Airbnb Sees Inventory Boost Amid Post-Pandemic Travel Expectations

Airbnb inventory is overflowing with all kinds of vacation stay options as the travel industry looks ahead to a vaccinated population seeking getaways at short-term rental properties rather than at more traditional venues.

There are more than 5.4 million active Airbnb listings worldwide, more than double the number in 2017, according to the short-term vacation rental data and analytics firm AirDNA. Airbnb’s inventory is also more than numerous hotel chains combined. Together, Marriott, Hilton and IHG had a total of 3.3 million units available.

As the world was gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, larger short-term rentals in remote areas helped Airbnb stay afloat and plan ahead. The company has largely performed better than more traditional types of lodging, like hotels and motor inns, according to AirDNA data. 

In February alone, Airbnb’s active listings worldwide went up by 2.5 percent compared to the same period in 2020. Inventory in the 10 countries where it has the biggest presence is mixed, however. In Canada, for example, the supply of short-term rentals plummeted 22 percent in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, where 40 percent of the inventory was located last year. The rest of Canada dropped 3.5 percent, according to AirDNA.

Airbnb hosts in Lisbon, Barcelona, Prague, Venice and other European city centers said they shifted from short-term stays to longer-term rentals because of the pandemic. Other hosts just abandoned their businesses or moved into the properties they used to rent. Inventory in the biggest European cities that had one night booked or available plummeted 21.9 percent year on year in the past month.

Looking ahead, Airbnb introduced a new search option based on where people want to travel instead of specific dates as a way to further facilitate the scheduling of getaways. The new search feature also gives hosts insight into interested travelers. Last month’s Airbnb travel trends report indicated that 25 percent of Americans are open to off-peak vacations.