Airbnb Names Ex-Booking.com Hotel Boss and Tripadvisor Exec as Chief Business Officer

Airbnb named Pepijn Rijvers as its new Chief Business Officer, replacing Dave Stephenson. Rijvers will oversee key business functions, including short-term rentals and hotels. The company also announced other leadership changes. Airbnb is expanding its services beyond short stays, partnering with travel companies and diversifying its offerings.

Rosenblatt Securities initiated coverage of Airbnb with a 'Buy' rating and a $220 price target. The rating is based on valuation, earnings per share revisions, and visibility metrics. Airbnb's stock closed at $182.54, down 0.37%.

Airbnb (ABNB) shares rose 21% in a month after Q2 earnings beat revenue ($3.61B) and EPS ($1.37) estimates, reaching a multi-year high. The rally outpaced sector peers like Booking Holdings (BKNG) and Expedia (EXPE). ABNB trades above the average analyst target of $172 at a 31.65x P/E, with shares down 4% to $182.23 in recent trading. The company raised its 2026 outlook, citing strong travel demand and AI investments.

The EU is drafting the Affordable Housing Act to restrict short-term rentals in high-demand areas. The measure, expected by 2026, aims to empower local authorities to regulate platforms like Airbnb. Housing prices and supply issues are key concerns, but no EU-wide ban is planned.

Airbnb reported that hotel nights booked grew three times faster than its home rental business in Q2 2026. The company is expanding its hotel offerings to compete with Booking and Expedia, with 35% of hotel guests returning to book homes within a year. Airbnb's total Nights and Seats Booked rose 10% to 148.3 million, and Gross Booking Value increased 16% to $27.2 billion.

TAP's Miles&Go program now offers two miles per euro spent on eligible Airbnb stays and experiences booked via a dedicated TAP page, according to Portugal Decoded. This partnership aims to enhance rewards for frequent travelers.