Exploring the Impact of Airbnb on Society: A Multi-Disciplinary Analysis

Airbnb has revolutionized the hospitality industry by providing a platform for hosts to rent out their spare rooms or homes to guests worldwide. The company has created full-time jobs, generated millions in spending, and contributed to strengthening the US economy, particularly in cities lacking traditional hotels. Airbnb's success can be attributed to its social, technological, legal, and environmental factors. The company relies on technology for booking and verification, uses automation to connect hosts and guests, and respects cultural norms while promoting leisure travel and business travel worldwide. Despite facing legal issues related to taxation laws, housing regulations, and lawsuits, Airbnb has made a positive impact on the environment by reducing waste, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.

PESTEL ANALYSIS OF AIRBNB

H1: Detailed PESTLE Analysis of Airbnb
Airbnb, Inc. uses to operate as an online marketplace that provides hospitality services to
worldwide customers. It offers lodging, tourism and homestays services via mobile applications
and websites. It was founded on 27th June 2008. Airbnb is located in San Francisco of
California, United States and generates revenue by receiving commissions from every single
booking. During the past few years, the company’s has experienced amazing growth and it is
projecting total revenue of 3.5 billion every year by 2020. Besides the exponential growth of the
company, it is facing several political as well as legal issues. While operating as a peer-to-peer
online marketplace and expanding in the worldwide market, Airbnb is facing these issues. Still, it
puts enjoying some benefits from the environment and cities that led it to provide cheap
accommodation facilities to the tourists and guests.
This article is drafted by applying PESTLE framework on Airbnb by identifying the
macro or external forces this company faces which are uncontrollable. The aim of
PESTLE analysis is to point out the macro-environmental factors responsible for affecting a
company by creating a profound influence on the company’s operational and financial
performance. It is a business analysis tool and the letters of its name stand for Political,
Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal respectively.
H2: Analysis of PESTLE factors influencing Airbnb
H3: Political factors influencing Airbnb
Political factors that are responsible for affecting a company include a country’s laws and
regulations, political stability, taxation system and more. Housing laws of different countries are
the major political factor that influences Airbnb’s business operations and it operates by
considering a uniquely designed business model which needs to comply with the housing laws of
the countries from where it operates. It operates as an agent that earns revenue by receiving
commissions. People use to offer their empty or spare rooms, apartments, or homes on rent to
outsiders, tourists, and visitors. While doing so, the company uses to face some regulatory and
legal issues. The operation of Airbnb needs to act in compliance with the prevailing housing law
of the country from where it operates and this is the main reason for which the company faces

legal issues. Airbnb’s business model uses to conflict with the housing regulations and laws of
many states. For instance, in some locations, people who rent out their property need to live on
their property but many people use to purchase separate houses just because of renting them for
Airbnb’s rental services. This activity clearly states the violation of the country’s housing laws.
Many people who use to rent out their spare rooms, or apartments, or homes do not follow the
housing laws and regulations of the country which ultimately led Airbnb to face legal issues.
The company has faced some court proceedings in New York, Barcelona, Florida, San
Francisco, Toronto, and many other places already because of not following the housing
regulations and laws. The rate of tax varies in accordance with the taxation laws and regulations
of different countries and states which led the company to face tax related legal issues that must
be coped up by Airbnb while operating its regular operations in those countries. Airbnb does not
have any kind of mechanism to protect their customers or guests in conflict zones and war.
Airbnb requires to address housing laws and follow housing guidelines of the states where
needed to restrict court proceeding against it in the coming future. Along with this, the company
needs to adopt some protection mechanisms by keeping the safety and security of its customers
in mind.
H3: Economic factors influencing Airbnb
Airbnb, Inc stands as an example of ‘shared economy’ and not only that; the company is
leading in the industry belongs to the concept of the shared economy (Mahajan, 2018). It
provides collaborative consumption by collaborating with people who prefer to share their
property or resources with outsiders those who require it for a short-term period. It helps people
to earn money by utilising their spare properties on rent which ultimately improves the economic
conditions of those people. It considers two aspects such as a particular source of income for the
people who use to rent out their space and it has already proven itself as a tough competitor in
industry of hotel by offering hotels and motels at cheaper prices.
This is the reason why it has grown a loyal customer base around the globe and its net
income reached $93 million in 2017. Its mobiles App is downloaded over 10 million users.
Currently, more than 9 million people are served by Airbnb. It offers jobs to the ‘hosts’ (people
who rent out their homes or spare rooms to guests) in the cities which lack motels or hotels.

