12/9/2018 Technology - Bloomberg

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Airbnb's Early Lobbying Led to a Win in Cuba:

The Influence Game
By Olivia Zaleski
February 15, 2018, 1:00 AM PST

An American and Cuban flag are seen on the dashboard of a taxi in Havana. Photographer: Joe Raedle/Getty
Images South America

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Last year, Airbnb Inc. launched a lobbying campaign as President Donald Trump was calling for limits
on American travel to Cuba.

The vacation-rental booking site, which considers Cuba one of its fastest-growing markets, fought hard
to ensure the Trump administration’s updated rules allowed American travelers to stay in Cubans’
homes when they visit.

In June, Trump promised to crack down on President Barack Obama’s efforts to restore relations with
Cuba and directed his agencies to draft new legislation that would restrict commercial ties and travel to
the island nation. When the Treasury Department issued updated rules in early November, it restricted
the use of many hotels. However, a section called "Support for the Cuban People" let Americans stay
"in a room at a rented accommodation in a private Cuban residence."

Read more about tech industry power in The Influence Game series.
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12/9/2018 Technology - Bloomberg

The apparent triumph for San Francisco-based Airbnb highlights the upstart’s emerging influence in
Washington. In the second and third quarters of 2017 -- when Airbnb was arguing its case on Cuba --
the startup spent $250,000 and lobbied the Senate, the House of Representatives and agencies including
the State Department and the National Security Council, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Airbnb's Seeks Accommodating Lawmakers

Entering its 10th year, the startup is still a small lobbying force

Source: lobbying disclosures

Not all of Airbnb’s lobbying activities have succeeded. It hired the Podesta Group, founded by
Democratic mega-lobbyist Tony Podesta, whose brother John was a top official in the Bill Clinton
White House and served as Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman. Airbnb also used Mercury Public
Affairs. Both lobbying groups worked with indicted Trump campaign operative Paul Manafort, people
familiar with the matter told Bloomberg in November. The Podesta Group has shut down now and
Airbnb no longer works with Mercury. Nick Papas, a spokesman for Airbnb, declined to comment.

— With assistance by Bill Allison, and Ben Brody

Bloomberg Technology

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