Airbnb may model Bay State strategy on winning San Francisco campaign

San Francisco voters rejected a proposal to rein in Airbnb and other online rental services that have siphoned business from hotels in major cities around the nation, and the company may use its campaign there to model strategies for other markets where restrictions have been proposed, including Boston. In part, that strategy cast the issue as one that pitted homeowners against big hotel companies. It also employed volunteer canvassers and drew support from small businesses.

San Francisco voters rejected a proposal to rein in Airbnb and other online rental services that have siphoned business from hotels in major cities around the nation, and the company may use its campaign there to model strategies for other markets where restrictions have been proposed, including Boston. In part, that strategy cast the issue as one that pitted homeowners against big hotel companies. It also employed volunteer canvassers and drew support from small businesses.…