J.K. Rowling

Paris threatens Airbnb with court case

Paris - Muslimchronicle

The city of Paris on Monday threatened to take Airbnb to court if it does not delist hundreds of apartments whose owners have failed to register with the French capital's authorities. Mayor Anne Hidalgo's deputy in charge of housing, Ian Brossat, told AFP the city had written to five holiday rental sites -- Airbnb, HomeAway, Paris Attitude, Sejourning and WinduRead more

France to question Airbnb executives

Paris - Muslimchronicle

The French government has summoned the managers of Airbnb to demand answers over a payment system suspected of facilitating tax avoidance. Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin said he had become aware of the "possibility" of (fiscal) "optimisation or even complicity in laundering" offered by Airbnb and had called the company's bosses to a meeting next week.Read more

Japanese regulators raid Airbnb

Tokyo - Muslimchronicle

Japanese fair trade regulators raided last month the offices of Airbnb over suspected violations of antitrust laws, the home rental site said on Friday, denying any wrongdoing. The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) carried out an on-site inspection of Airbnb and the company is cooperating with the regulators’ investigation, Airbnb Japan said. A JFTC spokesman declined to comment. Regulators seizedRead more

Airbnb raided by Japan

Tokyo - Muslimchronicle

Airbnb's offices in Japan have been raided by anti-monopoly officials, the homesharing giant said Friday, denying any wrongdoing and pledging cooperation. Japan's Fair Trade Commission reportedly carried out the raids over suspicions Airbnb was requiring users to sign exclusively with its site and cut ties with other agencies. "Airbnb Japan received an on-site inspection by the Japan Fair Trade CommissionRead more

Airbnb rentals boom across Africa

Washington - AFP

Rent-a-room giant Airbnb said Tuesday that it had provided accommodation for 1.2 million visitors to Africa over the last year -- double the previous year as tourism expands across the continent. The website now offers more than 100,000 accommodation options in Africa, global public affairs director Chris Lehane said on a visit to Johannesburg. "It's an incredibly rich and diverseRead more

Airbnb adopts new name, doubles investment to woo China

Shanghai - Arab Today

Airbnb is showing China some love. The US home-sharing giant is adopting the name "Aibiying” in China, one that translates as "welcome each other with love,” as it doubles investment in the country and triples its local workforce to serve the world’s largest population of travellers. The start-up intends to ramp up its Chinese business after more than doubling listingsRead more

Airbnb closes $1 billion funding round with war chest for growth

San Francisco - Arab Today

Airbnb closed a funding round of more than $1 billion, valuing the home-sharing start-up at about $31 billion, according to three people familiar with the company. In December, Bloomberg first reported the company’s plans to increase the funding it was seeking by authorising the sale of an additional $153 million in equity. Investors include Alphabet investment arm CapitalG and TechnologyRead more

Airbnb valued at $31 billion in new funding round

San Francisco - AFP

Airbnb raised more than a billion dollars in a fresh funding round that valued the home-sharing startup at $31 billion, a source close to the company told AFP Thursday. Airbnb added $448 million to the $555 million in funding it took in last year, according to a filing Thursday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Airbnb became profitable inRead more

Airbnb acquires Luxury Retreats, beating out Expedia, Accor

San Francisco - Arab Today

Airbnb bought Luxury Retreats in its biggest acquisition yet as the apartment-rental website takes steps toward becoming a full-service global travel company. Airbnb unveiled the acquisition of the Canadian manager of high-end rentals and services on Thursday, declining to disclose financial terms. The cash and stock deal was worth roughly $300 million, people familiar with the matter said. Bloomberg reportedRead more

Airbnb landlord hit with record fine in Amsterdam

The Hague - AFP

Amsterdam has slapped a record fine of 297,000 euros ($318,000) on a landlord and agency which broke council rules in renting out 11 apartments via home-sharing giant Airbnb, officials said Monday. "We were called in by the neighbours who complained of disturbances," said city spokeswoman Jeanine Harders. "After investigating we found that they were illegally renting out apartments." The ownersRead more