Spain has rejected Airbnb’s efforts to stop a fine of €64 million issued in December for advertising unlicensed properties, offering incorrect licenses or misleading advertising.
The High Court of Justice of Madrid denied the company's request for precautionary measures that would halt the Spanish ministry of consumer affairs’ fine, and Airbnb will have to pay the fine, the ministry said in a release.
PhocusWire has reached out to Airbnb.
Spain issued the fine late last year for advertising unlicensed short-term rentals (STRs). At the time, the ministry said that the fee was six times the profit Airbnb gained from the illegal listings. The ministry identified around 65,000 violations, which Airbnb took down at the behest of the ministry.
Airbnb appealed the fine, resulting in a temporary suspension of obligation to pay.
In December, an Airbnb spokesperson said the STR giant was confident that the ministry's moves were “contrary to applicable regulations in Spain.”
“Short-term rental regulations in Spain changed in July, and Airbnb is closely collaborating with Spain’s Ministry of Housing to support the enforcement of the new national registration system,” the spokesperson said. “As part of this collaboration, more than 70,000 listings have added a registration number since January, and therefore remain available for booking on the platform.”
Spain has been battling overtourism amid an ongoing housing crisis, leading Barcelona to ban STRs in summer 2024.
Booking.com previously was subject to fines related to its operations in Spain, with an independent regulator fining the online travel agency €413 million for taking advantage of “its dominant position” in the market.