Airbnb fined for carrying ads for illegal holiday lets in Palma

Airbnb has become a huge company; the worlds largest... yet internal management of that is lackluster at best. I'm quite familiar with Airbnb, and frankly, anyone who's ever had to deal with them quickly finds out that one hand often hasn't clue what the other hand is doing. Their customer services are outsourced to cheap call centers, where most of the reps aren't even familiar with Airbnb policy. Yet they're tasked with handling virtually all incoming inquiries. See here: https://www.propublica.org/article/meet-the-customer-service-reps-for-disney-and-airbnb-who-have-to-pay-to-talk-to-you Somehow I suspect some low paid call center jockey got a call from the government and simply sent them a link to their policy on dog grooming. It would be typical. Still, it seems strange, since Airbnb routinely requests licensing verification from host properties. Yet seems to ignore governmental demands to delist illegal properties. I have to suspect that it's simply their dysfunctional inter-departmental communication rather than deliberate systematic refusal. They have little to gain from answering to continuous lawsuits. Having said that, it's true that the Balearic government bears the first responsibility, and should first enforce it on their own instead of taking the easy route and putting it all on the platforms. and @Jason ... I know the feeling. I had the same sentiment when they banned Lidl, Aldi, banks and petrol stations from operating in Mallorca. 🧐

They didn’t pay last time; they won’t pay this time.

This is a long running saga but Mallorca needs to do its own policing and not expect others to enforce their rules. Airbnb should show some sense though, it’s not rocket science and with all their recent app upgrades they could easily wheedle out the illegals. But Mallorca Gov have been total twonks on this and Airbnb won’t play ball. And won’t pay.

I thought the owners are responsible to advertised via Airbnb. INot quite sure why the company is fined, more like the owners who advertise should be fined. They should take it off Airbnb if they do not want them on that site.

How is it legal for a government to prevent a perfectly legal company from operating in a certain region of the country? Absolutely disgraceful.

Stephen PerrimanWe’re not voting to abolish anything tomorrow, simply voting to elect the members of the Balearic Parliament, Island Council and Local Council for the next four years.

I doubt mighty Airbnb will kowtow to the Council of Majorca, oooh scary. Perhaps the said council will be abolished after the forthcoming elections hopefully!