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What should we call our industry?


name industry airbnb

Short-term rentals? Vacation rentals? Holiday rentals? Holiday lets? Self-catering accommodation? Serviced accommodation? Airbnb?


Honest to goodness, what should we call our great industry?


Short-term rentals or STR for short. A term used by industry professionals but rarely understood by guests (or even many hosts – particularly here in the UK).


Vacation rentals. Pretty much the go-to term in the US – but unlikely to catch on in the UK because we call it a holiday.


Holiday rentals / holiday lets. A recognisable term in the UK (but not the rest of the world).


Self-catering accommodation. Sorry British seaside traditionalists, but it sounds like something from the 1950s.


Serviced accommodation or SA for short. I'll be honest. When someone told me they ran 'an SA' at a conference last year my first thought was South Africa. Next.


Airbnb. I can hear the groans already – but at least this is easy to understand. And, like it or not, it has become the catch-all term for our industry. (Please don't shoot the messenger).


Whatever we choose, it must be simple, effective, and understood by all. To this end, I'm putting it to a vote. Please vote for your favourite term – and if it's not listed, please drop a comment below.


What should we call our industry?

  • Short-term rentals

  • Vacation rentals

  • Holiday rentals

  • Holiday lets



5 Comments


jeanette
Apr 02

Might be a stupid question but why is the Government referring to it as FHL in the budget, which confuses it even more?

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Guest
Apr 03
Replying to

The government has always referred to them as furnished holiday lets for tax reasons.

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Guest
Apr 02

I wouldn't mind betting this gets some commentary! The world doesn't stop rotating and needs a an acceptable name. US corps tend to dominate, but this one has failed even them, except for the global acceptance of Airbnb. In the industry we don't like it, but guests use it and PR, reporters and media have a simple way of speaking the language. Its a successful brand but no single Airbnb is the same, so bad Airbnbs and good Airbnbs. They are very careful and even hostile to the use of their brand. If you want everyone to use your brand and be a word in the English dictionary it then its all or nothing, you can't be selective. Plenty o…

Edited
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helenrudge
Apr 02

Self- catering accommodation/ holiday home is what it is, and tells people what it is. Airbnb should definitely NOT be used as it would further the idea that this is the only way to book....and personally I would not touch that company either to advertise or to book

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Guest
Apr 02

It might be a traditional term from the 50s, but it’s clear and to the point 😂 it’s self catered… and it’s an accommodation. Could switch the word accommodation to home? Or add a word such as luxury for that feeling of glam, but there are people who believe it’s a luxury too far, so we wouldn’t want to offend them either..,


Airbnb suggests too much that people should only go through Airbnb… surely they own that name too.

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