The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff Reports
Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 11:22 AM
Tennessee Airbnb Hosts To Earn At Least $2.6 Million During Eclipse
Home sharing platform Airbnb today released new data and issued a call to action to its host community to help Tennessee take full economic advantage of excitement for the upcoming solar eclipse.
At this time, Airbnb projects that the Airbnb host community in Tennessee cities along the path of totality will earn a combined $2.6 million in supplemental income while welcoming over 13,200 guest arrivals during the eclipse. The data indicates a significant economic boon for Tennessee and its residents. The 13,200 guest arrivals in those towns represent a 216% spike compared to a week prior.
The data concludes that Tennessee is -- by a significant margin -- the most popular U.S. state among Airbnb eclipse-goers, both in terms of guest arrivals and overall host income.
Local media accounts have closely documented the lack of hotel availability as visitors flock to Tennessee. While the path of totality includes larger cities like Nashville and Knoxville, most of the Tennessee cities lack any hotels at all. The rise of home sharing has allowed Tennessee to expand lodging capacity and empowered more traditionally rural communities to benefit from the economic activity during this once in a generation event.
The expanded lodging capacity for Tennessee communities during the eclipse also offers significant economic value to local restaurants and shops. According to the U.S. Labor Department’s annual Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average American tourist spends $106.50 a day while traveling (not including lodging). Multiplying that average by the number of Tennessee Airbnb guest arrivals, Airbnb hosts have the opportunity to direct a potential $1.41 million in guest spending towards the Tennessee merchant community on August 20-21.
Airbnb is issuing a call to action to its hosts to help guide eclipse guests to local shops, restaurants and other small businesses that do not typically benefit from traditional tourism revenue. This is particularly important, because 22% of those hosting via Airbnb during the eclipse in Tennessee towns on the path will be doing so for the first time.