Airbnb#Bait-and-switch scams

After moving to San Francisco in October 2007, roommates and former schoolmates Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia came up with an idea of putting an air mattress in their living room and turning it into a bed and breakfast.{{cite web | title=How 3 guys turned renting air mattresses in their apartment into a $31 billion company, Airbnb | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-airbnb-was-founded-a-visual-history-2016-2 | first=Rebecca | last=Aydin | work=Business Insider | date=September 20, 2019 | access-date=April 20, 2019 | archive-date=April 8, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210408013939/https://www.businessinsider.com/how-airbnb-was-founded-a-visual-history-2016-2 | url-status=live }} In February 2008, Nathan Blecharczyk, Chesky's former roommate, joined as the chief technology officer and the third co-founder of the new venture, which they named "AirBed & Breakfast".{{cite web | title=New License to Explore: Airbnb's Nathan Blecharczyk '05 | url=https://alumni.harvard.edu/stories/airbnb-nathan-blecharczyk-05 | publisher=Harvard University | date=September 10, 2015 | access-date=February 20, 2017 | archive-date=February 21, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221011259/https://alumni.harvard.edu/stories/airbnb-nathan-blecharczyk-05 | url-status=live }} They put together a website that offered short-term living quarters and breakfast for those who were unable to book a hotel in the saturated market. The site Airbedandbreakfast.com was launched on August 11, 2008.{{cite news | last=Schonfeld | first=Erik | title=AirBed And Breakfast Takes Pad Crashing To A Whole New Level | url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/08/11/airbed-and-breakfast-takes-pad-crashing-to-a-whole-new-level/ | work=TechCrunch | date=August 11, 2008 | access-date=June 25, 2017 | archive-date=September 20, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920003620/http://techcrunch.com/2008/08/11/airbed-and-breakfast-takes-pad-crashing-to-a-whole-new-level/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news | last=Geron | first=Tomio | title=From Crash Pad To Pizza Profitable, Start-Up Eyes Budget Travel Market | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-VCDB-2042 | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=June 10, 2009 | url-access=subscription | access-date=April 4, 2021 | archive-date=March 7, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307031706/https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-VCDB-2042 | url-status=live }} The founders had their first customers in the summer of 2008, during the Industrial Design Conference held by Industrial Designers Society of America, where travelers had a hard time finding lodging in the city.{{cite news | last=Drell | first=Lauren | title=How Do Co-Founders Meet? 17 Startups Tell All | url=https://mashable.com/2011/12/25/how-co-founders-met/ | work=Mashable | date=December 25, 2011 | access-date=April 20, 2019 | archive-date=January 16, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116225045/https://mashable.com/2011/12/25/how-co-founders-met/ | url-status=live }}

After the founders raised $30,000 by selling cereal named after the two candidates of the 2008 United States presidential election, Barack Obama and John McCain, mostly at the 2008 Democratic National Convention,{{cite news | title=The Business of Politics | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121803424407616937 | work=The Wall Street Journal | last=Spors | first=Kelly | date=11 August 2008 | url-access=subscription | access-date=February 20, 2017 | archive-date=February 21, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010627/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB121803424407616937 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | last=Rusli | first=Evelyn | title=The New Start-Ups at Sun Valley | url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/the-new-sun-valley-start-ups/ | work=The New York Times | date=July 7, 2011 | access-date=February 20, 2017 | archive-date=January 28, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128132809/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/the-new-sun-valley-start-ups/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news | title=Where to get startup cash now | url=https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/smallbusiness/1003/gallery.startup_cash_now/ | publisher=CNN | last=Peng | first=Tina | date=March 24, 2010 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=August 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220801223329/https://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/smallbusiness/1003/gallery.startup_cash_now/ | url-status=live }} computer programmer Paul Graham invited the founders to the January 2009 winter training session of his startup incubator, Y Combinator, which provided them with training and $20,000 in funding in exchange for a 6% interest in the company.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-VCDB-11285 |title=Airbnb: From Y Combinator To $112M Funding In Three Years |last=Austin |first=Scott |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 25, 2011 |url-access=subscription |access-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514124132/https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-VCDB-11285 |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/2017/02/airbnbs-surprising-path-to-y-combinator/ | title=Airbnb's Surprising Path to Y Combinator | first=LEIGH | last=GALLAGHER | magazine=Wired | date=February 21, 2017 | url-access=subscription | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=September 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927022919/https://www.wired.com/2017/02/airbnbs-surprising-path-to-y-combinator/ | url-status=live }} With the website already built, they used the Y Combinator investment to fly to New York to meet users and promote the site. They returned to San Francisco with a profitable business model to present to West Coast investors. By March 2009, the site had 10,000 users and 2,500 listings.{{cite news | title=Y Combinator's Airbed And Breakfast Casts A Wider Net For Housing Rentals As AirBnB | url=https://techcrunch.com/2009/03/04/y-combinators-airbed-and-breakfast-casts-a-wider-net-for-housing-rentals-as-airbnb/ | last=Rao | first=Leena | work=TechCrunch | date=March 4, 2009 | access-date=June 25, 2017 | archive-date=July 15, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715230940/http://techcrunch.com/2009/03/04/y-combinators-airbed-and-breakfast-casts-a-wider-net-for-housing-rentals-as-airbnb/ | url-status=live }}

In March 2009, the name of the company was shortened to Airbnb.com to eliminate confusion over air mattresses; by then listings included entire rooms and properties. By November 2010, out of 700,000 nights booked, 80% had occurred in the previous six months.{{cite news | title=Airbnb Raises Cash to Expand Budget-Travel Service | url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/airbnb-books-more-cash-to-connect-travelers-with-cheap-digs/ | work=The New York Times | last=Wortham | first=Jenna | date=November 10, 2010 | url-access=limited | access-date=April 20, 2019 | archive-date=May 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514131356/https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/airbnb-books-more-cash-to-connect-travelers-with-cheap-digs/ | url-status=live }} At the March 2011 South by Southwest conference, Airbnb won the "app" award.{{cite news | title=Airbnb Mobile App Stands Out at SXSW | url=https://www.inc.com/articles/201103/airbnb-mobile-app-stands-out-at-sxsw.html | first=Tiffany | last=Black | work=Inc. | date=March 15, 2011 | url-access=limited | access-date=April 20, 2019 | archive-date=May 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514124515/https://www.inc.com/articles/201103/airbnb-mobile-app-stands-out-at-sxsw.html | url-status=live }} In November 2012, Airbnb launched "Neighborhoods", a travel guide of 23 cities that helps travelers choose a neighborhood in which to stay based on certain criteria and personal preferences.{{cite news | last=Roy | first=Jessica | title=Introducing Airbnb Neighborhoods, a Local Guide for Travelers Deciding Where to Stay | url=https://observer.com/2012/11/introducing-airbnb-neighborhoods-a-local-guide-for-travelers-deciding-which-neighborhood-to-stay-in/ | work=The Observer | date=November 13, 2012 | access-date=April 20, 2019 | archive-date=August 13, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813000746/http://observer.com/2012/11/introducing-airbnb-neighborhoods-a-local-guide-for-travelers-deciding-which-neighborhood-to-stay-in/ | url-status=live }}