Airbnb has provided benefits to the states by creating full-time jobs and by generating millions
of spending of customers. The economic activity of Airbnb is accumulated to more than $600
million in only New York. Moreover, by providing 4000+ jobs in New York, Airbnb has
contributed to strengthening the economy of the US.
H3: Social factors influencing Airbnb
Airbnb blends societies and cultures from different countries across the world. Every
tenant and host submits their experiences and expectations. In this context, social media
platforms play a vital role and also spread the opinion and voices of the tenant and host both. The
company grows through WOM (word of mouth). Airbnb is currently operating in 34000 plus
cities and 191 countries. Both host and tenant have their respective culture, norms and issues.
Airbnb uses to understand as well as respect every culture and social norms while continuing its
operations in the business solely related to shared economy. During 2015 to 2017, it has
promoted leisure travel and business travel worldwide in a highly successful manner.
Figure 1: Travelers served by Airbnb, Inc.
(Source: https://muchneeded.com/airbnb-statistics/)
Airbnb has discussion rooms and Community Center like ‘Hosting’ ‘Help’ where tenants
and hosts use to share their individual experiences and ask questions to each other and such
interaction build relationship between the tenants and host from different countries, culture and

social practices. By using different webinars Airbnb educates and helps the community which
ultimately led the company to create a positive impact on the society as a whole.
H3: Technological factors influencing Airbnb
Airbnb heavily relies on technology for conducting its business and for connecting with
people across the world to accelerate its business operations. Visitors use to book rooms online
through the company’s website or on the mobile app. Guests write reviews and personal
experience and if the reviews become bad then the reputation of the host declines and vice versa.
The company is fully automated and uses such automation in creating a connection between the
tenants and hosts in a secure and positive manner. It also uses a well-designed automated
messaging system for verifying personal profiles and data of both hosts and guests. Without
technology and internet, rooms cannot be booked by tenants or visitors, hosts cannot be
contracted and Airbnb fails to conduct its operations smoothly. From booking to cancellation and
verification of payment, Airbnb uses technology which makes the company rely upon
technology in the most significant manner.
H3: Legal factors influencing Airbnb
As mentioned earlier, as Airbnb operates through 193 plus countries, it faces several legal
issues that are attached to taxation laws, housing regulations and laws of different states,
provinces of these 193 countries. It has faced several legal issues for not complying with the
housing regulations of cities like New York, San Francisco, Florida and more. On its official
website, Airbnb addresses the necessity of following the housing laws, tourism regulations for
the hosts and the reasons for which they must agree to the terms and conditions provided by
Airbnb. Hosts are aware of their local tourism and housing regulations and while renting spare
spaces or rooms, they need to follow the rules and agree with the Airbnb’s terms and condition to
prevent the rise of legal issues.
H3: Environmental factors influencing Airbnb
The business model of Airbnb which is designed by considering the home-sharing model
is a good choice for hosts, and guests as well as the planet. This is because the home-sharing
model helps to reduce waste, usage of natural resources like land, energy, and other non-

renewable resources. This particular business model of Airbnb puts a positive impact of home-
sharing on the environment. The shared economy business of Airbnb is also based on green
travelling and utilisation of existing resources. The business operation process of Airbnb ensures
sustainability and optimum use of natural resources be securing the same for future generations.
Airbnb has contributed significantly in reducing energy usage in Europe and America than the
hotels. It has created a huge positive impact on the environment by reducing the emission of
greenhouse gases, reducing consumption of water, waste management, and increasing
environmental awareness.
Airbnb has allowed average people to rent out their spare rooms to tourists, guests, and in
exchange to earn money as a reward. It has made a hole to the world’s hoteling industry by
developing more environmentally friendly options for room bookings for travellers. The
company applies the concept of the shared economy by using existing resources as well as
creating job opportunities or opportunities to earn money for a huge number of people who offer
space to outsiders or guests. Due to operating in different countries, Airbnb faces several legal
issues in relation to taxation and housing laws and faces lawsuits. It is expected that in the near
future, the company will be able to cope up with the laws and regulations of different countries
to mark it safe from legal proceedings.