Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, March 20. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Vrbo recently took aim at Airbnb by placing billboards near Airbnb’s headquarters and elsewhere that said Vrbo was a “cooler” brand. Now, Airbnb is hitting back, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.  

An Airbnb spokesperson called the ads “confused” and “desperate,” adding that Vrbo’s billboards have given Airbnb more visibility than Vrbo itself. The billboards are part of a “Make It a Vrbo” campaign and emphasize space and privacy in short-term rentals. 

Skift Research estimated that in 2024, Airbnb had 44% market share in global short-term rentals compared with 9% for Vrbo.

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Next, Sonesta says it’s seeing strong bookings even as there are broader concerns about the economy, writes Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill.

CEO John Murray said Sonesta remains confident with strong and growing group bookings, a continued good pace in business transient bookings, and steady or growing leisure demand. In particular, it sees strength in its East Coast gateway markets, such as New York City.

Sonesta is also looking to sell 114 properties in a pivot to franchising and said buyers’ inquiries have been plentiful.

Finally, IHG has opened its first net zero hotel, a property in the UK that the company says is the first of its kind in Western Europe, writes Climate Reporter Darin Graham.

Graham reports that the 142-room Voco Zeal Exeter Science Park runs entirely on renewable energy and has over 2,000 square meters of solar panels. The hotel’s other sustainability practices include sourcing products from local producers to reduce the carbon footprint of food and using recycled furniture. 

Although recycled materials and solar power might seem costly, Zeal Hotels Managing Director Tim Wheeldon said a night at the Voco Zeal Exeter Science Park isn’t much more expensive than a night at a standard four-star hotel. 

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