For the upcoming summer vacation season, travelers have an array of choices: Beach or mountains? Fly or drive? Hotel or Airbnb? It’s that last choice — between traditional lodging providers and upstart short-term rental services — that has upset the hotel industry, which claims Airbnb and similar operations unfairly cut into its market share with unregulated accommodations and unlicensed vendors. But the effect of Airbnb on the hotel industry — measured with a variety of metrics — is difficult to gauge. Assessments offer differing views of the situation. The American Hotel and Lodging Association says competition is a healthy part of business and expresses confidence that hotels still have a lock on the travel market.

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