Post: #1

The Barcelona SJW, Podemos-communist, new female mayor, Ada Colau, has launched and completed a scorching attack on Airbnb (culminating in fines).

Thing is, it threatens all of Airbnb business model, because: Ada Colau has had a software designed, that browses the web and spots airbnb apartments available on the market. Then she can fine the (non-registered at city-hall) apartment owners and Airbnb themselves.

This spying software could now be used (against Airbnb and Homeaway) by many city officials across the world... will this female SJW mayor bring Airbnb to its knees (and in the process hinder us travelers)?

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/2015/12...meaway.php
"Grâce à un programme informatique surveillant les annonces en ligne, la mairie a pu identifier 3.929 logements loués de façon irrégulière à des touristes, sur le site HomeAway et 1.891 sur Airbnb."

http://www.02b.com/en/notices/2015/11/co...-12151.php

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk/travel-headl...ents-63420

Post: #2

I know a lot of people who run a decent hustle on AirBnB making thousands a month sub-letting a portfolio of apartments to tourists. I've always been interested but hesitate because of regulatory/taxation risks or technological risks such this one.

I hear the situation in Barcelona is particularly bad for local residents.

Post: #3

I hope Airbnb fights back against that bitch.

Post: #4

(12-21-2015 01:41 PM)CleanSlate Wrote:  I hope Airbnb fights back against that bitch.

But I think there is no way for them to fight back against this female extreme-Leftist mayor. What could Airbnb do? Press charges... but at which court of justice, where, and under what claim (did Colau actually break any international commercial law by fining Airbnb?)?

By the way, I'm intrigued by this spying, web-browsing software that Colau imagined and had developed. If some forum members know a bit more about this...

Post: #5

The government wants their money.

If you don't give it to them they will send armed mercenaries to take your home and throw you into prison.

If you resist you may be murdered where you stand.

Give them your money.

Post: #6

Big cities are going to go after airbnb harder in the next few years. New York has tried multiple times to mess with airbnb's business model. When it comes down to it it's the same old story..they don't want owners of property doing whatever they want with their property without lots of tax and bureaucracy hassles.

Another thing.. the mid to higher end hotels are starting to wake up to the fact that their overpriced luxury shitbox business models may be under threat to. There are some very rich and powerful people behind large hotel chains and they will make sure to reduce airbnb's impact.

Post: #7

(12-21-2015 12:46 PM)Going strong Wrote:  The Barcelona SJW, Podemos-communist, new female mayor, Ada Colau, has launched and completed a scorching attack on Airbnb (culminating in fines).

Thing is, it threatens all of Airbnb business model, because: Ada Colau has had a software designed, that browses the web and spots airbnb apartments available on the market. Then she can fine the (non-registered at city-hall) apartment owners and Airbnb themselves.

This spying software could now be used (against Airbnb and Homeaway) by many city officials across the world... will this female SJW mayor bring Airbnb to its knees (and in the process hinder us travelers)?

http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/2015/12...meaway.php
"Grâce à un programme informatique surveillant les annonces en ligne, la mairie a pu identifier 3.929 logements loués de façon irrégulière à des touristes, sur le site HomeAway et 1.891 sur Airbnb."

http://www.02b.com/en/notices/2015/11/co...-12151.php

http://www.easyvoyage.co.uk/travel-headl...ents-63420

That's actually really cunning and clever (for a politician).

Post: #8

My money is on AirBnB. I actually did research on starting a startup and read details on how they started. They're smart and hardworking. Add to the fact that they have BILLIONS behind them, they'll figure something out. Here are some theories:

1) Hire the best team of hackers and hack this system back
2) Simply redesign their website with their magic programming skills to avoid this software
3) Find blackmail dirt on people going after them
4) Hire the most dangerous attorneys (gang of them) in Barcelona to find legal loopholes to get this chick
5) Put massive money into an opponent to take this chick out. Smear campaign "why is she focusing on AirBnB when there's xyz crime, etc going on"

Yeah, I trust the private sector to be smarter than a government official

Post: #9

6) Payoff the politicians and donate to their campaigns, which Is probably what they want to begin with.

Post: #10

(12-22-2015 01:58 PM)RioNomad Wrote:  6) Payoff the politicians and donate to their campaigns, which Is probably what they want to begin with.

RioNomad is right, his 6th point is quicker (simpler and more efficient) than the other five... So, I'd bet that Airbnb will make a "donation" to the Podemos party, to get Ada Colau off their back. That would be their easier option: buy an enemy off, rather than fighting him-her!

Post: #11

Air BnB is a great model for both consumers and owners, however the hotel/hostel industry must have been hit hard as fuck from it. They pay taxes, Air BnB users dont. Easy to see who The Man will go after here. I'd imagine the whole system is on borrowed time from this point in, sadly

Post: #12

LOL A lot of Airbnb operators do it to make enough money to pay their annual taxes and maintenance as in local property taxes on their properties that go directly to the local city, town and country budgets. So the cities are only hurting themselves by restricting the income on their smaller property owners and long term leaseholders. Classic Socialist Marxism at it finest and most convoluted thinking.

Post: #13

You can't stop trends like this. There were vacation rentals sites before airbnb. Airbnb just popularized the idea (= marketed it better).

Every time there's something new threatening something old, there are those who try to stop it to protect their interest.

They tried to stop VHS cause they thought it will kill cinema.

They're fighting online 'piracy' for years, it only grows. They shut down Napster, Kazaa came instead. Then eMule, Bittorrent.. even YouTube has practically every music album on it.

Sharing economy will continue.