Lauren
While businesses within many industries have been taking a hit thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, some companies, like those in the vacation rental industry, have actually seen a boost in business over the past few months.
As people have begun working remotely, companies like Airbnb and VRBO have seen their popularity soar. Whereas hotel occupancy has dropped significantly, lengthy vacation rental stays are becoming increasingly popular.
Considering that both hotels and vacation rental companies offer a similar service, this disparity might seem a bit strange.
Here are four reasons why these rental businesses, unlike hotels, are continuing to grow during the pandemic:
Safety
While many would argue that hotels actually have an edge over other businesses in the hospitality industry when it comes to their cleaning measures, Airbnb and VRBO continue to grow because they are a safer alternative to international travel.
For those who have had to sacrifice flying to their luxury vacation spots due to COVID-19, Airbnb and VRBO offer a comparable, yet safer, substitute. Instead of flying overseas or across the country for vacation, many families are opting to stay in private, picturesque vacation rental properties, allowing them to get the vacation experience while safely quarantining away from others and avoiding unnecessary travel.
Necessity
While some hotels have had to shut down in order to enact cleaning measures or follow policies to ensure guest safety, Airbnb and VRBO protocols have typically left closing decisions up to each individual homeowner.
This means that when some hotels were closed, vacation rental businesses offered the only places for people to stay when they were traveling from out of town.
Remote work
Millions of people across the globe have been asked to work remotely during this pandemic. With the option to work from home, or anywhere of their choosing, many are deciding that they would rather work from a vacation destination than their homes, choosing properties listed with Airbnb and VRBO.
Zoom meetings might be boring, but they are certainly a whole lot better when you’re overlooking breathtaking mountain views or sitting by your own private pool.
Unique experiences
Many people felt like they were going stir crazy during the early months of quarantine. Airbnb took advantage of this situation by offering unique and extravagant online experiences from dance classes to cooking classes to live scavenger hunts.
Whether someone wants to cook Mexican street tacos with a professional chef or watch a live Tango concert with a Latin Grammy nominee, there are plenty of options available for people to capitalize on during the pandemic. Offering these experiences is helping boost Airbnb’s bottom line in the midst of COVID-19.
