Airbnb hosts are playing an increasingly prominent role in shaping short-term rental legislation. There’s been a wave of new bills across the U.S. and in places like New York City that could make it harder for people to rent out their homes on a short term basis through apps like Airbnb. However, according to The Wall Street Journal, “Airbnb hosts are emerging as a potent political force, often with the financial backing and organizational support of the industry that prefers to let the individual hosts be the face of the movement while the companies help behind the scenes.”
If you’re looking for more context on this matter, please consider Jungho Suh, a teaching assistant professor of management at the George Washington University School of Business. His areas of expertise include service management, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), entrepreneurship, human resource issues in the service industry, sustainability & ESG reporting in the travel industry, digital platforms in tourism & hospitality, and gastronomy tourism. Suh has published research on a number of topics related to Airbnb’s, including on the role of customer engagement in Airbnb user experience, a cross-cultural study on the social and economic benefits of Airbnb, and Airbnb service quality.
“Airbnb hosts are gaining influence in the political arena, supporting the short-term rental industry in the face of increasing regulatory obstacles. With the backing of groups such as Rent Responsibly, these host organizations play a key role in shaping legislation, highlighting the beneficial effects of Airbnb on tourism and local economies,” Suh says. “Grassroots activism underscores the significance of community involvement and the crucial function hosts have in influencing the future of short-term rentals, guaranteeing the industry's growth and sustainability.
If you would like to speak with Professor Suh, please contact GW Senior Media Relations Specialist Cate Douglass at [email protected].
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