By October 2013, Airbnb had served 9,000,000 guests since its founding in August 2008.{{cite news | last=Lawler | first=Ryan | title=Airbnb Has Now Served 9M Guests Since Being Founded, Up From 4M At The End Of Last Year | url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/10/19/airbnb-has-now-served-9m-guests-since-being-founded-up-from-4m-at-the-end-of-last-year/ | work=TechCrunch | date=October 20, 2013 | access-date=February 20, 2017 | archive-date=February 21, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221005925/https://techcrunch.com/2013/10/19/airbnb-has-now-served-9m-guests-since-being-founded-up-from-4m-at-the-end-of-last-year/ | url-status=live }} Nearly 250,000 listings were added in 2013.{{cite news | last=Lawler | first=Ryan | title=Airbnb Tops 10 Million Guest Stays Since Launch, Now Has 550,000 Properties Listed Worldwide | url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/12/19/airbnb-10m/ | work=TechCrunch | date=December 19, 2013 | access-date=February 20, 2017 | archive-date=February 21, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010416/https://techcrunch.com/2013/12/19/airbnb-10m/ | url-status=live }} In July 2014, Airbnb revealed design revisions to the site and mobile app and introduced a new logo. The logo, called the Bélo, is intended to serve as a symbol of "belonging", and consists of four elements: a head which represents people, a location icon that represents place, a heart to symbolize love, and a letter "A" to stand for the company's name.{{cite news | last=Baldwin | first=Roberto | title=Airbnb updates design and introduces controversial new Bélo logo | url=https://thenextweb.com/dd/2014/07/16/airbnb-updates-design-introduces-new-belo-logo/ | work=The Next Web | date=July 16, 2014 | access-date=June 18, 2018 | archive-date=June 11, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611080445/https://thenextweb.com/dd/2014/07/16/airbnb-updates-design-introduces-new-belo-logo/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news | last=Clifford | first=Catherine | url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235709 | title=Airbnb, Why the New Logo? | work=Entrepreneur | date=July 17, 2014 | archive-date=May 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529015911/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235709 | url-status=live}} It also announced a partnership with Concur, an expense reporting service for businesses, to make it easier for business travelers to report Airbnb stays as business expenses.{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/07/28/airbnb-concur/ | title=It's Business Time: Airbnb Targets Work Travelers With Concur Partnership | last=Lawler | first=Ryan | work=TechCrunch | date=July 28, 2014 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001154454/https://techcrunch.com/2014/07/28/airbnb-concur/ | url-status=live }}

In April 2015, following the easing of restrictions on U.S. businesses to operate in Cuba, Airbnb expanded to Cuba, making it one of the first U.S. companies to do so.{{cite news | last=Olorunnipa | first=Toluse | title=Cuba Is Fastest-Growing Market for Airbnb as Obama Cracks Door | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-11/cuba-is-fastest-growing-market-for-airbnb-as-obama-cracks-door | publisher=Bloomberg News | date=May 11, 2015 | access-date=March 5, 2017 | archive-date=August 17, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817034254/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-11/cuba-is-fastest-growing-market-for-airbnb-as-obama-cracks-door | url-status=live }}{{cite news | title=Here's what it's like to stay in a Cuban Airbnb, where everything looked great but was actually broken | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-to-stay-in-an-airbnb-in-havana-cuba-2015-6 | last=Macias | first=Amanda | work=Business Insider | date=June 30, 2015 | access-date=April 20, 2019 | archive-date=May 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514130439/https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-to-stay-in-an-airbnb-in-havana-cuba-2015-6 | url-status=live }} In July 2016, former Attorney General Eric Holder was hired to help craft an anti-discrimination policy for Airbnb after reports showed that hosts were refusing to accept lodging requests from guests whose names suggested that they were black.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/07/20/eric-holder-joins-airbnb-to-help-company-fight-discrimination/ | first1=Abha | last1=Bhattarai | first2=Emily | last2=Badger | title=Airbnb hires Eric Holder to help company fight discrimination | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=July 20, 2016 | access-date=July 21, 2016 | archive-date=July 21, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721125947/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2016/07/20/eric-holder-joins-airbnb-to-help-company-fight-discrimination/ | url-status=live }} As part of the reform, photos of prospective guests are hidden from hosts until requests for lodging are accepted.{{Cite news | first=AARTI | last=SHAHANI | date=September 8, 2016 | title=Airbnb Agrees To Make Reforms After Allegations Of Discrimination | url=https://www.npr.org/2016/09/08/493157945/airbnb-agrees-to-make-reforms-after-allegations-of-discrimination | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917184323/https://www.npr.org/2016/09/08/493157945/airbnb-agrees-to-make-reforms-after-allegations-of-discrimination | archive-date=September 17, 2021 |work=All Things Considered | publisher=NPR | url-status=live | access-date=September 17, 2021 }}

In November 2016, Airbnb launched "experiences", whereby users can use the platform to book activities.{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/17/airbnb-is-turning-itself-into-an-experience-machine-beyond-just-booking-places-to-stay/ |title=Airbnb is turning itself into an 'experience' machine beyond just booking places to stay |first=Matthew |last=Lynley |work=TechCrunch |date=November 17, 2016 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924200115/https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/17/airbnb-is-turning-itself-into-an-experience-machine-beyond-just-booking-places-to-stay/ |url-status=live }} In January 2017, along with serial entrepreneurs Gary Vaynerchuk, Ben Leventhal and Mike Montero, Airbnb led a $13 million investment in Resy, a restaurant reservation-booking app.{{cite news | first=Avery | last=Hartmans | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/resy-airbnb-investment-2017-1 | title=Reservation-booking app Resy just got a massive investment from Airbnb, one of the most valuable startups in the world | work=Business Insider | date=January 9, 2017 | access-date=April 20, 2019 | archive-date=November 24, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124195735/https://www.businessinsider.com/resy-airbnb-investment-2017-1 | url-status=live }} In May 2017, the company launched Airbnbmag, a magazine co-published with Hearst Communications.{{cite news | url=https://www.hearst.com/-/hearst-magazines-new-airbnbmag-encourages-readers-to-be-at-home-in-the-world | title=Hearst Magazines' New Airbnbmag Encourages Readers to Be at Home in the World | first=CARLEIGH | last=STIEHM | publisher=Hearst Communications | date=May 22, 2017 | access-date=June 1, 2021 | archive-date=June 2, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213944/https://www.hearst.com/-/hearst-magazines-new-airbnbmag-encourages-readers-to-be-at-home-in-the-world | url-status=live }}

In February 2018, the company announced Airbnb Plus, a collection of homes that have been vetted for quality of services, comfort and design,{{Cite news | url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-secret-to-getting-your-home-on-airbnb-plus | title=The Secret to Getting Your Home on Airbnb Plus | first=Amanda | last=Sims | work=Architectural Digest | date=March 6, 2018 | access-date=March 14, 2018 | archive-date=May 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514131523/https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-secret-to-getting-your-home-on-airbnb-plus | url-status=live }} as well as Beyond by Airbnb, which offers luxury vacation rentals.{{cite news | url=https://skift.com/2018/02/22/airbnb-plus-and-everything-ceo-brian-chesky-just-announced/ | title=Airbnb Plus and Everything CEO Brian Chesky Just Announced | first=Deanna | last=Ting | work=Skift | date=February 22, 2018 | access-date=March 14, 2018 | archive-date=May 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514131553/https://skift.com/2018/02/22/airbnb-plus-and-everything-ceo-brian-chesky-just-announced/ | url-status=live }} By October 2019, two million people were staying with Airbnb each night.{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/airbnb-ibiza-spain-penthouse-scam-trnd/index.html | title=British couple spends $11,800 on Airbnb rental that doesn't exist | first=Stacey | last=Lastoe | publisher=CNN | date=September 30, 2019 | access-date=October 12, 2019 | archive-date=October 9, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009015025/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/airbnb-ibiza-spain-penthouse-scam-trnd/index.html | url-status=live }} In April 2019, Airbnb produced and financed Gay Chorus Deep South, a documentary launched by its Rausch Street Films division. The rights were sold to MTV, which aired the program on its network.{{Cite news | url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/mtv-documentary-films-lines-up-awards-run-for-gay-chorus-deep-south/5142930.article | title=MTV Documentary Films lines up awards run for 'Gay Chorus Deep South' | first=Jeremy | last=Kay | work=Screen International | date=September 16, 2019 | access-date=January 21, 2020 | archive-date=September 18, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918003224/https://www.screendaily.com/news/mtv-documentary-films-lines-up-awards-run-for-gay-chorus-deep-south/5142930.article | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/airbnb-first-film-gay-chorus-deep-south-tribeca-1203192733/ | title=Why Airbnb Produced Documentary 'Gay Chorus Deep South,' Its First-Ever Film | first=Todd | last=Spangler | work=Variety | date=April 18, 2019 | access-date=January 21, 2020 | archive-date=March 6, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306150916/https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/airbnb-first-film-gay-chorus-deep-south-tribeca-1203192733/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-12-20/movies-on-tv-this-week-sunday-dec-22-2019 | title=Movies on TV this week: Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 | date=December 20, 2019 | work=Los Angeles Times | url-access=limited | access-date=January 21, 2020 | archive-date=January 12, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112101639/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2019-12-20/movies-on-tv-this-week-sunday-dec-22-2019 | url-status=live }}

