The European Commission has reached a landmark agreement with Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia Group and TripAdvisor on data sharing. This will allow Eurostat, the EU statistical office, to publish data on short-stay accommodations offered via these platforms across the EU. 

The agreement will permit access to reliable data about holiday and other short-stay accommodation offered via these collaborative economy platforms, for the first time. It will contribute to more complete statistics on tourist accommodation around Europe, allow public authorities to better understand the development of the collaborative economy and support evidence-based policies. 

Commissioner Thierry Breton, responsible for Internal Markets, said: “Tourism is a key economic activity in Europe. Short-term accommodation rentals offer convenient solutions for tourists and new sources of revenue for people. At the same time, there are concerns about the impact on local communities. 

“For the first time we are gaining reliable data that will inform our ongoing discussions with cities across Europe on how to address this new reality in a balanced manner. The Commission will continue to support the great opportunities of the collaborative economy, while helping local communities address the challenges posed by these rapid changes.”