3 ms·

So, haven't people been doing things like short-term rentals with their condos, spare rooms, etc for quite a while without Airbnb using things like VRBO, craigs

So, haven't people been doing things like short-term rentals with their condos, spare rooms, etc for quite a while without Airbnb using things like VRBO, craigslist, other websites, newspaper ads, word-of-mouth, etc? Was the hotel industry very upset about people doing those things before Airbnb and lobbying against it because it was concerned these rentals didn't follow exactly the same regulations hotels did? I can't seem to find information about that, although it wouldn't surprise me. What seems to be actually happening though is now there is a successful and popular marketplace for this type of rental that has gained alot of traction (Airbnb), and under the guise of 'safety, standards, etc' the hotel lobby is fighting (to actually try to get their large share of the market back). I don't necessarily think laws and regulations are bad to have in place as it often protects the consumers. But for the hotel industry to pretend this is their motive is inauthentic, just be honest that it's about the money. What disgusts me about all this is the corporate speak that goes under the guise of values and concern for customers (same could be said of Airbnb marketing lingo).

misterbowfinger 10y ago
Agreed. I'm not going to argue that Airbnb is above regulations, but the spitefulness on behalf of the hotel lobby is ridiculous. It's exactly the type of lobbying that works against consumer interests for no good reason. How do we stop this?
- atourgates 10y ago
  Certainly the hotel industry's lobbying is self-interested, but I wouldn't say it's entirely against consumer interest. Sure, travelers are interested in paying the lowest price for the best accommodation, but the needs of residents are often conflicting with that. There are reasons that zoning laws exist, and that I couldn't just decide to buy a house and turn it into a hotel in many places. But that's essentially what Airbnb allows. There's always an important balance between regulation, and freedom, and I'm certainly not arguing for outlawing Airbnb. But in this case that self-interest of the hotel industry might be aligned closely with the self-interest of residents in the communities where Airbnb operates.
  - hellofunk 10y ago
    I think it is also unfair to neighbors who didn't realize they were moving into a home right next to someone who has a revolving door of tourists like a hotel. If you know there is a hotel on your street and you choose to live where you live, then that's your choice. But Airbnb makes it possible for anyone to turn your little street into something unexpected, especially in touristy areas, and I don't think that's right.
  - Jabanga 10y ago
    >There are reasons that zoning laws exist The reasons aren't compelling to me. It's essentially biased toward money changing hands. Invite different people over every night and do drugs, get drunk and have sex? It's your god given right! Let guests stay for free for a year in your absence? Your property, your rules. Money changed hands!? Oh my Gosh zoning laws, community rights, etc If there are safety or community character concerns, and laws created to address them, the laws should be completely neutral to commercial aspects like money changing hands, which are only relevant to special interests who want to stifle commercial competition.
fireflash38 10y ago
It's very similar to Uber. Both sides do have a point though -- Hotels want Airbnb to be either out of business, or inconsequentially competing. However, people using AirBnb can get around zoning and land usage rules, or lots of other regulatory issues. I think it'd require input from both AirBnb and Hotel chains for proper regulations, so that they aren't functionally banning AirBnB, but aren't also giving Hotels or AirBnB a massive market advantage.
mcbruiser3 10y ago
Agreed. Why not let the consumers vote with their dollars, and let the free market do its thing?
- zwieback 10y ago
  I'm not taking one position or the other but the hotels' argument is that the market isn't free, it's distorted against them.
  - mcbruiser3 10y ago
    whining.
- noja 10y ago
  Because if you got rid of the regulations fire-trap accommodation would come back.
  - mcbruiser3 10y ago
    .. and people will stop going there. the problem resolves itself.
    - ceejayoz 10y ago
      Except the problem clearly didn't resolve itself last time, resulting in people dying, resulting in fire safety regulations.

misterbowfinger 10y ago

Agreed. I'm not going to argue that Airbnb is above regulations, but the spitefulness on behalf of the hotel lobby is ridiculous. It's exactly the type of lobbying that works against consumer interests for no good reason. How do we stop this?

atourgates 10y ago
Certainly the hotel industry's lobbying is self-interested, but I wouldn't say it's entirely against consumer interest. Sure, travelers are interested in paying the lowest price for the best accommodation, but the needs of residents are often conflicting with that. There are reasons that zoning laws exist, and that I couldn't just decide to buy a house and turn it into a hotel in many places. But that's essentially what Airbnb allows. There's always an important balance between regulation, and freedom, and I'm certainly not arguing for outlawing Airbnb. But in this case that self-interest of the hotel industry might be aligned closely with the self-interest of residents in the communities where Airbnb operates.
- hellofunk 10y ago
  I think it is also unfair to neighbors who didn't realize they were moving into a home right next to someone who has a revolving door of tourists like a hotel. If you know there is a hotel on your street and you choose to live where you live, then that's your choice. But Airbnb makes it possible for anyone to turn your little street into something unexpected, especially in touristy areas, and I don't think that's right.
- Jabanga 10y ago
  >There are reasons that zoning laws exist The reasons aren't compelling to me. It's essentially biased toward money changing hands. Invite different people over every night and do drugs, get drunk and have sex? It's your god given right! Let guests stay for free for a year in your absence? Your property, your rules. Money changed hands!? Oh my Gosh zoning laws, community rights, etc If there are safety or community character concerns, and laws created to address them, the laws should be completely neutral to commercial aspects like money changing hands, which are only relevant to special interests who want to stifle commercial competition.

fireflash38 10y ago

It's very similar to Uber. Both sides do have a point though -- Hotels want Airbnb to be either out of business, or inconsequentially competing. However, people using AirBnb can get around zoning and land usage rules, or lots of other regulatory issues. I think it'd require input from both AirBnb and Hotel chains for proper regulations, so that they aren't functionally banning AirBnB, but aren't also giving Hotels or AirBnB a massive market advantage.

mcbruiser3 10y ago

Agreed. Why not let the consumers vote with their dollars, and let the free market do its thing?

zwieback 10y ago
I'm not taking one position or the other but the hotels' argument is that the market isn't free, it's distorted against them.
- mcbruiser3 10y ago
  whining.
noja 10y ago
Because if you got rid of the regulations fire-trap accommodation would come back.
- mcbruiser3 10y ago
  .. and people will stop going there. the problem resolves itself.
  - ceejayoz 10y ago
    Except the problem clearly didn't resolve itself last time, resulting in people dying, resulting in fire safety regulations.