The hotels lobbying against airbnb and its likes in NYC comes off as cowardly to me.

Yes, there are health and security concerns and yes, they can be addressed by some common sense procedures such as checking ratings before you go and sending a friend the address of where you're staying, and maybe let them check in on you by phone if you're that paranoid.

Furthermore, the "craigslist killer" was also suspected to have been involved in three cases of assault and murder in actual, major hotels: Westin, Mariott and Holiday Inn based on similar criminal characteristics. Prosecution was stopped when he committed suicide. Crime can happen anywhere. Also, have you never heard of bedbug cases in hotels?

Viva creative destruction.