Hoteliers See Value in Airbnb Listings Even As Demand Falters
Home sharing and Airbnb listings might have fared at least marginally better than the broader hotel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some boutique hoteliers who list on Airbnb said bookings on that and other third-party distribution channels have also taken a significant hit.
Rick Verkler, general manager of The GuestHouse in Chicago, said it's extremely difficult to do an in-depth analysis given how demand has cratered across the board, but that it was clear bookings from Airbnb have suffered to a greater degree than those from direct channels or online travel agencies.
"It was definitely hit harder," he said, pointing to restrictions on single-night stays in Chicago and new rules put in place on the platform as reasons for that drop.
Ultimately, though, he remains bullish on the long-term potential of using Airbnb to help generate demand.