Are Qantas and Airbnb a match made in hell for industry?

frightened couple watching a horror movie
By Kate Webster


Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA) has not taken lightly to the new found partnership with Qantas and Airbnb, calling it a “slap in the face” for the industry.

Announced yesterday, the partnership with Qantas allows its frequent flyer members to benefit when booking stays with Airbnb.

However, TAA CEO, Carol Giuseppi has voiced concerns, saying “while we respect the right of airlines to make commercial agreements with various organisations, Qantas should understand the importance of working with partners who fully support and contribute to the tourism industry and meet all their regulatory requirements.”

Giuseppi points out that worldwide, cities are seeking greater regulation of businesses such as Airbnb because they are operating in the commercial space without meeting the same regulatory requirements that legitimate hotels, motels, service apartment and B&B operators have to meet.

“These unregulated short-term accommodation operators do not have in place the consumer safety and community amenity regulations and insurances that apply to regulated operators, nor do they pay the requisite fees and taxes. This is why so many overseas jurisdictions are regulating to prevent even more non-resident apartments and houses being taken off the long-term rental market and sold as unregulated short-term accommodation,” Giuseppi added.

While Airbnb continues to grow from the ‘share’ accommodation option to becoming fully fledged commercial property operations where no sharing is involved, the TAA will continue to defend their stance and calls on tourism operators like Qantas to only deal with legitimate accommodation partners who adhere to the same regulatory framework as they do.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

    Latest comments

    1. Outside of cities the vast majority of holiday accommodation IS regurgitated and subjected to rules and safety regulations. The TAA is trying to paint every AirBNB listing with one broad brush. IN any case their argument stands to sya there should be LESS regulation for current commercial operators not MORE for new players.

    2. Yeh wonder how QF would feel if an unregulated start up airline or two tried to muscle in on its territory and fly without going through all the regulatory requirements and approvals. I think the story would be a little different then…..

airbnb qantas taa tourism accommodation australia

Latest News