On World Animal Day (October 4) in 2019, Airbnb launched a new standalone category of experiences focused on those involving animals, as well as an animal welfare policy created with and backed by World Animal Protection.{{Cite news |last=Glusac |first=Elaine |title=New Airbnb Excursions to Focus on Animals |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/travel/airbnb-animal-experiences.html |date=October 3, 2019 |url-access=limited |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709160630/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/travel/airbnb-animal-experiences.html |url-status=live }} In 2020, Airbnb started testing the Jetpack Compose framework in its Android app while the framework was still in developer preview.{{Cite web |title=Airbnb uses Jetpack Compose to empower devs to do their best work |url=https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2022/05/airbnb-uses-jetpack-compose.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=Android Developers Blog |language=en |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710040005/https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2022/05/airbnb-uses-jetpack-compose.html |url-status=live }} Its developers later started utilizing Compose in production.{{Cite web |last=Nikolov |first=Lazar |date=April 19, 2023 |title=Build better Jetpack Compose apps with Sentry |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/3693018/build-better-jetpack-compose-apps-with-sentry.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207123550/https://www.infoworld.com/article/3693018/build-better-jetpack-compose-apps-with-sentry.html |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |website=InfoWorld}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, bookings dropped as much as 96% in some cities.{{Cite news | title=Airbnb Bookings Plunge Amid Coronavirus Pandemic | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-bookings-plunge-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-11584032412 | first=Preetika | last=Rana | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=March 12, 2020 | url-access=subscription | access-date=July 17, 2021 | archive-date=July 17, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717060544/https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-bookings-plunge-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-11584032412 | url-status=live }} However, bookings rose in many rural areas.{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/06/rural-airbnb-bookings-are-surging-as-vacationers-look-to-escape-the-coronavirus.html | title=Rural Airbnb bookings are surging as vacationers look to escape the coronavirus | first=Michelle | last=Gao | publisher=CNBC | date=August 6, 2020 | access-date=July 17, 2021 | archive-date=July 17, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717060546/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/06/rural-airbnb-bookings-are-surging-as-vacationers-look-to-escape-the-coronavirus.html | url-status=live }} The company pledged $250 million in payouts to hosts to compensate them for guest cancellations due to the pandemic.{{Cite news | url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/490289-airbnb-plans-250m-payout-for-hosts-who-lost-money-amid-pandemic | title=Airbnb plans $250M payout for hosts who lost money amid pandemic | last=Coleman | first=Justine | website=The Hill | date=March 30, 2020 | access-date=April 6, 2020 | archive-date=November 25, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125031815/https://thehill.com/policy/finance/490289-airbnb-plans-250m-payout-for-hosts-who-lost-money-amid-pandemic | url-status=live }}{{Cite web | url=https://news.airbnb.com/a-letter-to-hosts/ | title=A Letter to Hosts | publisher=Airbnb | date=March 30, 2020 | access-date=April 6, 2020 | archive-date=April 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405170357/https://news.airbnb.com/a-letter-to-hosts/ | url-status=live }} The company also laid off approximately 1,900 employees, or about 25% of its workforce in the Americas, Europe, and Asia due to the pandemic.{{cite news | last=Yurieff | first=Kaya | url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/05/tech/airbnb-layoffs/index.html | title=Airbnb is laying off 25% of its employees | publisher=CNN | date=May 5, 2020 | access-date=May 5, 2020 | archive-date=May 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505205510/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/05/tech/airbnb-layoffs/index.html | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/technology/airbnb-coronavirus-layoffs-.html | title=Airbnb Was Like a Family, Until the Layoffs Started | first=Erin | last=Griffith | work=The New York Times | date=July 17, 2020 | url-access=limited | access-date=July 17, 2021 | archive-date=July 17, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717060544/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/technology/airbnb-coronavirus-layoffs-.html | url-status=live }} On December 10, 2020, Airbnb (ticker symbol: "ABNB") became a public company via an initial public offering, raising $3.5 billion on Nasdaq.{{Cite news | url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/10/944931270/airbnb-defying-pandemic-fears-takes-its-company-public-in-ipo | title=Airbnb Now A $100 Billion Company After Stock Market Debut Sees Stock Price Double | first1=BOBBY | last1=ALLYN | first2=AVIE | last2=SCHNEIDER | publisher=NPR | date=December 10, 2020 | access-date=March 7, 2021 | archive-date=March 4, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304055023/https://www.npr.org/2020/12/10/944931270/airbnb-defying-pandemic-fears-takes-its-company-public-in-ipo | url-status=live }} Shares valued at $238 million were offered to hosts on the platform at the price of $68 per share.{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbnb-ipo-hosts/airbnb-hosts-see-windfall-from-wild-ipo-gains-idUSKBN28K3BS | first1=Krystal | last1=Hu | first2=Jane Lanhee | last2=Lee | title=Airbnb hosts see windfall from wild IPO gains | publisher=Reuters | date=December 10, 2020 | access-date=February 15, 2022 | archive-date=February 15, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215211803/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbnb-ipo-hosts/airbnb-hosts-see-windfall-from-wild-ipo-gains-idUSKBN28K3BS | url-status=live }}

In March 2022, Airbnb suspended business in Russia and Belarus due to the sanctions resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/04/airbnb-suspends-all-operations-in-russia-and-belarus | title=Airbnb suspends all operations in Russia and Belarus | first=Mark | last=Sweney | work=The Guardian | date=March 4, 2022 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=March 5, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305202143/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/04/airbnb-suspends-all-operations-in-russia-and-belarus | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/04/airbnb-is-suspending-all-operations-in-russia-and-belarus-.html | title=Airbnb is suspending all operations in Russia and Belarus | first=Sam | last=Shead | publisher=CNBC | date=March 4, 2022 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=September 28, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928123430/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/04/airbnb-is-suspending-all-operations-in-russia-and-belarus-.html | url-status=live }} In May 2022, Airbnb ceased operations in China.{{Cite news | last=Bosa | first=Deirdre | title=Airbnb is closing its domestic business in China, sources say | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/23/airbnb-is-closing-its-domestic-business-in-china-sources-say.html | publisher=CNBC | date=May 23, 2022 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001152037/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/23/airbnb-is-closing-its-domestic-business-in-china-sources-say.html | url-status=live }} The decision was made primarily because of China's Zero-COVID policy, as well as complicated and expensive laws and regulations that required Airbnb to send detailed information on guests to the government of China, which can be used to track people.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61560385 | title=Airbnb to quit China as lockdowns restrict tourism | publisher=BBC News | date=May 23, 2022 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001152037/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61560385 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | last1=Ye | first1=Josh | last2=Goh | first2=Brenda | title=Airbnb to shut domestic business in China from July 30 | publisher=Reuters | url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/airbnb-says-will-shut-domestic-business-china-july-30-2022-05-24/ | date=May 24, 2022 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001152039/https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/airbnb-says-will-shut-domestic-business-china-july-30-2022-05-24/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | last=Davidson | first=Helen | title=Airbnb to close in China amid repeated Covid lockdowns | work=The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/may/24/airbnb-to-close-in-china-amid-repeated-covid-lockdowns | date=May 24, 2022 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001152037/https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2022/may/24/airbnb-to-close-in-china-amid-repeated-covid-lockdowns | url-status=live }}

