Airbnb’s first report examines the economic impact of home sharing in Lisbon, following similar reports in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona, writes the National Association of Local Lodging Establishments, NALLE.
According to the report, the Local Lodging is a new economic engine that is helping to grow and diversify tourism in Lisbon and Portugal.
Home sharing generates new economic activity and democratises benefits for middle class families and local businesses across the country. Local Lodging also transforms the way guests experience Portugal and is attracting new guests who want to experience Lisbon beyond the typical tourist hotspots to “live like locals”.
Here are some highlights from the data released:
450,000 guests used Airbnb to visit Lisbon last year, up from 213,000 guests in 2014;
* The total economic activity of the Airbnb community in Lisbon in 2015 was €268 million;
* Local Airbnb hosts earned €42.8 million by sharing their homes on Airbnb and €224.9 million was spent by Airbnb guests at local businesses;
* More than 4,500 hosts shared their space on Airbnb last year;
* Hosts earned on average of €530 per month by sharing their space for 76 nights per year;
* The average host on Airbnb in Lisbon is 39 years old and more than 40% earn at or below Portugal’s median household income;
* 43% of Airbnb hosts in Lisbon say they use Airbnb income to help make ends meet.
90% of Lisbon Airbnb guests say they chose Airbnb to “live like locals”
* 70% of Airbnb guests in Lisbon stay outside the typical tourist hotspots and the average Airbnb guest spends 38 % of their money at local business in the neighbourhood in which they stay, spreading guests and benefits across Lisbon;
* Almost 30 % of Airbnb guests say they would not have come to Lisbon or stayed as long without Airbnb;
* The average Airbnb guest in Lisbon travels with two other guests and stays an average of 4.1 nights, twice the average stay in traditional accommodation;
* The average host rating in Lisbon is 4.6 (out of 5) and 93 % of guests say they chose Airbnb because of the amenities providing in their listing.
Many listings on Airbnb in Lisbon are local residents’ homes
* 72% of hosts in Airbnb in Lisbon have only one listing and hosts have lived in the city for an average of 25 years;
* A typical listing in Lisbon is shared for 76 nights a year and more than half of all listings in Lisbon are rented for fewer than 90 days.
Boosting tax revenues in Lisbon
In 2016, Airbnb began collecting and remitting tourist taxes from Airbnb guests on behalf of hosts in Lisbon after Airbnb and the City of Lisbon signed an agreement to promote responsible home sharing and simplify the payment of tourist taxes.
Lisbon is one of the European cities that are taking the lead in this type of partnership that allows Airbnb to collect and remit tourist taxes from guests on behalf of hosts, following the example of Paris, Amsterdam and many US cities.
Airbnb announced it has collected over $85 million in hotel, tourist and occupancy taxes worldwide and is collecting and remitting taxes in 190 jurisdictions globally.
The Lisbon Municipal Tourist Tax earned €3,880,000 for the City Council between January and May of 2016. According to the municipality, the €7,000,000 annual estimate should be "clearly exceeded" by the end of the year.
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The National Association of Local Lodging Establishments has as its mission to provide essential information and support regarding Local Lodging; enhance security for holidaymakers and owner/operators; strengthen compliance and be a collective voice, representing all of those engaged in Local Lodging in Portugal.
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