Airbnb connects travelers from around the world to unique rentable spaces. With the recent launch of a "Neighborhoods" feature, Airbnb has the potential to redirect tourist spending to often overlooked areas.
While tourists often crave authentic, local experiences from the cities they visit, information about where to go and what to do is often limited to the tried and true destinations. Fast Company writer, Ariel Schwartz laments, "Whenever I happen to be walking near San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf area--ground zero for tourists--I want to yell at passersby: 'Get out of here! There are so many more vibrant parts of the city that you could be visiting.'"
Airbnb, the website that allows travelers to book spaces on a peer-to-peer platform, has created a unique Neighborhoods feature that highlights the nooks and crannies of popular cities, providing a new way to experience places like San Francisco. Airbnb solicited the input from "neighborhood experts", local street photographers and hired their own cartographer to create comprehensive guides to 300 neighborhoods in 7 cities: New York, Paris, London, San Francisco, Berlin, Washington DC, and Rio de Janeiro.
"Airbnb has some serious economic power," writes Schwartz, "According to a recent study from HR&A Advisors, Airbnb guests in San Francisco stay in their accommodations for an average of 5.5 days and spend approximately $1,045 on transportation, shopping, and food. At the same time, 90% of guests visiting San Francisco (and presumably other cities) prefer to stay in areas that are 'off the beaten track.'"
Neighborhoods businesses that are used to serving locals might see a boost from tourism in the near future.
Thanks to Jessica Brent
FULL STORY: How Airbnb’s New Neighborhoods Feature Can Revive Local Economies
European Cities Forcing Airbnb to Play by the Rules
European cities have taken a proactive role in regulating Airbnb.
Friday Eye Candy: Images of the World's Cities Through History
Tour the history of the world's most famous cities.
New App Plots the Most Beautiful, Walkable Route
Interested in finding the road less traveled by? Walkonomics has launched in seven cities around the globe.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Bend Eliminates Parking Minimums
The city is complying with an Oregon state mandate that some cities have challenged in court.
Scottsdale Cuts Water Supply to Nearby Suburb
The city claims it has no responsibility to provide water to the unincorporated Maricopa County community.
Utah Could Eliminate Parking Requirements Near Transit
A proposed state bill would bar cities from requiring parking in areas adjacent to transit stations in an effort to make housing production more affordable and encourage walking and transit use.
Where Pandemic Bike Improvements Won Out
While some cities are reverting back to pre-pandemic street configurations, others are taking advantage of the momentum for bike and pedestrian infrastructure to make pandemic-era projects permanent.
Atlanta Transit Plans Stall Due to Budget Concerns
With MARTA facing a potential billion dollar shortfall, the agency says it can’t fulfill its system expansion plan.
Town of Reading
Meridian Consultants
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Piedmont, CA
City of Morganton
St. Louis County, MO
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
