Don’t worry if you were booked and couldn’t watch. We will fill you in on the Hallie Jackson interview with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. It covered multiple topics in three minutes on NBC Nightly News.
Watching the interview as a rental host myself was interesting. You might feel the same if you Rocky Point rental condos or homes on the Airbnb booking platform. The same is true if you are a guest who enjoys taking beach getaways in Puerto Peñasco.
Airbnb CEO Interview
My first takeaway was Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky was nervous or at least uncomfortable. To me, he came across in the interview as staged not genuine or natural in his answers. Furthermore, his forehead was shiny, one step from sweaty.
Perhaps, this was because Chesky knew NBC’s focus on Airbnb. A previous investigation by NBC News reported on 19 deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning at Airbnbs in the last decade. And more recently, the company was mocked big-time in a lengthy fake commercial bit on Saturday Night Live.
The carbon monoxide poisoning issue was the hard-hitting angle in the network news piece. An Airbnb mandate was publicized but never implemented. Chesky said, “It’s really hard to mandate things in 220 countries and regions and cities.” He added, “And then if you mandate something, you have to have a mechanism to verify.”
When Hallie Jackson asked the Airbnb CEO if he was walking away from the commitment the company made 10 years ago, he said, “I don’t know.” You can see the full interview here.
Complaints about Airbnb Fees
The guest safety issue of course got top billing in the NBC Nightly News segment. However, the report briefly covered the consumer angle regarding Airbnb’s high fees. Hallie Jackson said, “The brand started straying too far from its 2007 roots as customers were concerned about too many fees and higher prices.”
The Airbnb CEO tried to deflect this in the interview. However, he did admit to the company losing its way. Nonetheless, the facts are clear. Airbnb became a public traded company on the NASDAQ in 2020. Today, its stock is worth $145.66 a share. Meanwhile, Airbnb has a market cap of over 92-Billion dollars.
Airbnb in Rocky Point Mexico
At best, Rocky Point is a blip on the Airbnb global radar screen. The financial information provided above proves the giant online booking broker is the one getting rich. It is certainly not the individual owners renting properties such as Sonoran Sun Resort condos. Both hosts and guests are subject to paying high fees to what used to be an affordable alternative to hotels.
The cost factor is one of the catalysts that led to the idea of Sonoran Sun Direct. Lower fees for everyone will be warmly welcomed by most everyone except the Airbnb CEO. This way, more people can enjoy the beautiful Sandy Beach property which has been a favorite Puerto Peñasco destination since 2005.
Isn’t it time to say, “Adios High Fees?” Book your next Rocky Point visit now through Sonoran Sun Direct.