ABSTRACT

This article contributes to the ongoing debate on the increasing professionalization and commercialization of Airbnb through multi-unit hosts who offer more than one listing. The process of professionalization brings the question of whether Airbnb is still considered as a sharing economy platform or it has already lost sharing economy ethos. To answer this question, this study focuses on Europe’s top 10 Airbnb destinations (respectively London, Paris, Rome, Copenhagen, Berlin, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Milan and Madrid). The descriptive analysis reveals that although Airbnb positions itself under the positive value of sharing economy, there are indications that it has become increasingly professional through commercial listings. In contrast to the original concept of sharing, the visibilities of multi-unit hosts, specialized in short-term rental business, have increased on the platform, and this situation indicates the tendency of Airbnb’s operating model from consumer-to-consumer to business-to-consumer. This change from peer producer to professional suppliers may open the door of the platform to be defined as a lodging corporation rather than a sharing economy company. This comparative study also shows that the commercialization level of Airbnb in the cities is quite different. This may be due to different regulations for the short-term rentals.

摘要

本文有助于通过提供不止一个房源的多单元房东来推动 Airbnb 日益专业化和商业化的持续辩论。专业化的过程带来了Airbnb是否仍被视为共享经济平台或已经失去共享经济精神的问题。为了回答这个问题，本研究重点关注欧洲 10 大 Airbnb 目的地（分别是伦敦、巴黎、罗马、哥本哈根、柏林、里斯本、阿姆斯特丹、巴塞罗那、米兰和马德里）。描述性分析显示，虽然Airbnb将自己定位在共享经济的积极价值之下，但有迹象表明它通过商业上市变得越来越专业。对比原来的共享概念，多单元主机的可见性，专门从事短租业务的人在平台上有所增加，这种情况预示着Airbnb的运营模式从消费者对消费者到企业对消费者的趋势。这种从同行生产商到专业供应商的转变可能会打开平台被定义为住宿公司而不是共享经济公司的大门。本次对比研究还表明，Airbnb在城市中的商业化水平存在较大差异。这可能是由于对短期租赁的不同规定。这种从同行生产商到专业供应商的转变可能会打开平台被定义为住宿公司而不是共享经济公司的大门。本次对比研究还表明，Airbnb在城市中的商业化水平存在较大差异。这可能是由于对短期租赁的不同规定。这种从同行生产商到专业供应商的转变可能会打开平台被定义为住宿公司而不是共享经济公司的大门。本次对比研究还表明，Airbnb在城市中的商业化水平存在较大差异。这可能是由于对短期租赁的不同规定。