AIRBNB CONTRIBUTES €202 MILLION to the Irish economy in a year.

A report released today also shows that the accommodation website supported 2,020 jobs from October 2014 to September 2015.

This is the first study to look at the impacts of Airbnb in Ireland, and comes after similar studies across the world, including in France, New York, London and Madrid.

It was conducted in collaboration with Irish economist David McWilliams, and looked at all travel to Ireland during the 12 month period selected.

The study found that Airbnb hosts use the money they earn from sharing their homes to pay rent and other bills.

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The report also found that:

• 330,000 guests have used Airbnb to visit Ireland in the past year, and 213,000 Irish residents have used Airbnb to explore the world.
• Airbnb listings in Ireland have more than doubled since 2010 and span more than 500 cities, towns and villages in all Irish counties.
• In the past year, 7,200 Irish hosts welcomed guests into their homes. The typical host earned €2,600 a year by sharing their space for 46 nights a year.
• 60% of hosts in Ireland said the additional income helped them stay in their homes, and 15% of hosts used this income to help start a new business.
• Airbnb guests spend an average of €561 per visitor per trip. They want ‘authentic travel experiences’; 83% want to live like a local and 75% want to explore a specific neighbourhood.
• Over 90% of guests would recommend the Airbnb listing they stayed in to friends and family.
• Almost 80% of guests said their experience on Airbnb made them more likely to return to the city they visited, and almost 25% of guests would not have gone on their trip or stayed as long without Airbnb.

Patrick Robinson, head of public policy at Airbnb, said the company is good for the Irish economy because it “helps grow and diversify tourism, spreads benefits to new communities and local businesses, and is a lifeline for thousands of Irish residents, helping them stay in their homes and support their families”.

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“We want to work with everyone in Ireland on progressive measures to support Irish residents who share their homes to help make ends meet,” Robinson stated.

“Airbnb shows how quickly the sharing economy is changing the traditional economy,” David McWilliams said.

“It is a disruptive trend that will change how, why, where and when we travel, which will have profound effects on the economy in the years ahead,” he added.

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