Roland Héguy, President of the Trade Union for the Hospitality Industries (UMIH); Laurent Duc, President of the UMIH branch of hoteliers; and Jean-Virgile Crance, President of the National Group of Hotel Chains (GNC), on the occasion of the 67th Congress of the UMIH in Biarritz, reacted to the announcement of a partnership between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Airbnb. 

This partnership is inappropriate and it is outrageous to make this business, which plays on deregulation in all countries of the world, a global partner of the IOC. Where is the morality? 

In addition, this partnership is totally disrespectful to hotelier professionals who, since the candidature phase, have worked with the team organising the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The offer of Paris hotels was also considered an advantage in the application from the city of Paris. Where did Airbnb come into this offer?

The questions we now pose: Is it not time that accommodation offered by Airbnb meets the same standards and norms as the hotels regarding matters of security, accessibility and 24hr accessibility to ensure the same protection to clients? Should we return to global contracts between hoteliers and Olympic organising committees? 

“Once again, two different rules for the the same match. Where is the fair play?” – Roland Héguy, President of the Trade Union for the Hospitality Industries.

• This media release has been translated from the French version, published on 19 November 2019 by the Trade Union for the Hospitality Industries (UMIH) and the National Group of Hotel Chains (GNC). Click here for the original.