Airbnb News

Molokai Homeowners Sue Maui Over Vacation Rental Permits

A vacation rental association and four homeowners have filed a federal lawsuit against the county of Maui claiming their rights have been violated by restrictions placed on short-term vacation rentals on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. In a statement released …

Gaining a Risk Manager Seat at Technology’s Table: Interview with RIMS Leader Langone

The culture at technology startups like Uber, Airbnb and PayPal is all about risk-taking. They start by offering a unique, untested or reimagined product or service or by disrupting an industry’s established production, distribution or sales methods. To succeed long-term, …

Lawmakers Question Airbnb Over Rental Listings in Violation of Local Laws

U.S. lawmakers are asking Airbnb Inc. to provide information about hosts that list short-term rentals on the site who don’t comply with local laws and violate the company’s own policies. In a letter to Airbnb Chief Executive Officer Brian Chesky, …

‘Party Houses’ Banned by Airbnb After California Shooting Kills 5

Airbnb’s CEO said the company was taking actions against unauthorized parties in the wake of a deadly shooting at a Halloween party held at an Airbnb rental home in California. In a series of tweets, Brian Chesky said Saturday the …

City Council in Hawaii Advances Vacation Rental Bills

The Honolulu City Council has advanced two bills aimed at providing regulations on short-term vacation rentals on Oahu. Both bills now go back to the Council Planning Committee, as interim Council Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi proposes a new draft of Bill …

Airbnb Loses Huge Battle Over California City’s Rental Law

Airbnb Inc. and Expedia Group Inc.’s HomeAway failed to persuade a U.S. court of appeals to strike down a Santa Monica law that makes the companies liable for illicit rentals in the Southern California beach city. The ruling Wednesday by …

Rental Vacation Home Owners in Hawaii Sued over Fines

Kauai officials are suing the owners of a vacation home, claiming they are violating county zoning ordinances for using the property as a short-term rental. The Garden Island reports the Kauai County Planning Department filed the lawsuit last week, seeking …

Airbnb Generates $1.1M in Wyoming Taxes, 56k Visitor Stays

Online hospitality company Airbnb says its hosts generated about $1.1 million in tax revenue during the first year of its agreement with the state of Wyoming. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that Airbnb started collecting and remitting taxes on behalf …

Airbnb Will No Longer Require Arbitration for Employee Bias and Harassment Claims

Airbnb Inc., following Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Facebook Inc. and Uber Technologies Inc., said it would not force employees who filed sexual harassment claims to settle those cases in private arbitration. Airbnb also said it would not require employees to use …

Hawaii Panel Advances Vacation Rental Regulations

A Big Island panel has advanced a measure that would prohibit short-term vacation rentals in residential and agricultural zones. The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee approved the measure’s fifth draft this week after the ordinance has been in the works …