Skift Take
With the sharing economy accounting for almost one in three vacation beds in Australia, the impact of Airbnb and Stayz is being widely questioned. But with hotel occupancy levels and room prices still rising, hotels and lobbying groups' efforts to restrict private rentals seem like an overreaction.
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Like other hoteliers in far-flung destinations, AccorHotels in Asia Pacific is feeling Airbnb's impact.
In Australia, for example, AccorHotels isn't deleting plans for new properties because of Airbnb's growth, but the chain realizes that it might not get the premium rates it used to on days with particularly high demand.
Michael Issenberg, chairman and chief operating officer of Australia’s largest hotel group, Accor Asia Pacific, said private rentals have grown the accommodations market for everyone.
And, the private rental surge has not slowed Accor’s growth. The chain recently added the luxury Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, the first new-build hotel in Sydney in 20 years. It also added new properties in Brisbane and Sydney’s Western suburbs.
In fact, Accor has 14 hotels under way, and they will add around 2,500 rooms in the next two or three years.
However, Issenberg insisted that Airbnb has definitely impacted the
