This week’s Industry News covers fast-growing luxury OTA Elivaas’s big funding round, Capital One’s new 5x rewards for vacation rental bookings, and Airbnb’s “and not an or” approach to hotels. Plus, Parade’s take on what travelers are looking for in vacation rental listings in 2025. Let’s dive in.
Gurugram-based startup Elivaas raised $10 million in a Series B round to expand its luxury vacation rental offerings. Targeting affluent travelers, Elivaas competes with Airbnb by focusing on India’s premium market with curated high-end homes and personalized services. The funding will support growth into new destinations, add vetted properties, and enhance guest experiences. Backers highlight Elivaas’s technology-driven approach and strong focus on trust and guest satisfaction, positioning it to scale rapidly across India and other growing markets.
Select Capital One cardholders can now earn 5x rewards when booking vacation rentals through the Capital One Travel portal, a benefit that was previously unavailable. Vacation rentals were already bookable on the platform, but this big change reflects the growing consumer demand for short-term rentals and makes booking through Capital One Travel more rewarding for cardholders.
Building on last week’s Industry News report of Airbnb’s Q2 2025 earnings call, Fortune has released an article highlighting the company’s push to expand its hotel inventory. CEO Brian Chesky described this on the earnings call as an “and not an or” strategy. Airbnb will keep its focus on the core vacation rentals while also growing its hotel supply, especially in international markets where many hotels are independent. Airbnb aims to fill booking gaps during peak periods and in cities where home availability is limited. Chesky also pointed to HotelTonight as a successful acquisition and said the company is open to more deals as part of its broader travel and living strategy.
A new Parade article on “7 Things to Know Before Booking a Vacation Rental Right Now” offers insight into what guests are prioritizing and looking out for in 2025. One standout tip from the article is that a lack of neighborhood information is a red flag for many travelers. Highlighting proximity to public transportation, restaurants, and attractions such as beaches, lakes, or hiking trails can help boost booking confidence. In the article, Parade encourages guests to book vacation rentals with detailed property descriptions, clear and fair cancellation policies, and transparent pricing with no surprise fees.
Over 10,000 hotels across Europe have joined a class-action lawsuit against Booking.com, alleging that its long-standing “best-price” clauses prevented them from offering lower rates on their own websites or other platforms. The clauses, in place from 2004 to 2024, were ruled anti-competitive by the European Court of Justice last year and have since been dropped under the EU’s Digital Markets Act.
As August continues, watch for more moves in investment, guest preferences, and platform expansion across the vacation rental market. Check back next week for the latest updates.