It’s one of the world’s most successful holiday rental companies but Airbnb looks set to be ghosted by New York for at least another four years after the election of new mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The 34-year-old democratic socialist defeated former New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa on Tuesday in a race that saw him take more than 50 per cent of the vote to become the Big Apple’s youngest and first Muslim mayor.
While California-founded Airbnb has become a global go-to for many tourists – for everything from city breaks to sunshine getaways, the brand has been left increasingly frustrated by the Big Apple’s strict rules on short-term vacation rentals.
The news that Mayor Mamdani is now heading for City Hall almost certainly means the vast majority of Airbnbs will be erased off the map for visitors for the foreseeable future.
The incoming mayor has been vocal throughout his campaign about prioritising cheaper housing costs for New Yorkers, accusing the tourism brand of pushing up the price of rents in the city for residents.
The average price of a hotel room in New York was around £318-a-night in 2024 – and self-catering stays, particularly for larger family groups, have traditionally been viewed as a way to keep costs down.
However, visitors currently planning a visit to the home of iconic tourists sites including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Central Park, will find that holiday lets in some of New York’s most famous tourist districts currently barely feature on Airbnb.
The introduction of the LL18 Local Law 18 in 2023 has already made it extremely difficult for owners to rent out their homes for less than 30 days.
Zohran Mamdani swept to victory in New York on Tuesday night, elected the city’s new mayor by more than 50 per cent of voters – but Airbnb weren’t celebrating…the democratic socialist is a long-time opponent of the travel brand
Rentals have to be registered with the city, and property platforms can’t legally process payment for an unregistered property.
Hosts have to be present, and, even then, only two guests are permitted in rentals where the owner lives on site.
Ways around it? Visitors could head to nearby New Jersey where the regulations are more relaxed…but expect a long hike on the train to the bright lights of Times Square.
The Big Apple remains America’s most visited city, with 65 million visitors in 2024 contributing around £60 billion to both the city and New York State economy.
In September, Airbnb spent £765,000 on a campaign criticising all three of the mayoral candidates for their stance on the rental company – with Mamdani the strongest critic of the holiday platform.
Michael Blaustein, spokesperson for the committee, known as a Super Pac, behind the campaign said at the time: ‘These candidates continue to promote a false narrative blaming hosts for the housing crisis, despite evidence to the contrary.’
The Big Apple is the world’s favourite US city, attracting 65 million visitors in 2024, but Airbnb stays are largely off the map after strict regulations – officially LL18 Local Law 18 – made it extremely hard for owners to rent out short-stay properties in 2023
Make for Jersey? The laws are more relaxed in New Jersey…but visitors won’t feel like they’re staying in the thick of the Big Apple action
Nathan Rotman, Director of Policy at Airbnb, told the Daily Mail.
‘We share in Mr Mamdani’s commitment to support New Yorkers struggling during an affordability crisis and look forward to working with him to bring tourism, economic opportunity, and tax revenue to the city.’
Elsewhere in the city, Mamdani, who moved to New York from his native Uganda at the age of just seven; he’s the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, has pledged to reinvest in New York City’s tourism office.
The incoming mayor has also said he’ll appoint a ‘World Cup tzar’ ahead of the tournament being held in North America next summer, with the first match kicking off on June 11th 2026.
While on the campaign trail earlier this month, he said: ‘Hotels are reporting vacant rooms, and even landmarks like the Empire State Building sometimes have no lines.
‘The World Cup offers a perfect opportunity to change this situation.’
Alongside destinations in Mexico and Canada, 11 US cities – Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles – will host matches.
Less than eight months before the World Cup gets underway, President Trump said he is going to make sure San Francisco and Seattle are ‘safe’ to stage matches in the US next year, adding that the cities are ‘run by radical left lunatics who don’t know what they’re doing’.
Seattle’s Lumen Field is set to host six fixtures at next summer’s tournament, with Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara – which is an hour away from San Francisco – due to put on the same amount.
Trump has threatened to send federal troops into Chicago, having already done so in Los Angeles and Washington DC. He pledged that the city would be made ‘safe’ for the World Cup despite the fact it is not currently hosting any games.
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