Hosting RNC 'slam dunk' for CLE Panelists: Performance 'elevated how we are viewed by the world'
Airbnb says guests in Cleveland poured $3 million into local restaurants.
(Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A new report says Airbnb guests spent $3 million in Cleveland-area restaurants over the past year.
Overall, that amount puts Cleveland last among 17 American cities on the list, but it was enough to merit an appearance.
Two summer events fueled the spending in Cleveland: The Republican National Convention and the NBA Finals.
"It was big enough to make the cut," said Airbnb's Ben Breit, who covers the Midwest for the eight-year-old company. "It was a big year for Cleveland, having the RNC, hosting the NBA finals. I don't know if that led to more tourism overall; I would have to say yes. That probably played a role in why the guest spending was high enough that (the city) cracked into the report."
Airbnb offers a connecting network of people's spaces in thousands of places, from homes to villas, for lodgers to stay in lieu of hotels.
The report indicates Cleveland experienced a 263 percent spike in Airbnb travelers on June 11, the day after game 4 of the finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Other facts pertaining to Cleveland and Airbnb:
* About 1,000 people in Cleveland currently list a room or their full residence.
* Those Airbnb hosts have welcomed about 20,000 people to Cleveland over the past year, which reflects approximately 147 percent year-over-year growth.
* The typical host in Cleveland brings in about $6,000 annually via Airbnb.
The report shows Airbnb guests spent $4.5 billion worldwide from September 2015 to September 2016 on restaurants and dining out. New York ($470 million), Los Angeles ($236 million) and San Francisco ($107 million) finished as the top three American cities in the ranking.
Among guest spending at restaurants abroad, London ($561 million), Paris ($430 million) and Tokyo ($329 million) finished as the top troika.
The report also found Airbnb guests in the United States spend an average of $50 to $90 per guest per night dining. About 75 percent of Airbnb listings are outside traditional hotel districts, and 42 percent of guests' spending occurs within the neighborhood where they are staying.