, engaging education and networking experience.

The Spring Forum provides increased ways to network with peers from across the country and more opportunities to learn through innovative education formats. Attendees enjoy tailored opportunities to network?and gain insight through various education sessions, as well as dedicated time with their exhibitors.

???Kansas City, Missouri

?? March 6-7, 2023

????Buy Tickets

No #FOMO

Last week, I decoded?Airbnb’s strategic priorities for 2023, shared key points from?Airbnb’s financial results for 2022, reported on?Airbnb’s 2023 commercials, and dove into how Online Travel Marketplaces like?getawayGoGo can help short-term rental operators fill last-minute nights.

That's all for now.

Have a great rest of the week!