Airbnb in particular benefited from the existence of other technology they didn't directly employ, mostly related to smartphones: ubiquitous cameras for hosts t

Airbnb in particular benefited from the existence of other technology they didn't directly employ, mostly related to smartphones: ubiquitous cameras for hosts to take pictures, reliable taxi service from Uber and its rivals making more areas viable for tourists, high quality mapping apps to let people see what neighborhoods are fun and convenient. Cellphones in general mean hosts don't have to provide TVs, landline phones, alarm clocks, paper maps, newspapers, etc. that were traditionally in hotel rooms.