“Over the last 20 years, Airbnb has spent billions on brand building as the authentic, novel and community-led alternative to hotels. But, are they really? In this article, I will use data from InsideAirbnb to reveal Airbnb’s ownership patterns. Then, I’ll walk you through how I came to my conclusions so you can do the same for your city. I am sure you’ve seen the Airbnb ads featuring over-smiling hosts greeting guests in vibrant tourist-loving neighbourhoods. If you haven’t, check this one out: I’ve personally been on Airbnb for over 5 years and even though I’ve stayed in very quirky and authentic places (my favourite has to be a Shepherd’s Hut with a horse outside the door) I’ve recently realised that my recent experiences don’t live up to the expectations of Airbnb’s marketing. Last week I stayed at an Airbnb for a weekend. I did a little treasure hunt involving unlocking many padlocks to find the keys. And I opened the door to a spotless flat which looked exactly like the pictures. But I was surprised to see no books or candles. It was completely empty, like no one had ever really lived there. The next day I didn’t meet any neighbours. I didn’t receive any restaurant recommendations from my host. And on the last day I left, leaving the keys inside, no one to wave me goodbye. I thought, have I just stayed in a hotel? Is this what Airbnb has turned into?

…when booking accommodation from a “real estate investor” or host with a large portfolio of listings, we’ll likely be staying in a hotel-like business which has bought flats around the city to rent out. In that case, our host’s motivations will be primarily financial. Our stay will have been optimised for profit rather than the personal, local touch that Airbnb promised through its marketing. Essentially, the only real difference from a hotel stay will be access to a kitchen…”