The practice of renting out private homes through Airbnb Inc. or other “sharing economy” ventures has the potential to disrupt the hotel industry, but it also could provide new opportunities for hotels and the commercial laundries that can service them.
 
Chris Gowdy, vice president of Riegel Consumer Products Division of Mount Vernon Mills Inc., which produces linens for the textile rental, healthcare, retail and hospitality markets, called the changes brought about by the sharing economy extremely relevant to hospitality-related industries.
 
“Airbnb is definitely a disruptor in the hotel segment,” says Gowdy, who is based ...