Searches for Airbnb stays in Houston during Astroworld increased by 40 percent from June to July alone
Over 2019 Astroworld weekend, Airbnb Hosts earned $9.3 million, indicating this big event will mean big opportunity for those with space to share
During the 2019 event, the Airbnb community generated $1.6 million in economic activity, supporting local small businesses across Space City
With Houston readying for Astroworld in less than one month, Airbnb Hosts are preparing to open their doors to an influx of music fans from across the country. From June to July alone, searches for accommodations in Space City during the festival increased by more than 40 percent, indicating that this event will likely be a boon both for those with space to share as well as small businesses citywide who will benefit from local spending by Airbnb guests.
Since Airbnb’s founding, the platform has helped cities use existing space to scale accommodations and absorb influxes of visitors, all while creating important economic opportunities for Airbnb Hosts and local small businesses, including during the 2019 Astroworld Festival. This last event marked the number-one night for Airbnb in Houston for guest arrivals, helping to democratize travel by bringing visitors — and their dollars — to neighborhoods across Houston, including outside of traditional tourism centers.
With the average guest spending approximately $340 per day during their travels according to a 2020 survey of Airbnb guests, Airbnb is estimated to have brought $1.6 million of economic activity to Houston on November 9, 2019 alone, not including the money local residents received for sharing their homes.
Along with lifting up local businesses, Astroworld has traditionally created vital opportunities for the Houston Host community. During the 2019 Astroworld, Airbnb Hosts earned $9.3 million by sharing their home with visitors — and with searches for accommodations increasing, it is likely that opportunity to Host during the 2021 festival will continue apace.
Super Host and Host Ambassador Seher is one Houston Host who will be sharing her spaces with Astroworld attendees. A native Texan, Seher is a respiratory therapist at Texas Medical Center and loves taking part in Houston’s booming food scene. She prides herself on being available to her guests to recommend a good restaurant, bar, coffee shop or grocery store, not only for Astroworld but year round.
“We began seeing bookings for early November at the very beginning of this year, and it quickly became clear that they were guests excited to return to our city for Astroworld,” said Seher Bachooali, Airbnb Super Host and Host Ambassador in Houston. “There is no doubt that this demand will continue, especially as the event nears and fans search for last-minute places to stay. If you’ve ever considered becoming a Host on Airbnb, now is the time to share your space, to tap into the coming need.”
With big events coming back in a big way, the opportunity of hosting on Airbnb will remain significant, both in Houston during Astroworld and beyond. Half of new listings that were both activated and booked in early 2021 got a reservation request within four days, and the average annual earnings per Host who had welcomed at least one guest was $9,600. New Airbnb Hosts in the US, who welcomed their first guests in the first six months of 2021 and have only one listing, have collectively made millions of dollars hosting on Airbnb – and US Hosts earned $1.3 billion this summer alone.
For those interested in earning extra income by hosting their home during Astroworld, Airbnb has even made it easier than ever to get started with a brand new suite of hosting tools. Those in Houston interested in becoming a Host can visit airbnb.com/host to learn how much their property could make on Airbnb, sign up for a hosting webinar, read about how we support our Hosts and much more.