Airbnb was accused of being too willing to provide this information, which led to the resignation of an Airbnb executive, who was also a former deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2019 after 6 months of working.{{Cite news | title=Airbnb Executive Resigned Last Year Over Chinese Request for More Data Sharing | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-executive-resigned-last-year-over-chinese-request-for-more-data-sharing-11605896753 | last1=Volz | first1=Dustin | last2=Grind | first2=Kirsten | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=November 20, 2020 | issn=0099-9660 | access-date=November 20, 2020 | archive-date=November 20, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120222015/https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-executive-resigned-last-year-over-chinese-request-for-more-data-sharing-11605896753 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | last=Campbell | first=Ian Carlos | title=Airbnb's Chinese data policies reportedly cost it an executive | url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/20/21585500/airbnb-trust-officer-resignation-privacy-concerns-china-data-sharing | work=The Verge | date=November 20, 2020 | access-date=November 22, 2020 | archive-date=November 23, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123134019/https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/20/21585500/airbnb-trust-officer-resignation-privacy-concerns-china-data-sharing | url-status=live }} Airbnb had also been accused of allowing listings on land owned by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, a Chinese state-owned paramilitary entity sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act for involvement in the persecution of Uyghurs in China.{{Cite news | url=https://www.axios.com/airbnb-xinjiang-listings-sanctions-china-766dae2f-91e0-4a3e-9656-544ef8f35db0.html | last1=Allen-Ebrahimian | first1=Bethany | last2=Schrag | first2=Jacque | title=Airbnb hosts Xinjiang rentals on land owned by sanctioned group | work=Axios | date=November 30, 2021 | access-date=November 30, 2021 | archive-date=November 30, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130205654/https://www.axios.com/airbnb-xinjiang-listings-sanctions-china-766dae2f-91e0-4a3e-9656-544ef8f35db0.html | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/business/us-lawmakers-raise-concerns-about-airbnb-business-xinjiang-2022-01-07/ | title=U.S. lawmakers raise concerns about Airbnb business in Xinjiang | first=David | last=Shepardson | publisher=Reuters | date=January 7, 2022 | access-date=January 7, 2022 | archive-date=January 7, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107184236/https://www.reuters.com/business/us-lawmakers-raise-concerns-about-airbnb-business-xinjiang-2022-01-07/ | url-status=live }} In 2019, certain hosts in China were accused of discrimination by refusing to rent to Uyghurs.{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/airbnb-china-uyghur-muslim | title=Airbnb listings in China are littered with racist discrimination | last=Rollet | first=Charles | magazine=Wired | date=May 3, 2019 | issn=1357-0978 | access-date=June 9, 2019 | archive-date=June 15, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615004808/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/airbnb-china-uyghur-muslim | url-status=live }}

After temporarily banning parties in homes rented on the platform in August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{cite news | last=Griffith | first=Erin | title=Airbnb Fights Its 'Party House Problem' | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/business/airbnb-party-house-coronavirus.html | work=The New York Times | date=October 27, 2020 | url-access=limited | access-date=December 5, 2020 | archive-date=December 5, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205162258/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/27/business/airbnb-party-house-coronavirus.html | url-status=live }} in June 2022, Airbnb announced that it would permanently ban parties and events in homes on its platform, a position supported by hosts and their neighbors who complained of nuisances at Airbnb properties.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61976350 | title=Airbnb permanently bans parties and events around the world | publisher=BBC News | date=June 29, 2022 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001152037/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-61976350 | url-status=live }} In August 2022, Airbnb rolled out technology to enforce this ban.{{cite news | url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90779268/exclusive-airbnb-introduces-new-anti-party-tech-in-the-u-s-and-canada | title=Exclusive: Airbnb rolls out new anti-party tech to prevent unapproved gatherings | work=Fast Company | date=August 16, 2022 | access-date=October 1, 2022 | archive-date=September 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908204845/https://www.fastcompany.com/90779268/exclusive-airbnb-introduces-new-anti-party-tech-in-the-u-s-and-canada | url-status=live }}

In October 2011, Airbnb established an office in London, its first international office.{{cite news | title=Airbnb set to expand with London office | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/8801030/Airbnb-set-to-expand-with-London-office.html | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/8801030/Airbnb-set-to-expand-with-London-office.html | archive-date=January 11, 2022 | url-access=subscription | last=Quinn | first=James | work=The Daily Telegraph | date=October 2, 2011 | url-status=live}}{{cbignore}} In early 2012, Airbnb opened offices in Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Moscow, and São Paulo.{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/01/26/airbnb-5-million-nights-booked-opening-6-new-international-offices-in-q1-2012/ | title=Airbnb: 5 Million Nights Booked, Opening 6 New International Offices In Q1 2012 | last=Wauters | first=Robin | work=TechCrunch | date=January 26, 2012 | archive-date=September 20, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920003433/http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/26/airbnb-5-million-nights-booked-opening-6-new-international-offices-in-q1-2012/ | url-status=live }} These openings were in addition to existing offices in San Francisco, London, Hamburg, and Berlin.{{cite news | title=Airbnb Checks In With Springstar For International Expansion | url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/17/airbnb-checks-in-with-springstar-for-international-expansion/ | last=Wauters | first=Robin | work=TechCrunch | date=October 17, 2011 | archive-date=July 4, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704193233/https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/17/airbnb-checks-in-with-springstar-for-international-expansion/ | url-status=live }} In September 2013, the company announced that it would establish its European headquarters in Dublin.{{cite news | url=https://www.thejournal.ie/airbnb-dublin-hq-1081453-Sep2013/ | title=Airbnb to open European HQ in Dublin | first=Aoife | last=Barry | work=TheJournal.ie | date=September 13, 2013 | archive-date=July 25, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725004925/https://www.thejournal.ie/airbnb-dublin-hq-1081453-Sep2013/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/airbnb-to-open-european-hq-in-dublin-1.1526454 | title=Airbnb to open European HQ in Dublin | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=September 13, 2013 | archive-date=February 5, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205190036/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/airbnb-to-open-european-hq-in-dublin-1.1526454 | url-status=live }}

In November 2012, Airbnb opened an office in Sydney, its 11th office location, and announced plans to launch the service in Thailand and Indonesia.{{cite news | title=Airbnb launches in Australia with new office in Sydney, coming soon to Thailand and Indonesia | url=https://thenextweb.com/asia/2012/11/02/airbnb-launches-in-australia-coming-soon-to-thailand-and-indonesia/ | first=Josh | last=Ong | work=The Next Web | date=November 2, 2012 | archive-date=June 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162224/https://thenextweb.com/asia/2012/11/02/airbnb-launches-in-australia-coming-soon-to-thailand-and-indonesia/ | url-status=live }} In December 2012, Airbnb opened an office in Singapore.{{cite news | title=Airbnb targets 2 million properties in Asia as it begins introducing local customer support | url=https://thenextweb.com/asia/2012/11/21/airbnb-targets-2-million-properties-in-asia-as-it-begins-introducing-local-customer-support/ | work=The Next Web | last=Russell | first=Jon | date=November 12, 2012 | archive-date=June 12, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163148/https://thenextweb.com/asia/2012/11/21/airbnb-targets-2-million-properties-in-asia-as-it-begins-introducing-local-customer-support/ | url-status=live }} In April 2022, Airbnb instituted a policy of unlimited remote working for almost all its employees.{{cite news |first=Andrea |last=Hsu |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/04/28/1172213330/airbnb-hybrid-remote-work-from-home-office-digital-nomad/ |title=Airbnb let its workers live and work anywhere. Spoiler: They're loving it |work=All Things Considered |via=NPR |date=April 28, 2023 |archive-date=April 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430204337/https://www.npr.org/2023/04/28/1172213330/airbnb-hybrid-remote-work-from-home-office-digital-nomad/ |url-status=live }}

In April 2009, the company received $600,000 in seed money from Sequoia Capital, with Youniversity Ventures partners Jawed Karim, Keith Rabois, and Kevin Hartz participating.{{cite book | first=Leigh | last=Gallagher | title=The Airbnb Story: How Three Ordinary Guys Disrupted an Industry, Made Billions . . . and Created Plenty of Controversy | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4iGtDQAAQBAJ&q=youniversity%20ventures | date=February 14, 2017 | publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | isbn=978-0-544-95387-1 | page=31 | chapter=The Hustle | access-date=April 13, 2019 | archive-date=July 9, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709161634/https://books.google.com/books?id=4iGtDQAAQBAJ&q=youniversity%20ventures | url-status=live }} In November 2010, Greylock Partners and Sequoia Capital invested $7.2 million in a Series A round. In July 2011, Andreessen Horowitz, Digital Sky Technologies, General Catalyst, and A Grade Investments partners Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary invested $112 million in the company.{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/07/24/airbnb-bags-112-million-in-series-b-from-andreessen-and-others/ | title=Airbnb Bags $112 Million In Series B From Andreessen, DST And General Catalyst | first=Alexia | last=Tsotsis | work=TechCrunch | date=July 24, 2011 | access-date=August 22, 2024 | archive-date=September 1, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901151016/https://techcrunch.com/2011/07/24/airbnb-bags-112-million-in-series-b-from-andreessen-and-others/ | url-status=live }}

