Airbnb, if you can't beat em join em

I couldn't read the entire article, but competition is good - it should decrease the rates for the existing houses.

interesting.
As mentioned, as I don't have an account, I can't read the article. Would a cut and paste be possible?
As a solo traveler on a budget, I like the price point and benefits I can get from AirBnB. An alternative may be interesting....I'd like to see their service fees and cancellation options. Also whether they are really like AirBnB with a policy of not paying the host until 24 hours after arrival, and also holding the money 'just in case', or like VRBO where the home owner makes their payment rules.....

A category called “aparthotels” is a fast-growing segment. I am intrigued and find it appealing in that high standard will (probably) be met and it will be far easier to call a front desk with issues (internet won’t work, I locked myself out, there’s no toilet paper) than to hassle with an owner. I have seen a few advertised in larger cities, but so far the kitchens seem puny and a decent kitchen is essential for us on a leg stay. I imagine a lot of these places will become much like Residence Inns, but hopefully with charm...

I noticed on the London Marriott site they had apartments listed. These were located around London and not in their hotels. Marriott has very good standards and this maybe an alternative to AirBnB which seems to be having more and more problems because they do not check out the apts. they list. Marriott does.

I don’t have access the WSJ article, but here is a summary from The Points Guy, which you can read: https://thepointsguy.com/news/marriott-homes-and-villas-vacation-rentals-launch/

The thing that is interesting to me is that this is not a direct competition to Airbnb, just by scale alone. Here is an excerpts from the article: “With about 2,000 properties available to rent, Marriott certainly won’t be edging out Airbnb which, by comparison, has approximately 6 million homes listed by its own estimation. Its homes won’t be exclusive, either, so you might find the same home listed by both Marriott and Airbnb. The key difference will be the ability to earn points, which Marriott is expecting to be a major incentive. “

It is interesting to see this announcement, given Airbnb’s expansion into the Hotel Segment with their recent acquisition of Hotel Tonight.

Cut and past doesn't seem to work (maybe too long?).

I've had generally good luck with Airbnb - but I'm happy in hostels. I check them carefully before I book. My biggest issue is they are somewhat vague on location until you're already booked. That bothers me because they'll imply something is walking distance when it really isn't.

Before I ever heard of Airbnb, hotels were steering me to apartments they owned/operated. I recall in Venice calling a hotel (2005) for a place for 5 (self, spouse and three kids). They offered me an apartment that was perfect at, I thought, a very reasonable rate 140 euros per night (my budget was to average 200 euros per night).

@Brad, I also have had good luck with AirBnB. As a solo traveler, I get a full apartment for less than a good number of hotels.....though perhaps not the pensiones, hostals, or pensions - which I take for one or 2 night stays.

I have always received the exact address when I have requested it from the hosts. Though it means paying for the lodging months in advance, I like that 24 hour period where one can try to rectify any unexpected 'surprises' upon check in, apposed to sending entire payment to owner weeks prior to check in or a large cash security payment in local currency.

I have seen the hotels with apartment options, but they are rarely affordable for me.

I found it interesting that they now have hotel options...and today I see also 'restaurant' bookings. I know they aren't perfect, but clearly their model is growing

I couldn't read the entire article, but competition is good - it should decrease the rates for the existing houses.

It won't. The access to the Marriott portfolio will be available only to those on the highest tier of the Destination Points program. Essentially, those who have a lot of money to invest in a lot of Marriott destination points. The Marriott people have done their maths and worked out the potential demand for the properties and expected availability that will satisfy potential renters. The Marriott properties will have little impact on the current holiday rental options.

It seems that Air BnB has become more of a commercial venture these days than a way for ordinary people to make a few bucks by renting out the spare room - https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/biggest-airbnb-hosts-canada-corporations-1.5116103 .

I suppose this was inevitable, but in cities like Vancouver this trend is removing rentals from the market, raising prices and forcing people that work in the city to live elsewhere. I expect that governments will be looking at some kind of regulation in the future.

Clearly Marriot and the other hoteliers are going to try to take over this market to continue to monopolize the business of short-term rentals. The only defense is a general rule in large cities to stop all AirBnB-style rentals. Conversion of normal rentals into short-term rentals has great danger to destroy the rental housing market in any attractive vacation spot. Cities need to decide if they can keep out buyers who seek to do vacation short-term rental. It would be difficult.

All of the comments above about "little impact" and "no effect" ignore the fact that billionaire lodging companies with the long view of this will be around a lot longer than most of us, and will be purchasing up available units, one at a time. And once Marriot gets a unit, it won't be freed up again. So this lack of concern is also kind of short-term. I find the whole issue alarming.