Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressNovember 28, 2016

When Randall Baker began renting out a pair of College Park cottages through Airbnb, he says he thought he had done everything right. He had a business license through the state and tax receipts from the city and county. But after a neighbor complained, Orlando code enforcement determined Baker was violating zoning rules. Though he […]

Peter SchorschNovember 18, 2016

Home-sharing company Airbnb announced Thursday that it would start adding “Trips” – bookable, curated experiences – to its platform. “Until now, Airbnb has been about homes,” said CEO Brian Chesky. “Today, Airbnb is launching Trips, bringing together where you stay, what you do, and the people you meet all in one place. We want to […]

Peter SchorschNovember 14, 2016

Much like how Uber and other ride-hailing apps toppled the taxi industry, home-sharing platform Airbnb has revolutionized the way people travel, and hotel companies aren’t the only ones taking notice. Since the site took off, critics have pointed to the questionable legality of whole-home rentals, which are prohibited in many municipalities for periods less than […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 2, 2016

Airbnb scored a touchdown in Florida college towns this football season. A new report from the home-sharing company showed the hundreds of Airbnb listings in Tallahassee and Gainesville “substantially increased the cities’ lodging capacity for football games,” allowing both communities to host more visitors during home games. And a boost in lodging options means football […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 26, 2016

Support for Airbnb continues to grow. New research released Tuesday shows 67 percent of Americans said they supported a sharing economy. That support grew to 74 percent among millennials, typically people between the ages of 18 and 34 years old. That support for a sharing economy bodes well for Airbnb, which found 50 percent of […]

Scott PowersJuly 20, 2016

The home-sharing tourism company Airbnb reported Tuesday morning that its service arranged for 754,000 visitors to stay in 16,100 private homes in Florida in 2015. The most popular place for the home-based lodging program was the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market, which accounted for almost half of all the private homes participating and more than half of the visitors. […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerJuly 18, 2016

Tallahassee’s decision to become the first Florida city to eliminate the business license tax will open up the state capital to more economic opportunities and help develop innovative companies like Airbnb, Mayor Andrew Gillum said. Gillum and the city commission voted unanimously last week to eliminate the business license tax — paid by about 12,000 businesses […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 5, 2016

Tomas Martinelli is leaving his post at the Florida Department of Transportation and joining the team at Airbnb. Martinelli announced his move in an email Sunday. “As you may know, the people-powered platform and the culture that steers Airbnb makes this opportunity/project an exciting one,” he said. “Although, it wasn’t easy leaving the best agency in […]

Ryan RayMay 25, 2016

The American Hotel and Lodging Association says Airbnb “landlords” raked in some $76 million on grey or black market transactions last year in Miami alone. The group released the results of a new study on a conference call with reporters Tuesday, which looked at 14 major markets’ activity in the short-term rental sector, led by […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 15, 2016

Four more Florida counties have worked out agreements with Airbnb to allow the company to collect and remit hotel and tourist taxes. In April, Airbnb began collecting the taxes in Lee, Orange and Brevard counties. The company will start collecting taxes in Hernando County on May 1. “Our community — the vast majority of whom […]

Tag: Airbnb

Orlando grapples with Airbnb, other rental networks

Airbnb to add ‘Trips,’ curated local tours, experiences

Claims Airbnb is ruining neighborhoods is more sharing-economy fear-mongering

Airbnb hosts in Tallahassee, Gainesville score during football season

New survey shows 73% of Americans support Airbnb operating in their community

Airbnb reports 16,000 Florida homes rented for 750K visitors

By eliminating business license tax, Tallahassee lays out welcome mat for Airbnb

Personnel note: Tomas Martinelli headed to Airbnb

Hotels group says Airbnb reaping millions in illegal South Florida revenue

Airbnb collecting hotel, tourist taxes in more Florida counties