Airbnb is one of our era’s most popular and successful services, providing travellers cheap short-term accommodation in unused suites and rooms, primarily in private homes. It serves millions of customers every day in 191 countries but it has recently faced opposition in Canadian cities.
Leading the opposition are unionized workers in the hotel and hospitality industry who see their jobs threatened by consumers looking for lower prices for their stay. Joining in are activists who protest that the free market was changing the neighbourhood, replacing family stores with restaurants for tourists.