News & Stories

Paris. Anne Hidalgo, Paris' mayor has said several times she will fight against illegal rentals in the capital and she was not joking. Since the beginning of this year, the city has collected up to 615,000 euros in fines. In Paris, the chase after Airbnb and other platforms' illegal hosts has just started.

(July 21, 2007). Airbnb does not want to pay the 21 percent flat tax on short-term residential rental just approved by the Italian Parliament. In an official note, the online platform along with Homeaway and the Italian association of estate agents, claims that "it is technically impossible for them to comply with the new tax provision" in such a short time.

Paris. Paris, one of Airbnb's most successful destinations has taken action to finally regulate illegal rentals. From December 2017, only officially registered properties will be allowed to be listed by online rental platforms. The special decree could well put a break on Airbnb's hospitality activity.

Palma. Two lecturers of the University of the Balearic Islands have done a working paper that demystifies the negative reputation of the impact of tourist rental and companies like Airbnb. Hospitality associations complain but don't engage themselves.

Stuttgart. German hoteliers appreciate the value of certification, especially as regards training and on environmental issues. However, they give little thought to certified IT systems and data security. The German hotel directors association HDV launched a survey.

Munich. In Munich, living space is particularly scarce, and any short-term leased apartment is tipping the situation further. For many years, Bavaria has been campaigning against the misuse of living space through letting via online platforms such as Airbnb. Now, drastic penalties were passed.

Rapallo. Many participants at the 67th annual assembly of the biggest Italian hotel association, Federalberghi at the Excelsior Palace in Rapallo showed up in a white T-Shirt with a fish taking the bait and saying: #shadoweconomy: listen to Federalberghi, the reality is another". Again, Sharing Economy was a hot topic due to discussions and decisions expected in the near future by the government. And this time, the association presented precise figures. But other discussions about rate parity, taxes and job coupons have not been solved yet by the government. Frustration among hoteliers is high.

Berlin. After the star disaster in October last year, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association started cleaning measures and discovered 1,228 black sheep among 21,000 websites of German hotels. However, about 20% of them did not want to accept the official requirements of the German Hotel Classification.

Brussels. With all the things happening across the globe, the question is legitimate whether the world is actually safe enough to travel. Travel is undoubtedly exciting, but can also be challenging sometimes. To better understand how hotels, often direct targets of terrorism or natural disasters are responding to the threats, we asked Paul Moxness, Vice President, Corporate Safety and Security at Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, to share with us his expertise and views. He is very well connected internationally and also collaborates with industry colleagues of competing chains in a special security council. Even Airbnb is part of this group. He calls for safety & security to be fully integrated in hotel operations and the hotels to be in permanent touch with the local environment. "If people don't think you are safe then it doesn't matter if you have free wifi, people will simply not come", Paul Moxness says in this long interview.

Munich. Ironically, it was the sleep which troubled Ola Ivarsson, COO at Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts in Europe, over the past couple of days: He promoted the new "individualized” sleeping concept of the group in Europe. From now on, each guest can adjust the degree of firmness of the mattress him- or herself. In addition, three more hotels in Europe are planned.