Airbnb competition could lower hotel prices; Roomba working on robot lawn mower

HOUSTON – Hotels are starting to feel pressure from burgeoning home-sharing businesses like Airbnb.

Merrill Lynch analysts believe Airbnb, which is short for Air Bed And Breakfast, could take up as much as 1.2 percent of hotel offerings. And that could grow as high as 4.3 percent by 2020.

According to analysts at Marketwatch, the company is growing so rapidly it's creating less demand for hotel rooms, which will push room rates down. Analysts expect prices to begin dropping by 2017, as more rooms become available.

The company behind Roomba is setting its sights on lawns. iRobot has received federal approval to build and sell automated lawn mowers, similar to their automated vacuums. It needed the approval because the devices could interfere with other wireless technology and telescopes.

iRobot promised that it's design would be safe with the promised limitations on height and use in residential areas.