In April 2014, TPG Capital invested $450 million in the company at a valuation of $10 billion.{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/tpg-led-group-closes-450-million-investment-in-airbnb-1397845128 | title=TPG-Led Group Closes $450 Million Investment in Airbnb | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=April 23, 2014 | url-access=subscription | archive-date=September 12, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912160440/https://www.wsj.com/articles/tpg-led-group-closes-450-million-investment-in-airbnb-1397845128 | url-status=live }} Additional funding was provided by Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Dragoneer Investment Group, T. Rowe Price, and Sherpa Capital.{{Cite news | url=https://fortune.com/2014/08/01/airbnb-closes-475-million-funding-round/ | title=Airbnb closes $475 million funding round | website=Fortune | date=August 1, 2014 | archive-date=May 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514130201/https://fortune.com/2014/08/01/airbnb-closes-475-million-funding-round/ | url-status=live }} In June 2015, General Atlantic, Hillhouse Capital Group, Tiger Management, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, GGV Capital, China Broadband Capital, and Horizons Ventures invested $1.5 billion in the company.{{cite news | last=Nusca | first=Andrew | title=Airbnb raises $1.5 billion, valuing it at an eye-popping $25.5 billion | url=https://fortune.com/2015/06/27/airbnb-raises-1-5-billion/ | work=Fortune | date=June 27, 2015 | archive-date=February 27, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227195613/https://fortune.com/2015/06/27/airbnb-raises-1-5-billion/ | url-status=live }}{{cite magazine | last=Alba | first=Davey | author-link=Davey Alba | title=Airbnb Confirms $1.5 Billion Funding Round, Now Valued at $25.5 Billion | url=https://www.wired.com/2015/12/airbnb-confirms-1-5-billion-funding-round-now-valued-at-25-5-billion/ | magazine=Wired | date=December 7, 2015 | access-date=February 4, 2018 | archive-date=January 19, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119170601/https://www.wired.com/2015/12/airbnb-confirms-1-5-billion-funding-round-now-valued-at-25-5-billion/ | url-status=live }}

In September 2016, Google Capital and Technology Crossover Ventures invested $555.5 million in the company at a valuation of $30 billion.{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-raises-850-million-at-30-billion-valuation-1474569670 | title=Airbnb's Funding Round Led by Google Capital | last1=Farrell | first1=Maureen | last2=Bensinger | first2=Greg | work=The Wall Street Journal | issn=0099-9660 | date=September 22, 2016 | url-access=subscription | archive-date=February 21, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221010200/https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-raises-850-million-at-30-billion-valuation-1474569670 | url-status=live }} In March 2017, Airbnb raised $1 billion in funding, bringing total funding raised to more than $3 billion and valuing the company at $31 billion.{{cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/09/airbnb-closes-1-billion-round-31-billion-valuation-profitable.html | title=Airbnb just closed a $1 billion round and became profitable in 2016 | last=Thomas | first=Lauren | work=CNBC | date=March 9, 2017 | archive-date=November 13, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113064106/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/09/airbnb-closes-1-billion-round-31-billion-valuation-profitable.html | url-status=live }} In April 2020, Silver Lake and Sixth Street Partners acquired $1 billion in shares in the company at an $18 billion valuation{{Cite news | last2=Batchelor | first1=Deirdre | last1=Bosa | first2=Laura | title=Airbnb is raising $1 billion amid fallout from coronanvirus | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/06/airbnb-raising-1-billion-amid-fallout-from-coronanvirus.html | work=CNBC | date=April 6, 2020 | archive-date=May 14, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514131653/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/06/airbnb-raising-1-billion-amid-fallout-from-coronanvirus.html | url-status=live }} and $1 billion in debt at interest rates of 9%–11.5%.{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/14/airbnb-raises-another-1-billion-in-debt.html | title=Airbnb raising another $1 billion in debt as coronavirus ravages tourism business | first=Deirdre | last=Bosa | work=CNBC | date=April 14, 2020 | access-date=July 17, 2021 | archive-date=July 17, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717060544/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/14/airbnb-raises-another-1-billion-in-debt.html | url-status=live }}

{{#section-h::Lodging|Regulations by jurisdiction}}

The company has been criticized for possibly enabling increases in home rents,{{cite news |last1=Barron |first1=Kyle |last2=Kung |first2=Edward |last3=Proserpio |first3=Davide |date=April 17, 2019 |title=Research: When Airbnb Listings in a City Increase, So Do Rent Prices |work=Harvard Business Review |url=https://hbr.org/2019/04/research-when-airbnb-listings-in-a-city-increase-so-do-rent-prices |access-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210140814/https://hbr.org/2019/04/research-when-airbnb-listings-in-a-city-increase-so-do-rent-prices |url-status=live }} refusing to provide sensitive customer data to governments, and allowing listings in West Bank settlements. Airbnb has been criticized by the hotel industry for not being subject to fair regulations.{{cite news |last=Ferré-Sadurní |first=Luis |date=October 30, 2019 |title=Where a $5 Million War Rages Between Airbnb and the Hotel Industry |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/30/nyregion/jersey-city-airbnb-vote.html |url-access=limited |access-date=December 5, 2020 |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211165835/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/30/nyregion/jersey-city-airbnb-vote.html |url-status=live }} Critics have also noted how Airbnb resists sharing its listing data with regulators, often citing privacy protections as its reason for not cooperating.{{cite journal |last1=Monahan |first1=Torin |title=Recoding the City: Cultural Mediation of Short-term Rental Platforms in the US |journal=Cultural Studies |date=2021 |volume=35 |issue=4–5 |pages=946–967 |doi=10.1080/09502386.2021.1895258|s2cid=233835477 }}

Several studies have found that long-term rental prices in many areas have increased because landlords have kept properties off the longer-term rental market to instead get higher rental rates for short-term housing via Airbnb.{{Cite news | url=https://hbr.org/2021/11/research-restricting-airbnb-rentals-reduces-development | title=Research: Restricting Airbnb Rentals Reduces Development | access-date=October 15, 2023 | archive-date=July 9, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709161654/https://hbr.org/2021/11/research-restricting-airbnb-rentals-reduces-development | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/garybarker/2020/02/21/the-airbnb-effect-on-housing-and-rent/ | title=The Airbnb Effect On Housing And Rent | first=Gary | last=Barker | work=Forbes | date=February 21, 2020 | url-access=limited | access-date=October 15, 2023 | archive-date=July 9, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709161639/https://www.forbes.com/sites/garybarker/2020/02/21/the-airbnb-effect-on-housing-and-rent/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | last1=Barron | first1=Kyle | last2=Kung | first2=Edward | last3=Proserpio | first3=Davide | title=The Sharing Economy and Housing Affordability: Evidence from Airbnb | date=October 5, 2017 | ssrn=3006832}}{{cite web | url=https://marketing.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/09.05.2019-Proserpio-Davide-Paper.pdf | title=The Effect of Home-Sharing on House Prices and Rents: Evidence from Airbnb | first1=Kyle | last1=Barron | first2=Edward | last2=Kung | first3=Davide | last3=Proserpio | work=University of Pennsylvania | date=August 2019 | access-date=October 15, 2023 | archive-date=October 22, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022043856/https://marketing.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/09.05.2019-Proserpio-Davide-Paper.pdf | url-status=live }}{{cite news | last=Thompson | first=Derek | title=Airbnb and the Unintended Consequences of 'Disruption' | url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/02/airbnb-hotels-disruption/553556/ | work=The Atlantic | date=February 17, 2018 | access-date=February 18, 2018 | archive-date=February 18, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218145339/https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2018/02/airbnb-hotels-disruption/553556/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45083954 | title=What Airbnb really does to a neighbourhood | first=Daniel | last=Guttentag | work=BBC News | date=August 30, 2018 | archive-date=April 28, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428222528/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45083954 | url-status=live }}{{cite news | first=SARAH | last=HOLDER | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-01/airbnb-increases-home-prices-yet-escapes-regulation | title=The Airbnb Effect: It's Not Just Rising Home Prices | work=Bloomberg News | date=February 1, 2019| archive-date=March 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318090536/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-01/airbnb-increases-home-prices-yet-escapes-regulation | url-status=live }} Inside Airbnb, a watchdog journalism website, has accused the company of manipulating its data to portray a different result.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/2017/02/a-lone-data-whiz-is-fighting-airbnb-and-winning/ | title=A Lone Data Whiz Is Fighting Airbnb — and Winning | first=Miranda | last=Katz | magazine=Wired | date=February 10, 2017 | url-access=limited | access-date=September 20, 2018 | archive-date=September 21, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921000131/https://www.wired.com/2017/02/a-lone-data-whiz-is-fighting-airbnb-and-winning/ | url-status=live }} Landlords have also been accused of illegally evicting tenants to convert properties into higher-rent Airbnb listings.{{cite news | url=https://prospect.org/article/evictions-and-conversions-dark-side-airbnb | title=The Unsavory Side of Airbnb | first=Steven | last=Hill | work=The American Prospect | date=October 19, 2015 | archive-date=April 10, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410171641/https://prospect.org/article/evictions-and-conversions-dark-side-airbnb | url-status=live }} Concerns on the effect of Airbnb on housing affordability has resulted in increased lodging regulations and restrictions, which have generally been opposed by Airbnb via lobbying efforts.{{Cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/airbnb-lobby-msps-every-month-bs8scg2r5 | title=Airbnb lobby MSPs every month | first=Emma | last=Yeomans | work=The Times | date=August 7, 2019 | url-access=limited | access-date=October 14, 2019 | archive-date=October 14, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014111009/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/airbnb-lobby-msps-every-month-bs8scg2r5 | url-status=live }} This phenomenon has been dubbed the "Airbnb effect".{{Cite news |last=Zee |first=Renate van der |date=2016-10-06 |title=The 'Airbnb effect': is it real, and what is it doing to a city like Amsterdam? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/oct/06/the-airbnb-effect-amsterdam-fairbnb-property-prices-communities |access-date=2024-11-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

