Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx believes that Airbnb is competing ” totally unfair » on accommodation and catering professionals. He directly calls on the authorities to act.
Thierry Marx took advantage of his time with our colleagues from France Info, this Thursday, February 2, to say what he thinks of the Airbnb platform, he who is at the head of Umih, the influential employers’ union for the hotel and catering industries. The one who made himself known to the general public for his participation as a juror of the show Top chef a few years ago is bitter: for him, Airbnb “ crosses the line », in view of the low taxes that the company pays in France.
Thierry Marx’s rant
On France InfoThierry Marx has targeted the American accommodation rental giant, which according to him is engaged in a ” totally unfair competition “. The leader explains that it is no longer possible today to manage the competition from the platform.
” Today, there is a rental fleet which completely escapes the State and which is not taxed, which is an unfair competition, totally unfair for the people whose job it is to do the hotel business- restoration. Thierry Marx also bounced back on the situation of seasonal workers, for whom housing is becoming more and more expensive. ” Nowhere and especially in tourist areas, you can find something to rent “, he added. ” You no longer have a rental for your seasonal workers “.
Thierry Marx, who, you have understood, has a lot on his heart, even mentions housing ” which are rented almost under the coat and without protection, with health risks but also safety. ” The businessman and cook calls, through Umih, for the creation of a ” 6th category of housing, so that we have a referencing of the stock, things that are rented in parallel with the hotel business “.
Airbnb, which pays more and more taxes each year, does not enjoy a good rating with French municipalities
In 2022, the Airbnb platform paid no less than 148 million euros in tourist tax to French municipalities, a figure up sharply (+60%) compared to the previous year. This overall amount is explained by the resumption of tourism and benefits both large cities and certain smaller localities.
The platform also recalls that it has communicated to the tax authorities, since 2020 and once a year, the income of its guests. Since November 2021, it has also provided town halls with detailed data on stays made.
However, the community of municipalities of the island of Oléron, in Charente-Maritime, has taken the decision to claim nearly 30 million euros from Airbnb, divided into four fines to comply with the legislation, about the tourist tax for the years 2020 and 2021. Airbnb Ireland is also summoned to appear in the La Rochelle court on April 25.
Source :Twitter
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