I don't disagree with your point, but why would Airbnb or anyone else build a real hotel then rent out rooms for less than comparable hotels in the area? They c

I don't disagree with your point, but why would Airbnb or anyone else build a real hotel then rent out rooms for less than comparable hotels in the area? They could build a hotel and get probably $300 a night in midtown, but they won't, because they're not in the hotel business, and if they were, they would have no good reason to rent out rooms cheaply. The appeal of Airbnb, at least for me, is that you're staying somewhere novel, in a unique place, with unique hosts who may help you have a more fun experience than a hotel would provide. For example, I've had hosts show me around the city a bit, play board games with heir guests, or even just sit around and chat about life for a bit. It has a similar appeal to the good parts of CouchSurfing with a more mature vibe. Edit: I'm sure some people use it for not-good things, but Airbnb is more comparable to a traditional vacation rental company than a hotel company.