Is Airbnb Really Worth More Than Hyatt Worldwide and Hospitality Properties Trust? | fool.com
The hotel industry tech killer? Airbnb is a tech industry darling. The consumer to consumer website pairs up people that have a spare room with people who need a place to stay. It's at the forefront of a movement allowing individuals to monetize underutilized assets. Similar sites allow people to "rent" things like cars. It's a great idea if you don't mind letting complete strangers into your home or renting from strangers. But is it a good business to get involved in? Interestingly, New York State is looking into the company and how some appear to be using it to run would-be hotels. That's not legal. As a result, it's probably a good thing that only professional investors can invest in Airbnb, since all the kinks clearly haven't been worked out yet.
