Efficient? Perhaps. Safer and more reliable? Remains to be seen. But you don't get something for nothing and the usual decrease in cost comes at a price. As a

Efficient? Perhaps. Safer and more reliable? Remains to be seen. But you don't get something for nothing and the usual decrease in cost comes at a price. As a customer of Airbnb I am extremely aware I taking a greater chance using it than booking myself into a hotel. The likelihood of being robbed, scammed, having a lousy time etc is arguably higher. My home city, Melbourne Australia, has seen its fair share of scandals involving apartments being used as backpacker hostels. Cramming several people per room into cheap apartments is a recipe for among other things fiery death. The laws should be changed to allow Airbnb to operate, but at the same time provide protection to everyone involved.