# Airbnb is Now the Third-Largest Online Accommodation Seller Worldwide

**Publisher:** Phocuswright  
**Published:** n/a  
**Category:** Research, media & analysts  
**Type:** Analysis  
**Access:** Free  
**Official source:** https://www.phocuswright.com/Travel-Research/Research-Updates/2016/The-End-of-Alternative-Accommodation  
**Canonical:** https://tourismintel.ai/reports/the-end-of-alternative-accommodation-airbnb-is-now-the-third-largest-online-acco

## At a glance
- Airbnb's 2015 gross bookings estimated at approximately $7.5 billion, ranging $6–9 billion across analyst models.
- Airbnb ranked third globally in online accommodation sales, surpassing Ctrip and Rakuten; fourth-largest online travel intermediary overall.
- Private accommodation adoption in US reached nearly one in three travelers by 2015, up from one in ten in 2011.
- Airbnb valued at $30 billion privately, making it second-most valuable online travel company after Priceline.
- Europe represents approximately half of Airbnb's business; platform could surpass Expedia's European accommodation bookings by 2017.

## What the report covers
Phocuswright analysed Airbnb's market position relative to established online travel agencies and private accommodation competitors. The analysis reviews 2015 gross bookings, forecasts 2016 performance, and examines implications for global travel distribution. It positions Airbnb within the broader trend of private accommodation mainstreaming across leisure and emerging business travel segments.

## Key findings
According to the report, Airbnb achieved approximately $7.5 billion in 2015 gross bookings, with analyst estimates ranging from just above $6 billion to $9 billion. Even at the conservative end, this volume exceeded accommodation bookings for China's Ctrip and Japan's Rakuten. Phocuswright's analysis concludes Airbnb would certainly surpass both platforms in 2016 given its faster growth trajectory.

The report finds Airbnb is the third-largest online accommodation seller globally and likely the fourth-largest online travel intermediary by year-end 2016, probably surpassing Europe's eDreams ODIGEO. However, total gross bookings remain substantially below the top three OTAs. Priceline, Booking.com, and Expedia retain significantly larger volumes, though Airbnb's growth rate continues accelerating.

Phocuswright notes Airbnb's potential to surpass Expedia's accommodation business in Europe within one year. Since Europe represents roughly half of Airbnb's bookings, if the platform maintains growth velocity and regional share, it could overtake Expedia's European accommodation by 2017. HomeAway's ongoing online booking migration may prove critical to Expedia's competitive position.

The report emphasises private accommodation has transitioned from alternative to mainstream. Nearly one in three US travelers used private accommodation in 2015, up from approximately one in ten in 2011. More than 30 per cent of US Airbnb users have booked for business travel, signalling expansion beyond leisure into corporate and group markets.

Phocuswright highlights Airbnb's $30 billion private valuation, making it the second-most valuable online travel company globally, surpassing Expedia, TripAdvisor and Ctrip, and approaching half Priceline's valuation. The report notes enormous market expectations for future growth and profitability despite gross bookings remaining below industry leaders.

## Key numbers
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Airbnb 2015 gross bookings | approximately $7.5 billion (range $6–9 billion) | Phocuswright estimate from multiple analyst reports; observed 2015 data |
| Airbnb global accommodation market ranking | 3rd largest | As of 2016; observed position based on 2015 bookings |
| Airbnb online travel intermediary ranking | 4th largest | Forecast for year-end 2016; by gross bookings |
| Airbnb private valuation | $30 billion | August 2016 funding round filing; compared to public company valuations |
| Europe share of Airbnb business | approximately 50% | As stated by Airbnb; used in forecast models |
| US travelers using private accommodation 2011 | approximately one in ten (∼10%) | Observed 2011 baseline; shows four-year trend |
| US Airbnb users who have booked for business | more than 30% | Observed usage pattern; indicates business travel segment penetration |

## Why it matters
**DMOs & destinations** — Airbnb's emergence as a major distribution channel reshapes visitor accommodation patterns. Private rentals now serve one-third of US leisure travellers and growing business segments. DMOs must integrate short-term rental data into planning, licensing, and community impact assessments; competitive analysis increasingly requires tracking Airbnb alongside hotel competitors.

**Hotels & hospitality** — Private accommodation's transition from niche to mainstream directly threatens traditional hotel occupancy and pricing. At $7.5 billion bookings, Airbnb competes for the same leisure and increasingly business travellers. Hotels must acknowledge private rentals are no longer 'alternative'—they are mainstream lodging alternatives warranting strategic response in positioning, pricing, and corporate partnerships.

**Travel tech & distribution** — Airbnb's ascent demonstrates market opportunity outside OTA duopoly dominance. Despite Expedia–Priceline controlling two-thirds of 2015 OTA bookings, Airbnb became a top-four intermediary without established travel industry expertise. Travel tech operators and entrepreneurs should note the platform's growth trajectory and category leadership potential, particularly in underserved accommodation segments and markets.

## Methodology and limits
Phocuswright reviewed published reports on Airbnb's business performance, financial analyst estimates, and private company filings. The firm built independent estimates for Airbnb and global private accommodation market sizing by cross-referencing multiple analyst models and disclosed company data. 2015 gross bookings estimates range $6–9 billion; the report uses $7.5 billion as mid-point. Forecasts for 2016 rankings and European market position are extrapolations from observed growth rates. The brief is based on the publicly available editorial summary only; full methodology and detailed model assumptions are restricted to subscribers.

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© Phocuswright for the original report. This brief is an original editorial summary by TourismIntel (https://tourismintel.ai). Read the original: https://www.phocuswright.com/Travel-Research/Research-Updates/2016/The-End-of-Alternative-Accommodation