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The Airbnb Insider: This Week’s News & Regulations

The Airbnb Insider: This Week’s News & Regulations

Marriott's latest move, VRBO’s growth, and a nostalgic Airbnb stay.

Dom Trovato
February 12, 2025

Good morning!

It’s Wednesday. I’m sure your inbox is piling up faster than the lost-and-found items at your Airbnb, so let’s sort through it.

Here’s what's going on this week:

Marriott is aiming to reclaim the market share it lost to Airbnb with its first Apartments by Marriott property, The Ann Savannah. Meanwhile, VRBO’s parent company Expedia reports a 12% uptick in booked nights for Q4 2024, signaling robust demand in the short-term rental market. And for those seeking a trip down memory lane, David Letterman's childhood home is now available for stays on Airbnb.

Let’s dive in.

Headline Roundup

The Ann Savannah Is Marriott’s Latest Attempt to Compete With Airbnb (Forbes)
VRBO Parent Expedia Reports 12% Growth in Booked Nights in Q4 2024 (Inman)
David Letterman’s Childhood Home Available on Airbnb as Unique Indianapolis Stay (WTHR)
Top 10 Cities for Short-Term Rental Investments (GlobeSt)
Airbnb Ready for AI Given Its Ownership of Vast Customer Data and Ongoing Innovation (Morningstar)
Planning a European Getaway? These Tourist Limits and Fees Could Impact Your Trip (Business Today)

Short-Term Rental Regulations: This Week’s Roundup

Let’s be real. Nobody starts an Airbnb to become a legal expert. But skip the fine print? That’s how you end up funding the city’s next park renovation.

🔑 Key Insights from this week

This week’s update is a clear reminder that the STR landscape isn’t standing still—it’s shifting, evolving, and demanding that hosts stay ahead of the curve.

Cities like Austin, TX, and Ithaca, NY, are tightening regulations. On the flip side, areas such as Kitimat, Utah, British Columbia, and certain UK councils are easing restrictions, recognizing STRs' economic potential. Notably, there's also escalating tension between state governments and local municipalities over who’s actually in charge to regulate STR’s.

Bottom line? The STR game is shifting fast. Some places are tightening the screws, others are loosening the grip. Smart operators aren’t just watching—they’re adapting in real time.

Austin, Texas, USA
Date of Announcement: February 10, 2025
Impact Level: MAJOR
Regulation Category: Licensing
Summary: Austin officials have rolled out updated licensing requirements for short-term rental operators to improve safety and regulatory compliance, significantly influencing operations on major STR platforms.
Source: Austin TX Short-Term Rentals: Airbnb, VRBO Licensing Rules

Ithaca, New York, USA
Date of Announcement: February 09, 2025
Impact Level: MAJOR
Regulation Category: Licensing/Occupancy
Summary: In an effort to safeguard housing availability and community integrity, Ithaca has implemented more rigorous short-term rental regulations that mandate tighter licensing and operational standards.
Source: Ithaca Enforces Stricter Short-Term Rental Regulations

Lackawanna, New York, USA
Date of Announcement: February 10, 2025
Impact Level: MAJOR
Regulation Category: Occupancy
Summary: Local authorities in Lackawanna have officially banned Airbnb rentals to address neighborhood disruption and housing affordability—with the new rule taking effect immediately.
Source: Lackawanna bans Airbnb rentals

Greece
Date of Announcement: February 2025
Impact Level: MAJOR
Regulation Category: Licensing/Registration
Summary: The Greek authorities have mandated that all short-term rental hosts register and meet new licensing criteria by the announced deadline to bolster oversight, safety, and tax compliance.
Source: Deadline for Short-Term Rental Hosts

Kamas, Utah, USA
Date of Announcement: February 06, 2025 (effective immediately)
Impact Level: MAJOR
Regulation Category: Occupancy/Zoning
Summary: Local officials in Kamas have moved to strictly enforce the existing short-term rental ban to curb unregulated rental activities and uphold community standards.
Source: Kamas works to enforce regulations and solid‐term rental ban

Rhode Island, USA
Date of Announcement: February 06, 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Tax/Regulatory Policy
Summary: A regional commission in Rhode Island is reviewing the short-term rental sector amid a housing crisis, considering measures such as closing loopholes and imposing a 5% tax on STRs—though proposed changes remain under consideration.
Source: Commission Eyeing Changes to RIS Short‐Term Rental Industry Amid Housing Crisis

United Kingdom (Local Council Jurisdiction)
Date of Announcement: February 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Licensing
Summary: Local authorities in the United Kingdom have relaxed licensing requirements for short-term rentals to balance oversight with market flexibility and ease operational burdens on hosts.
Source: Council Waters Down Airbnb and Short Lets Licensing Regime

Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada
Date of Announcement: February 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Restriction Removal
Summary: The Kitimat Council’s decision to opt out of new short-term rental restrictions preserves the current market environment, reflecting local economic and community priorities over additional regulatory controls.
Source: Kitimat Council Opts Out of Short-Term Rental Restrictions

Long Beach, California, USA
Date of Announcement: February 07, 2025
Impact Level: MODERATE
Regulation Category: Ordinance Update
Summary: Long Beach Council has approved updates to its short-term rental ordinance, introducing new provisions designed to balance community interests with the operational needs of rental hosts.
Source: Long Beach Council OKs Updates to Short-Term Rental Ordinance

Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Date of Announcement: February 10, 2025
Impact Level: MINOR
Regulation Category: Policy Review
Summary: Greensboro officials are actively reviewing short-term rental policies amid local concerns; however, no new regulations have been implemented at this time.
Source: Greensboro officials reviewing policies on short-term rental locations

Newport, Rhode Island, USA
Date of Announcement: February 11, 2025
Impact Level: MINOR
Regulation Category: Digital Innovation
Summary: A new short-term rental portal has been launched in Newport to streamline registration and compliance, focusing on digital innovation rather than direct regulatory changes.
Source: New short-term rental portal launched in Newport

State of Kentucky, USA
Date of Announcement: February 10, 2025
Impact Level: MINOR
Regulation Category: Legislative Proposal
Summary: A proposed bill in Kentucky seeks to limit local government authority over short-term rental regulations, sparking debate over the balance between state and municipal oversight.
Source: An Attack on Local Control: Bill Aims to Curb KY Cities’ Oversight of Airbnb, VRBO

Final Takeaway

Good hosts focus on guests. Great hosts focus on everything. Regulations, trends, the whole chessboard. Stay sharp.

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