On September 1st, the new regulations of Bill 25 regulating tourist or short-term accommodation come into force.
• Also read: Monster fines: The tourism minister sends a stern warning to Airbnb
• Also read: Tragedy in Old Montreal: The fire was started by criminals
This requires businesses and individuals to provide a certificate’s registration number and expiration date when posting ads on digital platforms such as Airbnb.
According to TVA Nouvelles, nearly 2,000 individuals and businesses took the initiative to comply with the new rules when they came into force, according to the Quebec Tourism Industry Corporation.
Last June, 722 registration applications were received, compared to 565 in July and 661 in August.
TVA News
Anyone who refuses to comply with the new regulations will face a fine of up to $100,000 per illegal advertisement.
Most of the advertisements seen by TVA Nouvelles on the rental platform Airbnb on Friday morning appear to be compliant.
“They are web giants and every time we come in with fines they literally attack each other. “In addition, Expedia sent us a letter telling us that it was not ready for September 1st and asked to postpone the date,” explained Caroline Proulx in an interview with TVA Nouvelles on August 18 last year.
Airbnb also reminded its subscribers yesterday to send the necessary registration information to continue welcoming travelers.
Many people wonder how to determine if a registration number on an Airbnb listing is actually authentic.
According to a statement from Tourisme Québec, if in doubt, customers should consult the website bonjourquebec.com.
“Most accommodation businesses are represented there, with the exception of main residence businesses and a few operators who do not want their business to be broadcast.” This means that over 15,000 businesses are listed there, all with a clearly visible registration number. “An internet user can search there in particular for the registration number, an address or even the name of the company,” it can be read.
The creation of a public register accessible to everyone is not ruled out.