Airbnb, VRBO, and other short-term rental properties continue to play a key role in supporting travel to our destination. This #TravelTuesday, we’re taking a look at the rise of alternative accommodations.
Our destination offers a variety of accommodations, ranging from budget to luxury. Although the rate for each night’s stay is a significant consideration for every traveler’s overall plan, other factors also matter, such as:
- Geography, climate, and season.
- The reason for visiting.
- The duration of your stay.
- The number of guests in the travel party.
We’re fortunate to have several types of places to stay in Chatham County, offering something for every itinerary: meetings and conferences, weddings, music festivals, relocation, remote work, leisure and recreation, voluntourism, craft beverage tours, and more.
No matter the reason, the place you call home, even for one night, matters. Increasingly, though, guests are seeking accommodations for much longer than one night.
Airbnb’s Chief Financial Officer, Dave Stephenson, notes that in North America, 23% of our stays are now 28 days or longer.
We’ve long followed the increasing popularity of Airbnbs and other short-term rentals, not just among younger guests, but with travelers spanning all generations. For many, it’s a distinctive opportunity to live like a local. Visitors value:
- Flexible arrangements for their stay.
- Immersive cultural experiences.
- A range of robust amenities.
Like all travel trends, alternative accommodations have their own set of challenges:
- Short-term rental markets, notably Airbnb, have faced criticisms regarding safety, service fees, and quality control.
- Many blame Airbnb and other companies, at least in part, for rising costs and supply shortages in housing markets across the United States.
- Following the pandemic, travel restrictions have been lifted in many areas, leading to a resurgence in hotel traffic.
- Visitor sentiments are shifting, too. Some guests miss the full-service experience provided by hotels and traditional bed-and-breakfast inns.
These factors, among others, have slowed Airbnb’s growth since the pandemic. Despite some of these setbacks, short-term rentals remain a growing market and, for many visitors, a valuable alternative to traditional accommodations.
Although our events and activities have grown significantly, Chatham County remains a relatively rural area with fewer traditional rooms compared to surrounding destinations. The opening of the new Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton in Pittsboro was a significant step towards filling this gap in inventory, increasing our room capacity by over 50%.
Even still, alternative accommodations continue to play a role in supporting travel to our destination, particularly among remote workers and those relocating to Chatham County.
We’re here to help you find the right fit for your perfect stay. Please let us know if we can assist with your travel arrangements, including group bookings. We’d also love to hear from our local Airbnb community—we have several ways we’d like to collaborate with you.
