Many people no longer work in a traditional office, and that’s one of the things credited for longer and longer Airbnb stays. Airbnb’s CEO says a more flexible work schedule from being primarily out of the office is translating to more flexibility when it comes to traveling.
The company is also seeing people opt for larger and more expensive properties. Instead of booking one- or two-bedroom properties, people are now booking homes large enough for families.
A report released last spring suggested US leisure travel could soon push domestic air travel back to the levels we experienced pre-pandemic. Demand for global air travel could likely still lag, though, due to travel limitations.
Despite all of this, 2021 was Airbnb’s best year, and even late last year there were some positive signs. Analysts credit pent-up demand for traveling, as many people have been either forced to stay home or have chosen to stay home over the past couple of years.
Already, though, there have been indications that more and more people are searching for longer stays on their time away from home. When just looking at the fourth quarter of last year, nearly one-quarter of Airbnb nights booked were for monthly stays. At 22-percent, the company says that was even ahead of pre-pandemic levels.
Almost half of all Airbnb nights booked right now are tied to stays lasting a week or more. As we approach the traditionally busy summer travel season, Airbnb officials are expecting to see families wanting to travel more and stay away longer, in part because they have the flexibility to work from anywhere.
