#Rival apps battle to become NYC’s ‘Airbnb for pools’

#Rival apps battle to become NYC’s ‘Airbnb for pools’

“#Rival apps battle to become NYC’s ‘Airbnb for pools’” As New York bakes in the summer heat, two companies are fighting to become the city’s go-to “Airbnb for pools.”  Swimply — a Long Island-based swimming pool-sharing company whose backers include a former Airbnb executive and two Silicon Valley venture capital firms — has held the lead…

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#Yes, tax Airbnb hosts —but legalize them first

#Yes, tax Airbnb hosts —but legalize them first

“#Yes, tax Airbnb hosts —but legalize them first” In its struggle to balance its budget and still keep the trains and buses rolling, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is looking for new sources of revenue. One idea floated by MTA board member, finance committee chair and Gov. Cuo­mo appointee Larry Schwartz is a dedicated tax on…

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#Expedia, TripAdvisor tighten rules after Airbnb horror stories

#Expedia, TripAdvisor tighten rules after Airbnb horror stories

“#Expedia, TripAdvisor tighten rules after Airbnb horror stories” Airbnb’s competitors are tightening their rules for how guests access keys following a horrifying investigation into violent crimes at rental properties listed on the site.  Expedia’s rental business Vrbo now forbids hosts from leaving keys in public places where the rental’s “owner, business manager or staff is…

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# Travala launches decentralized home-sharing service — will it be the next Airbnb?

# Travala launches decentralized home-sharing service — will it be the next Airbnb?

“# Travala launches decentralized home-sharing service — will it be the next Airbnb? ” Pro-crypto travel booking agency Travala.com is releasing a decentralized property rental service. In a Wednesday announcement, Travala said it had partnered with former executives from Airbnb, Expedia, and other companies to launch Dtravel, a decentralized vacation rental platform that may serve…

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#Airbnb and Vrbo are cracking down on ‘party houses’

#Airbnb and Vrbo are cracking down on ‘party houses’

“#Airbnb and Vrbo are cracking down on ‘party houses’” Vacation rental giants Airbnb and Vrbo are cracking down on properties that frequently host raucous parties, the companies said Friday. The companies are co-developing a “community integrity program” to identify problem properties — and share the information with each other, they said in a release. “The…

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