it's funny to stumble on this thread. I've been living in Balkan AirBnBs since mid- January & my schedule has me on active
AirBnB through mid- Sept. My cost 'benefit' is that my bookings are a minimum 28days, of which allow me for a steep discount.
The benefit of my spending is to the owner of the lodging, also local businesses.. the wealth factor goes into the local communities.
FYI: my contract is via AirBnB but the set- up for me was that I had maybe 48 hours (I'll have to check the number of days) or
so to cancel to retrieve whatever total monies I spent. After the 48 hours, I forfeit my entire purchase price of my 4 weeks stay.
Even with covid, these AirBnB lodgings here are being utilized while the big hotels are sitting vacant with few tourists.
two years ago, I played with Chicago AirBnBs and basically decided Orbitz (has to be a 'combo'.. me, air travel & lodging) was
a much better venue for my monies spent.
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Look at the "bold last sentence of my post", bottom of page.
I am thinking AirBNB is a highly successful business concern.. the share price should be doing much better soon with the
coming tourist season. The restaurants are open since last week in Montenegro and in Croatia, tomorrow's the big day.
Venice, Florence Push Back Against Airbnb, Short-Term Rentals
travelpulse.com
"Officials in Venice and Florence, Italy want to see Airbnb hosts and short-term rental properties play by the same rules as the
hospitality industry as they look ahead to the inevitable return of tourists".
" 'The short-term rental phenomenon needs to be better managed with clearer rules nationally,' the two cities stated in a joint list of
initiatives sent to the Italian government, according to CNN Travel."
"Officials argue that some 'hide a business behind a rental' to avoid regulations and stiff taxes faced by the hospitality industry.
'The consequence is that too often an unskilled offering weakens the country's overall offering,' the cities add, saying short-term
rentals are in 'unfair competition' with hotels."
The document goes on to state that these rentals 'encourage the emptying out of historical centers because of the surge
in costs of renting over medium- and long-term periods.' The cities say 'this hollowing out, perhaps not so visible until now, and
maybe underestimated, is now clear to everyone.' "
"Officials are asking the Italian government to 'take a hold of the situation in a serious, forward-looking way' and even offered a
few suggestions such as deeming all rentals of under 30 days as for tourism purposes, limiting two rentals on owners per city
and imposing a 90-day annual limit for rentals."
" 'Travel is changing—in the last quarter of 2020, more guests stayed in Sicily than in Florence and Venice combined—and we
look forward to working with cities to help local economies bounce back,' an Airbnb spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.
'Leaders in Florence and Venice have made clear that they support regular people sharing their homes and we are
eager to work together on a way forward that supports families and communities.' "
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