Ask Anthony: Is Airbnb Hurting Hotels?

Anthony Melchiorri, hotel fixer and host of Travel Channel’s Hotel Impossible, loves dishing out advice. From sharing best practices to tackling operational issues, he’s here to answer your questions.

What’s your take on Airbnb, and is it hurting hotels?
A business in 190 countries offering 800,000 places to stay is worth noting. Will it last, though? Hotels are driven by economics and business plans. Airbnb hosts are opportunistic. Owners simply want payment for unused homes. Demand in destination and resort locations is well established, but growth in urban markets is different. In hotels, your neighbors are other travelers. When your neighbor is a tenant/resident, that’s a different situation entirely. If a tragedy were to occur, it probably wouldn’t immediately change the business model. But if a tourist damaged the room or building, any backlash could impact availability. Demand from travelers may continue. Unless hosts simply choose not to rent or demand fails, I believe it’s here to stay.

I’m not an Airbnb guy. I’m a well-trained professional concerned with safety, security, and the enjoyment of a guest’s stay. Renting rooms is my profession, not my hobby. My advice: Take heed, and don’t turn a blind eye. Run your hotel professionally, have good fundamentals, and consider this just another form of competition in a tight marketplace.

Got a question? Send it to AskAnthony@lodgingmagazine.com.

Advertisement
Previous articlePKF: Caribbean Hotels Steadily Improving
Next articleTaking Advantage of New Hotel Tax Incentives