{{See also|List of companies operating in West Bank settlements}}

In November 2018, Airbnb announced that it would remove the approximately 200 "listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians". However, after affected property owners filed lawsuits against Airbnb in both Israel and the United States alleging discrimination based on place of residence, in April 2019, the company reversed its plans to remove listings in the West Bank and instead promised to donate any profits from these listings to non-profit organizations dedicated to humanitarian aid.{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/09/world/middleeast/airbnb-israel-west-bank.html | title=Airbnb Reverses Policy Banning Listings in Israeli Settlements in West Bank | first=Julia | last=Jacobs | work=The New York Times | date=April 9, 2019 | url-access=limited | access-date=September 23, 2022 | archive-date=September 23, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923033358/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/09/world/middleeast/airbnb-israel-west-bank.html | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5148940/airbnb-west-bank-settlements/ | title=Airbnb reverses ban on West Bank rentals, pledges to send proceeds to aid organizations | first1=Dan | last1=Williams | first2=Brendan | last2=Pierson | agency=Reuters | publisher=Global News | date=April 9, 2019 | access-date=June 26, 2019 | archive-date=June 26, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626190143/https://globalnews.ca/news/5148940/airbnb-west-bank-settlements/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5492235,00.html | title=Airbnb reverses on delisting Israeli settlements, won't profit off West Bank | agency=Reuters | publisher=Ynet | date=October 4, 2019 | access-date=June 26, 2019 | archive-date=June 26, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626190143/https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5492235,00.html | url-status=live }}

According to 2020 and 2023 reports by the United Nations, the company continues to violate International Human Rights, profiting from illegal Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestinian Territories.{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Database Pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 31/36 |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/regular-sessions/session31/database-hrc3136 |access-date=October 28, 2023 |archive-date=October 19, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019095533/https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/regular-sessions/session31/database-hrc3136 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=UN rights office issues report on business activities related to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/02/un-rights-office-issues-report-business-activities-related-settlements}} On February 12, 2020, Airbnb was included on a list of companies operating in West Bank settlements involved in activities that "raised particular human rights concerns" published by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The company was categorized under "the provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements".{{cite news |date=February 12, 2020 |title=UN rights office issues report on business activities related to settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory |publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25542 |url-status=live |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709093910/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=25542 |archive-date=July 9, 2021}}{{cite news |date=February 14, 2020 |title=Database of all business enterprises involved in certain activities relating to Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank (A/HRC/43/71) |publisher=ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/database-all-business-enterprises-involved-certain-activities |url-status=live |access-date=July 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183439/https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/database-all-business-enterprises-involved-certain-activities |archive-date=July 9, 2021}}

Airbnb has been criticized by the hotel industry due to its competitive effects and its different regulations. This has led to a decline in hotel revenue in some markets and an increase in lobbying by the hotel industry.{{Cite book |last=Chen |first=Yong |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nu0lEAAAQBAJ&dq=The+Impact+of+AirBnb+on+Hotels+and+Hospitality+Industry&pg=PA241 |title=Economics of Tourism and Hospitality: A Micro Approach |date=2021-05-13 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-37238-0 |access-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210012810/https://books.google.com/books?id=Nu0lEAAAQBAJ&dq=The+Impact+of+AirBnb+on+Hotels+and+Hospitality+Industry&pg=PA241 |url-status=live }}{{Cite journal |last1=Oskam |first1=Jeroen |last2=Boswijk |first2=Albert |date=2016-01-01 |title=Airbnb: the future of networked hospitality businesses |journal=Journal of Tourism Futures |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=22–42 |doi=10.1108/JTF-11-2015-0048 |issn=2055-5911|doi-access=free }}{{Cite book |last1=Nuno |first1=Gustavo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5G9bEAAAQBAJ&dq=The+Impact+of+AirBnb+on+Hotels+and+Hospitality+Industry&pg=PA260 |title=Optimizing Digital Solutions for Hyper-Personalization in Tourism and Hospitality |last2=João |first2=Pronto |last3=Luísa |first3=Carvalho |last4=Miguel |first4=Belo |date=2022-02-19 |publisher=IGI Global |isbn=978-1-7998-8308-1 |language=en |access-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-date=February 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210020924/https://books.google.com/books?id=5G9bEAAAQBAJ&dq=The+Impact+of+AirBnb+on+Hotels+and+Hospitality+Industry&pg=PA260 |url-status=live }}

Airbnb is one of the few major travel companies without a loyalty program, which has led to criticism by many customers. This is in part attributed to its lack of business customers, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-vrbo-loyalty-program-c72306f |title=Why Doesn't Airbnb Have a Loyalty Program Like Everyone Else? |first=Allison |last=Pohle |date=July 19, 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 24, 2023 |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709162147/https://www.wsj.com/articles/airbnb-vrbo-loyalty-program-c72306f |url-status=live }}

Airbnb features a review system in which guests and hosts can rate and review each other after a stay. Hosts and guests are unable to see reviews until both have submitted a review or until the time period to review has closed, a system that aims to improve accuracy and objectivity by removing fears that users will receive a negative review in retaliation if they write one. However, the truthfulness and impartiality of reviews may be adversely affected by concerns of future stays because prospective hosts may refuse to host a user who generally leaves negative reviews. The company's policy requires users to forego anonymity, which may also detract from users' willingness to leave negative reviews. These factors may damage the objectivity of the review system.{{cite news | url=https://www.inc.com/sonya-mann/airbnb-nightmare-experiences.html | title=Why Airbnb Reviews Don't Tell the Whole Story | first=Sonya | last=Mann | work=Inc. | date=May 3, 2017 | access-date=March 3, 2018 | archive-date=October 16, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016033436/https://www.inc.com/sonya-mann/airbnb-nightmare-experiences.html | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/why-airbnb-reviews-are-a-problem-for-the-site-2015-6 | title=Why Airbnb reviews are a problem for the site | first=Molly | last=Mulshine | work=Business Insider | date=June 18, 2015 | access-date=April 20, 2019 | archive-date=June 5, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605181837/https://www.businessinsider.com/why-airbnb-reviews-are-a-problem-for-the-site-2015-6 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://mashable.com/2015/05/18/airbnb-reviews/ | title=Why you should think twice before trusting Airbnb reviews | first=Erica | last=Ho | work=Mashable | date=May 19, 2015 | access-date=March 3, 2018 | archive-date=March 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180304172327/https://mashable.com/2015/05/18/airbnb-reviews/ | url-status=live }}

In February 2025, Airbnb cofounder and board member Joe Gebbia joined the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).{{Cite news |last=Schleifer |first=Theodore |last2=Nehamas |first2=Nicholas |date=2025-02-14 |title=Billionaire Airbnb Co-Founder Is Said to Take Role in Musk's Government Initiative |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/us/politics/airbnb-joe-gebbia-musk-doge.html |access-date=2025-02-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Concern that Gebbia's work for DOGE undermines U.S. democracy resulted in widespread calls to boycott Airbnb.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-20 |title=Airbnb faces boycott calls |url=https://www.newsweek.com/airbnb-boycott-calls-joe-gebbia-elon-musk-doge-2033847 |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}

