June 1, 2016
A new TV ad campaign threatens to open a troubling new chapter in the war between the hotel industry and sharing sites — one that tries to paint Airbnb as unfair and discriminatory to guests but could ultimately cast a long shadow across the entire lodging industry. The ad, launched yesterday by ShareBetter, a nationwide organization reportedly funded by the New York Hotel Trades Council, tells the story of a guest who claims the sharing site routinely discriminates against her because of her skin color. “I am a black woman,” she says in the 30-second spot. “I get declined all the time on Airbnb.” “Airbnb should be doing more to stop racial discrimination,” she says, “because we deserve better.” Then, as if on cue, an Airbnb host in North Carolina reportedly canceled on a black investment banker and sent her a slew of racist insults….
Source: http://fortune.com/2016/06/01/airbnb-bans-racist-host-just-as-new-ad-campaign-launches/