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“Leading the guest experience transformation”: David Mezuman, Wishbox
Reading Time: 5 minutesIsrael: ShortTermRentalz speaks to Wishbox co-founder and CEO, David Mezuman, about the company’s recent $2.5m funding round, its Up-Sell by Wishbox service, and the guest experience trend of travellers seeking greater transparency and personalisation. Please introduce yourself, the Wishbox brand and the services you provide within the short-term rental industry. “Wishbox is a guest experience platform […]
Anti-Airbnb campaign launched for Nakba Day
Reading Time: 2 minutesIsrael: A global coalition has launched a campaign against Airbnb for the reversal of its decision to delist properties in settlements in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. In April, Airbnb confirmed it would not delist the settlements as was previously anticipated when it announced in November that it would remove around 200 listings in […]
Airbnb reverses West Bank settlement listing ban
Reading Time: 2 minutesIsrael: Airbnb has announced it has reversed its decision to remove West Bank settlement listings from its website. The policy change came about following a court settlement between the rental company and a group of American Jewish plaintiffs who had sued the company, organised by Shurat Hadin-Israel Law Center, a pro-Israel law organisation. A copy of […]
Municipal tax set to be tripled on Airbnbs in Tel Aviv
Reading Time: 2 minutesIsrael: The Tel Aviv Municipal Council has proposed to triple the city’s municipal tax on apartments rented for over three months via Airbnb. According to Israel’s Channel 10, the proposal on the tax, known as arnona, was put forth after a rise in the number of apartments being used as long-term Airbnb rentals in the […]
Israel reignites row with Airbnb by seeking legal steps over West Bank boycott
Reading Time: 2 minutesIsrael: Israel’s strategic affairs minister Gilad Erdan has reignited the row with Airbnb by calling on the compamy to rescind its boycott of West Bank settlement listings. Erdan was speaking at the opening of a new four-kilometre road in the West Bank, just outside of Jerusalem. He warned that Israel would continue its legal pursuit […]
Airbnb denies claims it reversed its West Bank settlement ban
Reading Time: 2 minutesIsrael: Airbnb has denied a claim by Israel’s tourism minister that it did a U-turn to remove listings in the illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The news comes after Israel’s public security minister Yariv Levin alleged on Facebook that Airbnb had pledged “not to implement” its decision during a meeting between the two […]
Israeli hotel brand Fattal Group set to offer Airbnb rental apartments
Reading Time: 2 minutesIsrael: Israel’s biggest hotel chain, Fattal Group, has reportedly leased two buildings in the Tel Aviv neighbourhoods of Kerem Hateimanim and Neve Tzedek to be used as short-term rental apartments. The buildings are being listed on Airbnb and other booking sites under the “Master” brand of Fattal’s Leonardo Hotels unit. Fattal said in a statement: […]
Jerusalem-based band denounces Airbnb for intervention in West Bank in viral video
Reading Time: 2 minutesIsrael: A Jerusalem-based band has gone viral after uploading a song called “Delete Airbnb” about the rental platform’s decision to remove all Israeli and Jewish-owned properties in Judea and Samaria. Portnoy, comprised of brotherly duo, Sruli and Mendy Portnoy, have created the song, which features lyrics including “I’m gonna take you off of my phone/ […]
Beverly Hills city council condemns Airbnb removals in Israel and calls for boycott
Reading Time: < 1 minuteUS: Beverly Hills city council has unanimously passed a resolution condemning Airbnb’s decision to remove listings of rentals in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Earlier this week, the San Francisco-based short-term rental platform announced it would remove around 200 rentals in the disputed region. Critics have in recent years accused Airbnb of benefiting from […]
Airbnb agrees to remove listings in Jewish settlements in Israel’s West Bank
Reading Time: < 1 minuteIsrael: Airbnb has announced it will stop renting out homes in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a move that brought criticism from Israeli officials. The San Francisco-based short-term rental platform said it would remove around 200 vacation rentals in the disputed region. Despite the fact US law authorises Airbnb to continue operating there, […]