The website Airbnb hates

Amsterdam. Two weeks ago, Airbnb won an important battle in San Francisco where 55% of the local residents voted against a city council proposition and in favor of the OTA. At the same time, a study by HVS estimates the negative impact of Airbnb on the lodging industry and the broader economy of New York City at 2.1 billion dollars over the course of the last year. Airbnb says the HVS study is false. On a European level, the political EU bodies still see no need to hurry up. HOTREC provides a 10-point paper to underline the special challenges of the short-term rentals. And Airbnb is keeping calm, and continuing to dictate the rules.

Innsbruck. In an Internet conference with one of the European Airbnb managers, a US tourism professional and two Danish researchers discussed the positive approaches of Airbnb – and what still must be investigated.

Toronto. "Hoteliers and Airbnb could partner to create added value the customer always needs". Frédéric Dimanche, Director of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada is very positive about the two "rival brothers" finding a friendly relationship. He is also convinced that it's not fair to compare them in terms of valuation, business model, and certainly not in terms of cost structure. He advises hoteliers to literally live "hospitality" in future. "It's not too late to catch up," he encourages the industry – and explains his view in the following interview.

Amsterdam. Is it fair to compare Airbnb with hotel chains? Hoteliers are risks takers, huge job providers, taxpayers and most of them are responsible entrepreneurs. Airbnb is none of these. However, hoteliers accept the comparison with Airbnb even in public and in the media! The industry does not rise and object loudly; thus, the public believes in the comparison with which they are provided, namely that of apples to pears and does not keep apples and apples in mind. With the support of experts from the hotel industry and the distribution sector, hospitalityInside.com will explain this week and in next week's issue why Airbnb cannot be compared to a hotel chain, where the weaknesses of this argumentation are, why hoteliers initially missed the opportunity of "collaborative economy", and why it might not be too late.