Professional Association of Innkeepers International Position Statement on Short-Term Rental Legality, Fairness, and Safety

Professional Association of Innkeepers International Position Statement on Short-Term Rental Legality, Fairness, and Safety 

Addendum August 24, 2015 

The PAII Board of Directors takes exception with AIHP’s "Voice of Innkeeping" newsletter of August 20th using its "voice" to advocate on behalf of Airbnb, a company that ignores the fact that many of its listed properties blatantly and openly operate illegally throughout the country. 

We question how any Industry Leader could align itself with a party that turns a blind eye toward blatant violations of the law and still claim to represent the good, honest and legal Innkeepers, who have been playing by the rules, yet continue to lose market share and pricing power to a company that clearly does not have the best interests of Professional Innkeepers in mind or heart. 

• PAII has previously stated that every B&B/Inn should also list on Airbnb and get their part of the expected 74 million bookings that are projected for Airbnb in 2015. Please list with Airbnb - and when you do - clearly state that you are a legal B&B/Inn that is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. If you need help getting listed on Airbnb - we can help. 

• PAII also believes that the laws, regulations, codes and rules that apply to short term lodging properties are, in some cases, in need of updating and/or modification, and we are working at Federal, State and Local Government levels across the country to make this happen. PAII wants to foster laws, regulations and codes that are easy to understand and universal in their application. 

• PAII absolutely believes that all Properties that offer short term lodging must adhere to all applicable Federal, State and Local Government laws, rules, regulations, codes, insurance requirements and ordinances to ensure that all guests have a safe, secure and comfortable lodging experience. Unfortunately, Airbnb does not require this of their member listings. As the media reports have repeatedly shown, Airbnb will frequently pay applicable taxes only when forced to, and essentially makes adherence a choice, not a requirement, for the listed properties - sometimes resulting in properties being fined ($25,000 in one recent example) because they did not comply with applicable laws and regulations. 

• PAII will continue to work for our member properties, State B&B Associations, and like minded Hospitality Industry Leaders (e.g. AH&LA) and for all B&B/Inns, to ensure that all properties that offer short term lodging adhere to all applicable laws, rules, regulations, codes, insurance requirements and ordinances. If a short term lodging property needs help "getting legal" - we can help. 

• PAII would be happy to work with Airbnb to provide information, instruction, suggestions, and training to its member properties, and to the Airbnb leadership and staff, in how to be in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and rules. 

• All guests staying at a short term lodging property should know, whether booking through Airbnb, Expedia or a B&B/Inn web site, that they will have a safe, secure, comfortable experience at a legal lodging facility that has a positive guest experience as their primary goal. 

PAII will continue to “Advocate” for all Innkeepers in this “changing world”, but recognizes that all changes are not necessarily good for our industry and its customers. PAII fully supports all professionally operated legal B&B/Inns and will fight to see that ALL lodging establishments play by the rules.

Click on the image for a larger version of AIHP's statement