Is Airbnb impacting the hotel industry?

Income generator: Malaysians are increasingly recognising the benefits of home sharing through turning their biggest assets – their property – into income generators to help ease cost of living.

JOHN could have rented out his high-rise residential unit in Cheras for RM1,500, but that would not cover his monthly instalment of RM2,500.

He turned to Airbnb, charging RM240 a night. The unit can accommodate eight, 12 would be a squeeze but he has done it. John operates his unit like a hotel; guests leave at noon and the next group “checks in” between 2pm and 4pm. He has hired a property agent to look after the unit. He needs to keep that schedule 15 days a month in order to get RM3,600.