MINNEAPOLIS – Super Bowl visitors looking for a last-minute place to stay continue to scoop up local airbnb listings.
But company officials also encourage airbnb hosts to consider the dynamic marketplace and the fact they’re now serving loyal fans, not necessarily those with deep pockets.
“The people who are booking now, they’re not business people who are expensing to their companies. They’re not millionaires. They’re fans of the team. They’re middle-class folk, who are looking for affordable options,” said Ben Breit, spokesman for the midwest division of airbnb.
Breit noted that of the 5,000 listings in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, 1,800 have been booked. He added that 43 percent of those bookings have happened just since last weekend, when the Super Bowl teams were decided. The average cost per room, per night right now is about $240 – triple the cost of the usual rate but still below most hotel rates, according to Breit. He expects people may lower their prices by mid-next week, if needed.
Meantime, those listing their properties maintain hope they’ll have last-minute takers.
“Hopefully we’ll snag someone who’s willing to pay the hefty $2,500 a night,” said Shane Montoya, an airbnb host who has listed three properties during the Super Bowl timeframe – including his own home.
Montoya said he would love to capitalize on the moment, but they also believe the greater community will profit from the overall cultural experience. On Thursday night, he joined several other airbnb hosts to celebrate a “kindness bowl” – recognizing their opportunity to serve as community ambassadors.
“It’s just about promoting different ways of being kind and being kind to each other,” he said, adding, “Of course the money I’ll make on airbnb is one thing. But just meeting the people, seeing the energy in our city is the best thing about Super Bowl coming.”