Airbnb bid to counter ‘terrorist’ danger ad

ALBANY — Airbnb is fighting back against a new hotel industry ad that raises security concerns about home-sharing.

Airbnb was set to debut its own ad Thursday in response to the TV attack, featuring a self-described stay-at-home father from Brooklyn who says he needs the supplemental income he earns from home-sharing.

“The hotel industry is pushing scare tactics to frighten the host to think there’s something wrong with what they’re doing,” the man, identified only as Quami, says in the ad.

“Please don’t threaten the income of me and my family, because it’s very important to us.”

The spot shows the man in his apartment with his three children.

Airbnb spokesman Peter Schottenfels said the company will spend roughly $500,000 to broadcast the ad, which will run for two weeks on cable and have “a significant online presence.”

“While hotels launch desperate, xenophobic smear attacks in an attempt to protect their ability to price-gouge, Airbnb hosts represent what’s best about New York — hardworking families who open their homes to travelers and are able to make a bit of extra money to stay in the neighborhoods they love,” Schottenfels said.

The commercial comes in response to a 10-day ad paid for by the New York City hotel industry that raises security concerns about Airbnb, and references the recent Manchester, England, bombing. The hotel industry cites media coverage that bomber Salman Abedi used a short-term — non-Airbnb — rental he found online and had “massive packages” sent to him there.