Twenty-six hoteliers, backed by the leading trade union in the sector, are taking Airbnb to court in France over alleged unfair competition.
The group's lawyer Jonathan Bellaïche, announced that they are claiming demanding €9.2 million compensation.
The 26 participating hotels are located across 15 regions and include various types, including chains and independent establishments. Listed by the Union of Hospitality Trades and Industries (UMIH), at a press conference, the group features household names like Ibis, Best Western, and Kyriad.
While UMIH supports this legal action, they have not officially joined it. The union had previously lodged a separate complaint of unfair competition against Airbnb with the Paris Commercial Court, a case that is still ongoing.
The hoteliers’ grievances range from Airbnb failing to meet certain obligations such as failing to provide a registration number on some listings where it is mandatory. Instances of this were noted on listings in Kaysersberg in Alsace and Cannes, according to a bailiff.
The hoteliers also suggest the platform "fails to remove listings exceeding a 120-day limit for primary residences and does not collect, declare, or pay the tourist tax."
In response, Airbnb insists it complies with all its obligations: "While the hotel lobby strives to defend arguments against French and European rights, Airbnb has allowed many families to earn around €3,800 on average."
"Furthermore, municipalities have received €187 million in tourist tax, just in the year 2023”, the platform stated in an announcement shared with AFP.
"Should this new lawsuit harm Airbnb’s operations or French hosts’ ability to lease their properties, we will consider all options, including legal ones, to protect those rights," it continued.
