EPISODE · Jun 29, 2026 · 32 MIN
Airbnb Scams Are Up 30x. Criminals Are Coming for Hosts.
from Good Morning Hospitality · host Skift
On Monday's Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Brandreth Canaley, Michael Goldin, and Jamie Lane break down who is actually winning in travel distribution and what the risks look like when platforms get exploited at scale. The conversation opens with a story every Airbnb host needs to hear: scams are up 30x since the first half of 2023, and criminals are no longer creating fake accounts. They are hijacking established host accounts with years of five-star reviews and running fake listings inside the platform. From there, the team digs into why experiences specialists like GetYourGuide are pulling ahead of OTA generalists. GetYourGuide crossed 1 billion euros in revenue in 2025 while Airbnb's experiences business remains immaterial after more than a decade of attempts. They close with Skift's deep dive into Trip.com Group's $15.1 billion cash pile and why almost none of it is actually deployable and what that tells operators about the global distribution landscape. This episode is presented by StayFi & Bilt. If you're leaving direct bookings on the table, StayFi turns your wifi into a guest relationship engine. Visit https://stayfi.com/goodmorninghospitality/ to learn more about their special offer of 50% off for GMH listeners! And for hotels with restaurants and restaurant owners, Bilt Hospitality is finally here. Go to joinbilt.com/gmh to learn more.
What this episode covers
On Monday's Good Morning Hospitality, A Skift Podcast, Brandreth Canaley, Michael Goldin, and Jamie Lane break down who is actually winning in travel distribution and what the risks look like when platforms get exploited at scale. The conversation opens with a story every Airbnb host needs to hear: scams are up 30x since the first half of 2023, and criminals are no longer creating fake accounts. They are hijacking established host accounts with years of five-star reviews and running fake listings inside the platform. From there, the team digs into why experiences specialists like GetYourGuide are pulling ahead of OTA generalists. GetYourGuide crossed 1 billion euros in revenue in 2025 while Airbnb's experiences business remains immaterial after more than a decade of attempts. They close with Skift's deep dive into Trip.com Group's $15.1 billion cash pile and why almost none of it is actually deployable and what that tells operators about the global distribution landscape. This episode is presented by StayFi & Bilt. If you're leaving direct bookings on the table, StayFi turns your wifi into a guest relationship engine. Visit https://stayfi.com/goodmorninghospitality/ to learn more about their special offer of 50% off for GMH listeners! And for hotels with restaurants and restaurant owners, Bilt Hospitality is finally here. Go to joinbilt.com/gmh to learn more.
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Airbnb Scams Are Up 30x. Criminals Are Coming for Hosts.
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