Airbnb Has NOT Won Anything—yet

Before you get into reading this blog, do me a favor and click on this link. You’re going to need to have this playing in the background to get the full effect of this piece of content.
 
For those who didn’t click, that is a link to the iconic scene in “Animal House” when John Belushi’s Bluto Blutarsky tries to rally his otherwise defeated brethren of Delta Tau Chi.
 
That scene was running through my head earlier this week as I read Ed Watkins’ piece “The war is over and Airbnb has won.” In it, Watkins argues the sharing economy is here to stay and hoteliers are going to need to learn how to coexist.
 
Watkins is calling this war a little early. Yes, Airbnb has entrenched itself in the industry, but I don’t see it as being permanently entrenched.
 
For example, in his piece, Watkins argues that Airbnb has positioned itself as the champion of the little guy. And in doing so, it’s winning the public relations and legislative battles necessary to keep itself afloat.
 
From where I sit, however, it appears city governments are beginning to come around to the logic that Airbnb is playing with an entirely different, and much more lax, set of rules than are traditional hotels. 
 
I’ve already written about how some cities are beginning to ban Airbnb. As is spelled out in the story, these bans likely are not going to become permanent; rather, the actions simply represent a “time-out” as the municipalities try to figure out how to deal with the sharing economy.
 
And deal with them they will. Just what form this will take is anyone’s guess. I do agree with Watkins that the sharing economy is here to stay, but after months and months of arguing the industry’s point, it seems at least some cities are taking the matter to heart. 
 
Lastly, I want to bring up a point that was raised recently during the Lodging Industry Investment Council meeting held in New York City. One point of discussion: Companies such as Airbnb actually bring extra demand into the city, which can benefit all the hotel stock in the market.
 
So, calling this battle with the sharing economy is a little premature. Yes, these companies will be here for the long term, but they have their own issues they are dealing with.
 
Tweet of the week
If it’s in BuzzFeed, it has to be true. Right?
 

 
Email Shawn A. Turner or find him on Twitter or Facebook.
 
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