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Airbnb Announces Florida Spring Training Economic Impact Results

Florida’s Grapefruit League brought 15 MLB teams to 12 Florida cities, primarily in Central and Southwest Florida. All 12 cities saw a significant spikes in Airbnb guest arrivals during Spring Training as compared to the prior 5-week stretch.

Smaller cities such as Jupiter (64% Airbnb spike), Lakeland (82% Airbnb spike), Port St. Lucie (95% spike), Dunedin (205% Airbnb spike) and Port Charlotte (78% spike) all benefitted significantly from local Airbnb hosts helping to expand lodging capacity and welcome more visitors during Spring Training. However, larger home sharing markets such as Sarasota (91% spike) and Kissimmee (46% spike) which receive steady streams of Airbnb travelers year-round also experienced noticeable economic impacts as the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves attracted their fan bases to those respective cities.

In 10 of the 12 Florida cities, residents of the MLB team’s home state accounted for the top supply of Airbnb guests during Spring Training. These include an 1,860% spike to Dunedin (home of the Blue Jays) from Ontario natives and a 3,400% spike to Jupiter (home of the Cardinals) from Missouri natives.

“Spring Training represents a foundational component of the local economies for these 12 Florida cities,” said Tom Martinelli, public policy director for Airbnb Florida. “By expanding lodging capacity for regions with limited hotel inventory, Airbnb hosts helped welcome more families and baseball fans to their cities while serving as ambassadors for their local communities.”

Spring Training home sharing impact results can be found below (reflective of February 23 -- March 31)

TAMPA -- Home to New York Yankees

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 9,605 guest arrivals
  • Guest Origin: New York was #1 origin state to Tampa
  • Overall Spike: 32% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Home State Spike: 33% spike in New York guests compared to previous 6 week stretch
  • Host Income: Tampa hosts earned $1.53 million in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 800 Airbnb hosts in Tampa

CLEARWATER -- Home to Philadelphia Phillies

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 3,447 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 62% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Pennsylvania was #1 origin state to Clearwater
  • Home State Spike: 153% spike in Pennsylvania guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Clearwater hosts earned $820,000 in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 300 Airbnb hosts in Clearwater

BRADENTON -- Home to Pittsburgh Pirates

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 1,694 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 45% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Pennsylvania was #1 origin state to Bradenton
  • Home State Spike: 194% spike in Pennsylvania guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Bradenton hosts earned $380,000 in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 300 Airbnb hosts in Bradenton

LAKELAND -- Home to Detroit Tigers

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 482 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 82% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Michigan was #1 origin state to Lakeland
  • Home State Spike: 575% spike in Michigan guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Lakeland hosts earned $79,000 in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 70 Airbnb hosts in Lakeland

SARASOTA -- Home to Baltimore Orioles

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 6,664 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 91% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Maryland was #5 origin state to Sarasota
  • Home State Spike: 247% spike in Maryland guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Sarasota hosts earned $1.86 million in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 700 Airbnb hosts in Sarasota

DUNEDIN -- Home to Toronto Blue Jays

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 800 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 105% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Ontario was #1 origin state/province (American or Canadian) to Dunedin
  • Home State Spike: 1,860% spike in Ontario guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Dunedin hosts earned $263,000 in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 100 Airbnb hosts in Dunedin

FORT MYERS -- Home to Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 2,485 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 67% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Minnesota was #1 origin state to Fort Myers, Massachusetts was #6 origin state
  • Home State Spike: 113% spike in Minnesota guests and 109% spike in Massachusetts guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Fort Myers hosts earned $566,000 in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 400 Airbnb hosts in Fort Myers

PORT CHARLOTTE -- Home to Tampa Rays

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 382 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 78% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Florida was #1 origin state to Port Charlotte
  • Home State Spike: 79% spike in Florida guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Port Charlotte hosts earned $138,000 in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 100 Airbnb hosts in Port Charlotte

JUPITER -- Home to Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 778 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 68% spike in guests compared to previous 6 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Missouri was #1 origin state to Jupiter, Florida was #2 origin state, Illinois (just across border from St. Louis) was #4 state
  • Home State Spike: 3,400% spike in Missouri guests and 53% spike in Florida guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Jupiter hosts earned $245,000 in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 100 Airbnb hosts in Jupiter

WEST PALM BEACH -- Home to Houston Astros and Washington Nationals

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 3,858 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 39% spike in guests compared to previous 6 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Virginia was #2 origin state to West Palm Beach, Texas was #3 origin state, Maryland was #8 origin state
  • Home State Spike: 383% spike in Virginia guests, 125% spike in Texas guests, 227% in Maryland guests, and 211% spike in Washington D.C. guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: West Palm Beach hosts earned $1.18 million in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 400 Airbnb hosts in West Palm Beach

PORT ST. LUCIE -- Home to New York Mets

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 953 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 95% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: New York was #1 origin state to Port St. Lucie
  • Home State Spike: 163% spike in New York guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Port St. Lucie hosts earned $228,000 in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 100 Airbnb hosts in Port St. Lucie

KISSIMMEE -- Home to Atlanta Braves

During Spring Training:

  • Airbnb Guests: 37,447 guest arrivals
  • Overall Spike: 46% spike in guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Guest Origin: Georgia was #1 origin state to Kissimmee
  • Home State Spike: 148% spike in Georgia guests compared to previous 5 week stretch
  • Host Income: Kissimmee hosts earned $5.25 million in supplemental income by sharing their homes
  • Active Hosts: About 2,200 Airbnb hosts in Kissimmee