Airbnb launches City Portal platform to co-operate with local governments

Airbnb launched the City Portal, which aims to provide cities with better perspective and insight about rentals available in the platforms and hosts’ compliance with local regulations. The City Portal is advertised as a solution for governments and tourism organisations to deal with short-term rental issues within their local communities. The portal is initially being launched in 15 pilot cities in the USA and Canada. Tourism partners include Visit Tampa Bay, Visit Denmark, the City of Krakow, the Sao Paulo State Secretary of Tourism, Visit Scotland, Visit Tuscany, and Wesgro. The City Portal will assist governments in the development and management of short-term rental policies and regulations. Governments will be able to develop tools to flag that a certain locality has short-term rentals restrictions. Furthermore, the portal has local Airbnb data on short-term rental market trends. The platform will also work as a hotline for neighbours complaints.