Airbnb: Releases Wisconsin university economic impact report

Ben Breit, Airbnb Midwest Public Affairs

e: benjamin.breit@airbnb.com

c: 847-274-5456


 

Airbnb today released data indicating the meaningful economic impact of home sharing during major college commencement ceremonies throughout Wisconsin.

 

For graduation weekends throughout the state, local Airbnb host communities are expanding lodging capacity and offering affordable rates for visiting families and loved ones. With hotels often selling out due to the influx of college parents, commencement ceremonies have long been known as sources of an unfortunate degree of hotel price gouging, which the rise of home sharing has helped alleviate.


In Madison, the University’s website warns UW parents of very limited hotel availability during commencement, a void that the home sharing community helped fill last weekend.


In Milwaukee, the Marquette and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee commencements this coming weekend are projected to usher in the largest influx of guests to the city in the history of Airbnb’s platform.


“By expanding lodging capacity and helping to welcome additional guests during these major events, home sharing facilitates significant economic activity for communities with large universities,” said Will Burns, Airbnb policy director. “Most of us can relate to having to book hotels 1-2 years in advance of college graduations. We’re very encouraged to see our platform utilized to provide affordable lodging accommodations for college families and support Wisconsin’s middle-class host community.”

 

For this year’s commencements, the State of Wisconsin capitalized further from new home sharing tax revenue. In June 2017, Airbnb announced a tax agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to collect state sales taxes on behalf of its Wisconsin hosts and remit the revenue directly to the state government. Airbnb also has agreements in place with Madison, Green Bay and most recently Racine to collect and remit those cities’ respective room taxes.


 

University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Commencement Dates: May 11-12

  • Total Airbnb Guests During Commencement: 890

  • Percentage Spike from Previous Week in Guest Arrivals: 79%

  • Total Airbnb Host Income During Commencement: $103,000

  • Supplemental Income for Typical Host During Commencement: $354


Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

  • Commencement Dates: May 20 (both)

  • Total Airbnb Guests During Commencement: 1,100 (projected)

  • Percentage Spike from Previous Week in Guest Arrivals: 60%

  • Total Airbnb Host Income During Commencement: $70,000

  • Supplemental Income for Typical Host During Commencement: $171


University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

  • Commencement Dates: May 12

  • Total Airbnb Guests During Commencement: 55

  • Percentage Spike from Previous Week in Guest Arrivals: 5%

  • Total Airbnb Host Income During Commencement: $4,000

  • Supplemental Income for Typical Host During Commencement: $155


University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

  • Commencement Dates: May 12

  • Total Airbnb Guests During Commencement: 60

  • Percentage Spike from Previous Week in Guest Arrivals: 100%

  • Total Airbnb Host Income During Commencement: $4,000

  • Supplemental Income for Typical Host During Commencement: $169


University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

  • Commencement Dates: May 19

  • Total Airbnb Guests During Commencement: 70

  • Percentage Spike from Previous Week in Guest Arrivals: 84%

  • Total Airbnb Host Income During Commencement: $5,000

  • Supplemental Income for Typical Host During Commencement: $157


University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

  • Commencement Dates: May 13

  • Total Airbnb Guests During Commencement: 90

  • Percentage Spike from Previous Week in Guest Arrivals: 19%

  • Total Airbnb Host Income During Commencement: $5,000

  • Supplemental Income for Typical Host During Commencement: $140

About Airbnb

Founded in 2008, Airbnb is a global travel community that offers magical end-to-end trips, including where you stay, what you do and the people you meet. Airbnb uniquely leverages technology to economically empower millions of people around the world to unlock and monetize their spaces, passions and talents to become hospitality entrepreneurs. Airbnb’s accommodation marketplace offers access to millions of places to stay in more than 191 countries, from apartments and villas to castles, treehouses and B&Bs. With Experiences, people can see a different side to a destination through unique, handcrafted activities run by locals, while a partnership with Resy provides access to the best local restaurants in selected countries. All of this is brought together in one easy-to-use and beautifully designed website and app.