In August 2017, Airbnb cancelled numerous bookings and closed accounts belonging to attendees of the white supremacist Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, citing its terms of service in which members must "accept people regardless of their race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age."{{cite news | last=Bromwich | first=Jonah Engel | title=Airbnb Cancels Accounts Linked to White Nationalist Rally in Charlottesville | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/us/airbnb-white-nationalists-supremacists.html | work=The New York Times | date=August 9, 2017 | url-access=limited | access-date=September 20, 2018 | archive-date=August 10, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810212541/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/us/airbnb-white-nationalists-supremacists.html | url-status=live }} The move was criticized by Jason Kessler, organizer of the rally.{{cite news | first1=Madison | last1=Park | first2=Chris | last2=Boyette | title=Airbnb removes users affiliated with white nationalists' rally | url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/09/us/airbnb-cancels-bookings-white-nationalists-rally/index.html | publisher=CNN | date=August 9, 2017 | access-date=March 24, 2019 | archive-date=March 24, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324031704/https://www.cnn.com/2017/08/09/us/airbnb-cancels-bookings-white-nationalists-rally/index.html | url-status=live }}

In January 2021, Airbnb was criticized for allowing participants in the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol to book units on the platform in the Washington metropolitan area, despite most hotels in the vicinity of Capitol Hill banning far-right extremists.{{cite news | first=Ruth | last=Tam | title=Trump Insurrectionists Lodge At D.C. Airbnbs — Much To Washingtonians' Distress | url=https://www.npr.org/local/305/2021/01/08/954954032/trump-insurrectionists-lodge-at-d-c-airbnbs-much-to-washingtonians-distress | work=NPR | date=January 7, 2021 | archive-date=August 14, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814202406/https://dcist.com/story/21/01/07/trump-insurrectionists-stay-at-dc-airbnbs-worrying-washingtonians/ | url-status=live}} After the possibility of further violence during the Inauguration of Joe Biden, Airbnb announced the day after the Capitol raid that it was banning all bookings in the region prior to the inauguration.{{cite news | first=Ashley | last=Fetters Malloy | title=Before Airbnb canceled inauguration reservations, hosts took matters into their own hands | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/01/12/airbnb-inauguration-dc-rental/ | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=January 13, 2021 | url-access=limited | access-date=August 14, 2022 | archive-date=January 19, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119143823/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/01/12/airbnb-inauguration-dc-rental/ | url-status=live }}

In 2023, Airbnb was criticized by conservative media for removing the parents of Canadian far-right activist Lauren Southern from its platform. Airbnb quickly reversed its decision, saying it had been a "mistake".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/19/tech/airbnb-whistleblower-complaint-dangerous-organizations-team|title=Airbnb undermined team that removed extremist users, whistleblower claims|date=June 20, 2024|website=CNN|last=Duffy|first=Clare}}

In May 2024, a former Airbnb contractor alleged in a whistleblower complaint that the company had weakened its policies against extremists and dissolved its team for removing them. Airbnb denied the allegations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/whistleblower-airbnb-policies-extremists-hate-groups-rcna157536|title=Whistleblower alleges Airbnb weakened its policies on extremists and hate groups|date=June 19, 2024|website=NBC News|last=Zadrozny|first=Brandy|author-link=Brandy Zadrozny|access-date=October 31, 2024|archive-date=August 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827060103/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/whistleblower-airbnb-policies-extremists-hate-groups-rcna157536|url-status=live}}

Airbnb was one of the 15 leading sponsors of the 2022 Winter Olympics, held in Beijing, and was asked by human rights activists and groups to drop its sponsorship in March 2021 as part of diplomatic and activist boycotts over alleged human rights violations by the Chinese Communist Party, in particular the persecution of Uyghurs in China. These requests were ignored by the company.{{Cite news | title=Airbnb asked to drop Olympic ties over China rights issues | url=https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-beijing-2020-tokyo-olympics-china-olympic-games-c94f6ff2289cf26b0c6395423dc74e33 | first=STEPHEN | last=WADE | publisher=Associated Press | date=March 23, 2021 | access-date=February 8, 2022 | archive-date=February 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208205914/https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-beijing-2020-tokyo-olympics-china-olympic-games-c94f6ff2289cf26b0c6395423dc74e33 | url-status=live }}{{Cite web | title=The Olympic Partner Program | url=https://olympics.com/ioc/partners | publisher=Olympics.com | access-date=February 8, 2022 | archive-date=February 8, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208205906/https://olympics.com/ioc/partners | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/01/beijing-winter-olympics-ioc-china-sponsors-coke-airbnb-visa/ | title=Olympic Sponsors Have "Entirely Ghosted" Activists Ahead of the Beijing Games | first=Dan | last=Spinelli | work=Mother Jones | date=January 21, 2022 | access-date=September 23, 2022 | archive-date=September 23, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923051745/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/01/beijing-winter-olympics-ioc-china-sponsors-coke-airbnb-visa/ | url-status=live }}{{Cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/01/16/olympics-sponsors-china-human-rights/ | title=The U.S. government is boycotting the Beijing Olympics over human rights. Coke and Airbnb are still on board. | first=Jeanne | last=Whalen | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=January 16, 2022 | url-access=limited | issn=0190-8286 | access-date=February 8, 2022 | archive-date=February 21, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221084759/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2022/01/16/olympics-sponsors-china-human-rights/ | url-status=live }}

In 2014, linguist Mark Liberman criticized the extreme length of the legal agreements that Airbnb members are required to accept, with the site's terms of service, privacy policy, and other policies amounting to "55081 words, or about the size of a short novel, though much less readable".{{cite news |last=Liberman |first=Mark |date=April 10, 2014 |title=We're updating our novel-length Terms of Service? |url=https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=11707 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923033404/https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=11707 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2022 |publisher=Language Log}}

Hosts have been accused of circumventing tax regulations,{{Cite news |last=Poma |first=Luca |author-link=Luca Poma |date=October 22, 2020 |title=AIRB&B: WHEN DISHONEST CONDUCT SULLIES A LOVEMARK |url=https://creatoridifuturo.it/articoli-luca-poma/airbb-autenticita-lovemark/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923041746/https://creatoridifuturo.it/articoli-luca-poma/airbb-autenticita-lovemark/ |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2022 |work=creatoridifuturo.it}} circumventing Airbnb's background checks and subjecting guests to last-minute cancellations, moldy or rodent-infested lodging, theft, invasion of privacy, and even rape and murder,{{Cite news |last=Agerholm |first=Harriet |date=December 9, 2017 |title=Airbnb guest finds corpse in garden |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/airbnb-dangerous-loopholes-corpse-garden-a8101371.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210182845/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/airbnb-dangerous-loopholes-corpse-garden-a8101371.html |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |work=The Independent}}{{cite news |last=Ellson |first=Andrew |date=December 9, 2017 |title=The rotting corpse and other Airbnb horror stories |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/the-rotting-corpse-and-other-airbnb-horror-stories-x0pgw6csx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524004308/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-rotting-corpse-and-other-airbnb-horror-stories-x0pgw6csx |archive-date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=May 23, 2018 |work=The Times |issn=0140-0460}}{{cite news |last=Bershidsky |first=Leonid |date=December 12, 2017 |title=Airbnb, Like Uber, Needs to Grow Up |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-12-12/airbnb-like-uber-needs-to-grow-up |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214110342/https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-12-12/airbnb-like-uber-needs-to-grow-up |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |access-date=May 23, 2018 |publisher=Bloomberg News}}{{cite news |last=Alini |first=Erica |date=January 11, 2018 |title=Review of Airbnb horror stories finds 'multiple dangerous loopholes and scams' |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/3953963/airbnb-scams/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524010939/https://globalnews.ca/news/3953963/airbnb-scams/ |archive-date=May 24, 2018 |access-date=May 23, 2018 |publisher=Global News}} as well as bait-and-switch scams in which the guest does not receive the promised accommodation.{{cite news |last=Conti |first=Allie |date=October 31, 2019 |title=I Accidentally Uncovered a Nationwide Scam on Airbnb |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/nationwide-fake-host-scam-on-airbnb/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207021654/https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/43k7z3/nationwide-fake-host-scam-on-airbnb |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |work=Vice Media}}{{cite magazine |last=Temperton |first=James |date=February 11, 2020 |title=I stumbled across a huge Airbnb scam that's taking over London |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/airbnb-scam-london |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317213450/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/airbnb-scam-london |archive-date=March 17, 2020 |access-date=March 17, 2020 |magazine=Wired}} Airbnb has noted that the number of these incidents is not statistically significant and has banned violators and associated accounts.{{cite web |last=Strachan |first=Maxwell |date=March 2023 |title=Airbnb Is Banning People Who Are 'Closely Associated' With Already-Banned Users |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3pajy/airbnb-is-banning-people-who-are-closely-associated-with-already-banned-users |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301145005/https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3pajy/airbnb-is-banning-people-who-are-closely-associated-with-already-banned-users |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |access-date=March 1, 2023 |website=Vice |publisher=VICE Media Group}}

