HomeAway Backs Airbnb in Battle with Cities
Skift Take
HomeAway is not about to be another Booking.com, but Google is going to get a new and large global customer when the vacation rental site ramps up its search engine marketing, probably next year.
Airbnb has a true frenemy in HomeAway as the vacation rental company's CEO, Brian Sharples, said the two businesses share the goal of pursuing "fair regulation" in cities that would enable people to make money off their real estate investments.
Sharples, speaking during HomeAway first quarter earnings call today, characterised the regulatory environment as "contentious" in large cities such as San Francisco, New York City and Paris, adding that HomeAway is deeply engaged in promoting its regulatory agenda.
"We can't predict what the outcome will be," Sharples said.
Airbnb, in particular, has come under attack in New York City, where a majority of its short-term rentals are illegal
