Airbnb faces a fight for its life in the Big Apple as New York governor Andrew Cuomo prepares to sign a bill that would in effect end the home-sharing group’s business in New York City.
The San Francisco start-up is waging an eleventh-hour campaign to thwart the legislation, offering to impose a mandatory host registration system to help the state keep track of renters and a “one host, one home” rule to curtail the challenge it poses to New York hoteliers.
Mr Cuomo must decide whether to sign the bill by the end of next week. If it becomes law, it would impose fines of up to $7,500 on hosts who advertise short-term accommodation through Airbnb.