In July 2024, CNN noted that Airbnb includes significant disclaimers on some of its policies, such as notifying users that its background checks should not be relied on to identify "all past criminal convictions or sex offender registrations … or other red flags" and that convictions for "murder, terrorism, rape or child molestation" are not automatic disqualifiers for a host.{{Cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Isabelle |last2=Kamp |first2=Majlie de Puy |last3=Ash |first3=Audrey |date=2024-07-09 |title=How Airbnb fails to protect guests from hidden cameras |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/09/business/airbnb-hidden-camera-invs/index.html |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=CNN Business |language=en}}

There have been incidents of hosts secretly recording their guests using hidden cameras, including in areas such as bedrooms and bathrooms.{{Cite web |last=Fussell |first=Sidney |date=2019-03-26 |title=Airbnb Has a Hidden-Camera Problem |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/03/what-happens-when-you-find-cameras-your-airbnb/585007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709162214/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/03/what-happens-when-you-find-cameras-your-airbnb/585007/ |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Guzman |first=Chad de |date=2024-03-12 |title=Why Airbnb Is Banning Cameras in Rentals |url=https://time.com/6900117/airbnb-indoor-cameras-ban-privacy-policy-lawsuits/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709162301/https://time.com/6900117/airbnb-indoor-cameras-ban-privacy-policy-lawsuits/ |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=2024-07-09 |magazine=Time |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gizmodo |first=Matt Novak / |date=2024-04-29 |title=They found cameras in their Airbnb. Here are their disturbing stories |url=https://qz.com/airbnb-hidden-cameras-stories-reports-complaints-ftc-1851442432 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709162724/https://qz.com/airbnb-hidden-cameras-stories-reports-complaints-ftc-1851442432 |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=Quartz |language=en}} Publications such as The Washington Post{{Cite news |last=Compton |first=Natalie B. |date=2021-09-15 |title=Does your Airbnb or hotel have a hidden camera? Experts share tips for protecting yourself. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/airbnb-hidden-camera-tiktok/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=January 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240121171547/https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/airbnb-hidden-camera-tiktok/ |url-status=live }} and Fast Company{{Cite magazine |last=Grothaus |first=Michael |date=April 15, 2019 |title=How to find hidden cameras in your Airbnb, and anywhere else |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90331449/how-to-find-hidden-cameras-in-your-airbnb-and-anywhere-else |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709162723/https://www.fastcompany.com/90331449/how-to-find-hidden-cameras-in-your-airbnb-and-anywhere-else |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=July 9, 2024 |magazine=Fast Company}} have published guides on how to find hidden cameras in an Airbnb rental. In a 2023 deposition, an Airbnb employee testified that the company does not notify law enforcement as a matter of practice when a complaint of a hidden camera is raised, but may contact hosts about complaints for its internal inquiries. Law enforcement experts said the company's practice could hinder criminal investigations due to suspects having time to destroy evidence.

In March 2024, Airbnb announced a ban on indoor cameras for properties listed on the site, scheduled to take effect on April 30. The changes also involve a requirement for hosts to disclose the use of noise-decibel monitoring equipment.{{cite web |last1=Malik |first1=Aisha |date=11 March 2024 |title=Airbnb is banning indoor security cameras inside its listings |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/11/airbnb-is-banning-indoor-security-cameras-inside-its-listings/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240709162730/https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/11/airbnb-is-banning-indoor-security-cameras-inside-its-listings/ |archive-date=July 9, 2024 |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=TechCrunch}} A CNN investigation published in July 2024 found that Airbnb "consistently fails to protect its guests despite knowing hidden cameras are a persistent concern within its industry" and that the strategies it relies on "have been aimed at preventing regulation of the short-term rental market to allow the company to distance itself from responsibility for guest safety and privacy."

Many governments have passed laws requiring that Airbnb provide guest information so that local regulations can be enforced and hotel taxes are collected. Airbnb contested one such law in New York.{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Zoe |date=July 18, 2018 |title=New York City Looks to Crack Down on Airbnb Amid Housing Crisis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/nyregion/new-york-city-airbnb-crackdown.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206134016/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/18/nyregion/new-york-city-airbnb-crackdown.html |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite news |last1=Weiser |first1=Benjamin |last2=Goodman |first2=J. David |date=January 3, 2019 |title=Judge Blocks New York City Law Aimed at Curbing Airbnb Rentals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/nyregion/nyc-airbnb-rentals.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207073348/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/nyregion/nyc-airbnb-rentals.html |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |work=The New York Times}} However, in May 2019, Airbnb agreed to turn over some anonymized information for approximately 17,000 listings so that the city could pursue illegal rentals.{{Cite news |last=Martineau |first=Paris |date=May 24, 2019 |title=Airbnb and New York City Reach a Truce on Home-Sharing Data |url=https://www.wired.com/story/airbnb-new-york-city-reach-truce-on-home-sharing-data/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110122258/https://www.wired.com/story/airbnb-new-york-city-reach-truce-on-home-sharing-data/ |archive-date=November 10, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |magazine=Wired}} Similar cases were settled in Boston and Miami.{{Cite magazine |last=Martineau |first=Paris |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Airbnb Starts to Play Nice With Cities |url=https://www.wired.com/story/airbnb-starts-play-nice-cities/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207084225/https://www.wired.com/story/airbnb-starts-play-nice-cities/ |archive-date=December 7, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2019 |magazine=Wired}}

Airbnb refused to provide required information to the Belgian government, claiming the obligation to provide the information was not compatible with European Union law. The Belgian Constitutional Court referred the dispute to the European Court of Justice, which in April 2022 ruled that the requirement to transmit to tax authorities certain particulars of tourist transactions was not contrary to European Union law and referred the case back to the Belgian Constitutional Court.{{Cite news |last=Chalmers |first=John |date=April 27, 2022 |title=EU court rejects Airbnb plea on Belgian information for tax authorities |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/eu-court-rejects-airbnb-plea-information-tax-authorities-2022-04-27/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923033404/https://www.reuters.com/business/eu-court-rejects-airbnb-plea-information-tax-authorities-2022-04-27/ |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2022 |publisher=Reuters}}

In March 2020, a subdistrict court ruling in the Netherlands found that Airbnb charging service fees to both the host and the guest was illegal and that the 30,000 people who had rented as guests have a right for reimbursement if they file claims. Airbnb filed countersuits in an attempt to gain clarity on the ruling.{{Cite news |date=September 14, 2020 |title=Airbnb makes 'power play' in Dutch high court to retain right to 'double fees' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/sep/14/airbnb-appeals-to-dutch-high-court-retain-double-fees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401031418/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/sep/14/airbnb-appeals-to-dutch-high-court-retain-double-fees |archive-date=April 1, 2021 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |work=The Guardian}}

• Holiday cottage
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{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Stone |first=Brad |authorlink=Brad Stone (journalist) |date=2017 |title=The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb, and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World |edition=1st |location=New York |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |isbn=978-0-316-38839-9 |oclc=953598607}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Finance links

| name = Airbnb, Inc.

| symbol = ABNB

| reuters = ABNB.O

| bloomberg = ABNB:US

| sec_cik = 1559720

| yahoo = ABNB

| google = ABNB:NASDAQ

}}

• {{OpenCorp|Airbnb}}

{{Andreessen Horowitz}}

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{{Authority control}}

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