I’m Saying It: The Biggest Enemy of Short-Term Rental hosts; The Hotel Cartel
We all know that short-term rentals (STRs) have become a focal point of regulatory scrutiny in various cities worldwide due to so-called “concerns” about their impact on housing markets, community dynamics, and tourism.
I don’t deny there is some impact depending on the given markets. But let's not get carried away with feeling guilty about this or feeling that by renting our properties we are somehow contributing to homelessness. If your property investment(s) sat empty for a year, do we really believe that our city overlords would care about housing problems? Do we really to believe that bearing the cost and risk of renting our places is causing people to NOT be able to afford homes? Last I checked, the banking system is the barrier to entry there along with inflation, a term for money printing, but I digress.
Some of you may actually have Stockholm syndrome completely unaware that you’re simping for the hotel industry. Don’t believe me?
1. "A Deeper Dive into the Hotel Lobby's Influence" by Open Air Homes:
URL: https://openairhomes.com/nycs-airbnb-crackdown-the-hotel-lobbys-hidden-agenda/
Key Points: This article discusses how the hotel lobby, particularly the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), has been pushing for regulations and taxes that would create a more "level playing field" between hotels and short-term rental platforms. It also notes that major hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt are often involved in these lobbying efforts.
2. "Hotel industry takes on Airbnb in a high-stakes lobbying battle" by Ed Case:
Key Points: This document outlines how the hotel industry has been lobbying to amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, aiming to make short-term rental platforms responsible for listings that violate local regulations. This would place a greater burden on companies like Airbnb and potentially reduce the number of available listings.
3. "Hotel Industry's Latest Airbnb Attack to Upend Short-Term Rentals" by The Heritage Foundation:
Key Points: This commentary criticizes the hotel industry's lobbying efforts, arguing that they are attempting to stifle competition rather than improve their own services. It specifically mentions the PLAN Act, which would remove liability shields for rental platforms and make them more vulnerable to lawsuits.
4. "Airbnb ramps up federal lobbying efforts amid attempts at regulation" by OpenSecrets:
Key Points: This article reports on Airbnb's increased lobbying spending in response to growing scrutiny and attempts at regulation. It highlights how the company is trying to counter the hotel industry's influence and protect its business model.
5. "Documents Reveal Hotel Industry's Plans and Plays Against AirBnB" on Reddit:
URL:https://www.reddit.com/r/AirBnB/comments/65wdrp/documents_reveal_hotel_industrys_plans_and_plays/
Key Points: This Reddit thread discusses leaked documents that allegedly reveal the hotel industry's strategies for combating Airbnb. These strategies include lobbying politicians, funding studies to portray Airbnb negatively, and highlighting the perceived lack of safety and tax compliance among Airbnb hosts.
Taking Control of Our Properties: A New Era for Hosts
Some of you already see it, but some hosts are still in denial. These rules are simply unfair. Perhaps I’m on my own here, but what business is it of anyone if we decide to invest financially, and or with time and effort in offering our homes up to a stranger for compensation? Have we NOT paid the cost to be the boss? What is fundamentally wrong with that? To pretend that hosts are responsible for housing shortages due to inflated prices, is simply not the entire picture. When was the last time you saw corporations band together to help people in need of housing? It's simple, corporations in this space cannot compete with us, period. We offer places all over the world at a better price, hence why these STR platforms are the go to place for rentals.
As hosts, it's time for us to unite and take a page from the hotel
industry's playbook. The big chains like Hilton and Marriott International
have already carved out their respective markets in the short-term rental
(STR) space, eliminating unnecessary competition between them.
Meanwhile, we're constrained by rules and regulations (precipitated by lobbying arms) that limit our ability to rent our properties freely. However, this has led us to
discover a silver lining: direct bookings. By booking directly with guests, we can save them money and increase our own revenue. Much like the hotel chains have carved up their respective territories, we can do the same. There is plenty of variety we as hosts offer in terms of accommodations and locals. Not everyone wants to stay in a 12 bedroom home. Not everyone wants to sleep on top of a skyscraper.
I know what's on some of your minds: 'Isn't the hardest part getting those direct bookings in the first place?' And it's true, STR platforms do make it easy to list and rent out our properties - but at a steep cost for us hosts.
But what if I told you there's a way to have the best of both worlds? What if you could utilize the benefits of STR platforms while also communicating directly with potential clients without running afoul of their terms of service?
That's exactly what we offer with directbnb.rentals. Our platform allows you to send your contact information directly to rental inquiries, without being blocked or restricted in any way. It's a game-changer for hosts who want to build strong relationships with their guests and increase their revenue.