Airbnb hosts in U.S. insulated from international anti-Trump boycott because almost all American Airbnb business caters to domestic travellers

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In an earnings forecast to shareholders earlier this month Airbnb executives acknowledged the well documented downturn in foreign travel to the USA in response to Trump policies, but said that the company was largely insulated from the downturn because American Airbnb hosts cater almost exclusively to American guests.

Yahoo News covered the earnings call, in an article quoiting quoting Airbnb CFO Ellie Mertz. Mertz said foreign travellers to the United States represent only 3% of Airbnb’s American business.

While Airbnb as a company was not concerned about taking a hit, the article did not address the impact on individual Airbnb hosts located in areas like Maine, Orlando and Palm Springs that rely on non-American visitors for a substantial portion of their tourism dollar. Three percent is a national average – and in some regions foreign bookings are close to zero, and elsewhere they are an essential revenue stream for local Airbnb hosts.

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In 11 years of Airbnbing and over 1000 stays, I only had a handful of foreign guests at my remote outpost of a town. I’m now closed and have taken on a roommate. It’s not related to the current regime but the timing is good.

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Before Covid we had many international guests, maybe upwards of 20%. In August we have one group coming from Britain, they booked last autumn. I’ve tried to warn them, but they are still planning to come. I hope their papers are “in order”

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This is not only how the outside world increasingly sees American border officials, it is – sadly – how those officials now see themselves.

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This is May long weekend / Victoria Day in Canada and I (just south of Seattle) typically have the weekend booked well in advance by Canadians traveling for the weekend. This year I was vacant up until the last minute and then got booked by a soldier looking for housing in the area, but not until I lowered my rates to standard (rather than holiday weekend). So while I still earned something this weekend, it is definitely not the same demand from foreign travelers as before tRump.

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Over the past 7 years of hosting, I would say that about half of my guests were Canadians. They too have stopped traveling to the US. It’s not just Europeans. Many of them used to come to the US just to purchase a car and drive it back to Canada. After 7 years I have decided to sell my Airbnb house. Wishing everyone the best of luck.

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Sorry to hear you’ve hit the wall. Where is your Airbnb?

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My sales are down more than 50 percent because my airbnb is a favorite for Canadians and foreign travelers.

I’m also not getting a lot of US travelers. I have done this for 9 years and except for Covid, I’ve never seen my calendar so empty. I’m very nervous.

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I’m on the Jersey Shore. It has been 7 good years so I don’t regret it but for me it’s time to move on. Houses are selling quickly and home prices have gone so I decided to sell and not wait it out. Wishing everyone the best of luck.

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And what is your location?

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Boston. Right now I’m running promotions with my winter rates.

I live on the first floor and with my business income down, and now the Airbnb I may have to move within a year or so if this continues.

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It’s not just you:

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