Italy's coastline is synonymous with summer: a vision of Aperol Spritzes sipped under blue parasols before a glass-clear sea.
13.02.2024 - 07:15 / skift.com / Giorgia Meloni / Srividya Kalyanaraman
A new Italian law requires platforms like Airbnb to collect and remit tourist taxes in Italy. It starts Thursday, February 15, and Airbnb said it will comply beginning with more than 1,200 towns and cities.
Airbnb will be required to determine the tourist tax for qualifying stays, using the local rate in the listing’s location. For instance, in Venice it is €1 ($1.08) – €5 ($5.39) per night. In Rome, it ranges between €3 ($3.23) to €7 ($7.54) and in Milan, between €2 ($2.15 ) to €5 ($5.39).
“We will automatically collect the amount required for each stay and remit this in full to the local authority on a routine basis, in accordance with local terms,” Airbnb said in a statement.
The company also committed to complying with the new national regulations governing short-term rentals. These regulations include the establishment of a national registration system and will be reinforced by data gathered through EU-wide guidelines promoting home-sharing platforms like Airbnb.
This collection and remittance is separate from Airbnb’s tax settlement of $620 million with Italy in December. That involved the company failing to withhold taxes from landlord’s rental income.
In November, an Italian judge had ordered the seizure of €779.5 million ($836.40 million) from Airbnb’s Ireland unit for alleged tax evasion. The issue involved Airbnb’s alleged failure to withhold 21% of landlords’ rental income and pay it to Italian tax authorities for years 2017-2021.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni then committed to tightening measures against tax evasion associated with short-term rentals, with plans to increase the tax rate for owners from 21% to 26%.
Airbnb settled the tax dispute without admitting any liability. The company stated in a financial filing that it does not plan to recover tax withholdings from affected hosts for audited periods (tax years), though it seeks information on hosts’ taxes paid for 2022 and 2023.
The company said that as of the third quarter in 2023, it has generated more than $9 billion in tax revenues for authorities globally. And there will be more to come.
Amsterdam will raise its tourist tax on short-term rentals and hotel rooms to 12.5% in 2024, making it the highest tourist tax rate in Europe. Currently at 7%, the tax is set to rise to 12.5%, resulting in a notable increase in nightly costs for visitors.
Italy's coastline is synonymous with summer: a vision of Aperol Spritzes sipped under blue parasols before a glass-clear sea.
Located in the heart of the Aegean Sea, the picturesque island of Paros has recently captured the hearts of travellers worldwide, thanks to its starring role in the smash hit Netflix drama One Day.
Nestled in a verdant temperate rainforest and bursting with culinary treasures and vintage finds, it's no wonder Forbes named Portland one of the best US cities to travel to in 2023.
Though her work on Saturday Night Live keeps her tethered to New York City, comedian Chloe Fineman can most often be found criss-crossing the country to film in Los Angeles or back to the Bay Area, where she grew up. Recently, for her campaign with Nütrl Vodka Seltzer, she got to see a new place: Mexico City. “First of all, my brain still can’t understand how it’s a three-hour flight from LA [and five hours from New York], so I could meet all my friends in the middle,” she says. “And it was the most beautiful city. We saw luchadores wrestling, and the food was unbelievable. Some of the best meals in my life were in Mexico City!”
Geneva sits on the southern shores of Lac Léman in French-speaking Switzerland. The city is cradled by the Alps and Jura ranges with the tip of Mont Blanc is visible on a clear day. Not just the domain of bankers and diplomats, Geneva’s whimsical Vieille Ville is a hilly tangle of medieval plazas and monuments. The International Museum of the Red Cross is a sobering look into the latest humanitarian efforts. Directly on the lakeside, the Bains des Pâquis offer seasonal bathing (and winter saunas). These magnifique Airbnbs in Geneva, Switzerland, put you close to the lake and Place du Bourg-de-Four.
Drifting off the west coast of Greece (and Albania), Corfu is one of the seven Ionian Islands. Nereids and deities, fishermen and warriors, heroes and sea monsters from this region have inspired myths that still enchant Greek island-hopping travelers. Modern-day Corfu (Kérkyra) is just as beguiling for its craggy coastline and jaw-dropping beaches while the Venetian-built capital adds a surprising twist. Plan your next Greek odyssey to one of these idyllic Corfu Airbnbs on the beach or up on the cliffs.
Hawaii is the latest destination to consider taxing visitors to help address the effects of climate change and overtourism, two issues that are particularly front of mind in the Aloha State following the devastating Lahaina fire.
Altree Developments, a Toronto-based, multi-generational, full-service development company is set to redefine luxury living in St. Maarten and today announces they have launched sales at their newest development, Vie L’Ven (life to life), a luxury resort and residences with 280 units, that is slated for completion in 2028. “Vie L’Ven seamlessly coalesces the influences of both French and Dutch cultures which are truly represented in this incomparable development through exceptional living, dining and wellness experiences,” says Zev Mandelbaum, founder of Altree. “Serving as a love letter to St. Maarten, Vie L’Ven encourages homeowners and guests to embrace living life to the fullest, while soaking in the island’s natural beauty and tranquility, where European culture blends effortlessly with Caribbean aptitude.”
Mountain lovers can experience the new must-visit winter destination as COTTON CLUB ANDERMATT throws open its doors offering guests luxurious comfort, winter sun, and an immersive experience in the clear, bright, Alpine glow – Switzerland’s coolest new location. The brainchild of Norwegian entrepreneurs Christian and Merete Marstrander, COTTON CLUB ANDERMATT brings the COTTON LIFESTYLE to life. Known for their passion for both snow and sand, the Marstranders have created a forward-thinking vision of hospitality that has now arrived in Andermatt. With world-class service, meticulous attention to detail, and a dedication to ensuring each guest feels the special effect of the Cotton Club lifestyle, they have transformed Andermatt into a winter destination like no other.
Holland America Line is elevating its award-winning Alaska Cruisetours in time for the 2024 season with room upgrades at McKinley Chalet Resort and a new, included tour in Dawson City, Yukon. Alaska Cruisetours combine an Alaska cruise with an overland tour to Denali, and Holland America Line is the only cruise line that extends those tours into the Yukon. Balconies will be added to 28 river-view rooms at McKinley Chalet Resort — Holland America Line’s hotel property at Denali National Park — upgrading them to the Denali Suite category. In addition, a new Deluxe category of non-balcony rooms with suite amenities is being introduced. For the excursions, guests on select Denali and Yukon Cruisetours will have a new “Klondike Gold Tour” that expands on the region’s famed gold rush experience. The tour visits the original discovery claim site that launched the gold rush and Gold Dredge 4.
Days Inn will fly two best friends in a helicopter to witness North America’s imminent total solar eclipse from an unparalleled vantage point in the path of totality.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the expansion of the company’s Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection portfolio in Mexico with plans for a Breathless Resort & Spa branded property to open next year in Puerto Vallarta.