KINGSTON, N.Y. — Hosts of short-term rentals in the Mid-Hudson Valley earned more than $50 million through Airbnb in 2018.
“2018 was another great year for Airbnb in the Mid-Hudson region, with more local residents and small businesses able to benefit from the economic opportunities created by home sharing than ever before,” Josh Meltzer, head of northeast public policy for Airbnb, said in a press release. “As we reflect on this past year and celebrate the beginning of a new one, we are proud to have played a small role in countless memories and cultural exchanges statewide – from summer trips to the holiday season. We look forward to continuing to help New York families earn extra income while allowing countless communities to enjoy the tourism economy in 2019.”
According to the release, there were approximately 300,700 guest arrivals through Airbnb in the Mid-Hudson region in 2018. Of those, 149,800 were in Ulster County and 48,800 in Dutchess.
In Ulster County, there are now approximately 1,800 hosts who share their homes via Airbnb, typically earning approximately $5,000 in supplemental income, the release said. In Dutchess County, there are now approximately 630 hosts typically earning approximately $8,800 annually.
Hosts in the Capital Region earned approximately $28 million in 2018, welcoming approximately 187,700 guests to the area, according to the release. Of those, 48,100 were in Greene County, while 33,200 were in Columbia.
In Greene County, there are now approximately 510 Airbnb hosts earning approximately $9,300 in supplemental income, while there are approximately 390 hosts in Columbia County earning approximately $10,800, the release said.
Airbnb recently forecasted that the Hudson Valley and Catskills is one of the top trending destinations in the world for 2019, especially with Woodstock 50th anniversary festival in Sullivan County expected to draw a number of music fans to the region, the release said.
Some local communities, such as the town of Hurley, plan to create regulations regarding short-term lodging rentals that are arranged through online services like Airbnb.
And Ulster County in March 2018 signed a contract with a Utah-based firm to identify local properties being advertised on the internet for short-term lodging. Under the one-year deal, the firm Bear Cloud Software, would scour online short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway, identify those properties, and turn that information over to the county. The information is expected, in part, to enable the county to ensure the establishments are paying sales tax and the county’s hotel/motel tax on the rentals.