The evolution of Airbnb research: A systematic literature review using structural topic modeling

This study employs advanced text-mining techniques to offer an in-depth and comprehensive overview of the extensive body of research on Airbnb. By analyzing 1021 articles published in 416 journals spanning the period from 2015 to 2022, this study aims at revealing Airbnb research topics and trends. The results show that the primary focus of academic inquiry regarding Airbnb revolves around two domains: the company's operational practices and its impacts on various domains. Within the realm of Airbnb's operational practices, four distinct research topics emerge as particularly prominent and extensively explored. These encompass the dynamics of ‘trust in Airbnb,’ the formulation and implementation of ‘house rules,’ the mechanisms of governing ‘Airbnb pricing’ strategies, and the critical examination of ‘value creation in Airbnb’ initiatives. Meanwhile, the most researched impacts of Airbnb are on urban tourism, rental housing markets, tourist destinations, and hotels. These spheres have received significant scholarly attention due to the profound implications and transformative effects engendered by Airbnb's disruptive presence in these areas. Moreover, the findings underscore that research pertaining to Airbnb's operational aspects has witnessed a significant increase in popularity over time, indicating a marked shift in the focal points of Airbnb research. Notably, the research topics that have experienced substantial growth include ‘trust in Airbnb,’ ‘Airbnb pricing,’ and ‘impacts on tourist destinations.’ Lastly, this study found that Airbnb-related research articles in hospitality and tourism journals tend to be more delving into industry-specific phenomena and challenges. Conversely, non-hospitality and tourism journals provide a broader coverage of topics related to Airbnb, encapsulating diverse areas of inquiry beyond the boundaries of the industry. This literature review provides valuable insights into existing research on Airbnb and highlights several critical areas for future research.