Birmingham locals asked to open homes on Airbnb to 2022 Commonwealth Games visitors

Airbnb and the organising partners for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games - have joined forces to call on locals in Birmingham to open their doors and help host the games.

More than one million visitors are expected to visit Birmingham during the Commonwealth Games and demand for Airbnb is booming, according to the city’s tourism experts at the West Midlands Growth Company.

Airbnb has also confirmed that there has been an overwhelming increase in searches in Airbnb in Birmingham compared to the same time last year.

The average nightly cost of an entire home on Airbnb during the games is currently £280, with guests staying on average for around six nights, meaning locals could pocket almost £1,700 by hosting during the games - equivalent to around three weeks of extra pay for the median UK household.

UK Hosts on Airbnb collectively earned more than £1.5 billion last year – £668 million of which was over the summer months – with the typical Host earning just over £6,000. The typical income of £6,000 represents approximately two months of pay for the median UK household.

Commonwealth Games organising partners - which include Birmingham City Council and the Business Tourism Programme are recommending Airbnb options to residents because they say: “Offering more overnight stays in Birmingham through hosted stays will mean more of the economic benefits generated by the Commonwealth Games will stay with local families and their communities in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.”

Airbnb signed a landmark agreement with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in May, becoming the Official Hosting Provider for the biggest multi-sport event ever in the West Midlands.

They have devised the 2022 Commonwealth Games Business and Tourism Programme (BATP), which aims to capitalise on the Games to create long-term economic legacy in the West Midlands and wider UK, bolstering trade and tourism links across the Commonwealth nations.

Have residents in cities where other large international events taken place joined the Airbnb scheme?

From the Rio 2016 Olympic Games through to COP26 in Glasgow, West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC) has highlighted that Airbnb has a long history of helping cities accommodate big events, while generating benefits for local families and communities.

Airbnb is recommended because WMGC says home sharing allows cities to flexibly increase the number of guests they can accommodate without expensive building and infrastructure projects, providing a more sustainable way of accommodating a surge in visitors.

How does Airbnb work?

People can list a room or entire home on Airbnb, having full control over the nightly price they set, and globally last year, half of all new listings received a booking within five days of activation. Across the UK, the majority of Hosts share space in their own home, and entire homes are typically let for just 30 nights a year.

For those interested in sharing their home with guests, Airbnb has simplified its processes. Anyone can visit airbnb.com/Birmingham2022 to check out our new 10-steponboarding process, learn how much their property could make on Airbnb, sign up for a hosting webinar, be connected with a Superhost for 1:1 advice, read about how we support our Hosts and much more. Airbnb said it has also introduced AirCover, which they say offers top-to-bottom protection, free for every Host.

You may also be interested to know that a recent survey of more than 10,000 UK Hosts and guests on Airbnb has highlighted - for the first time - how the cost of living crisis is driving people to become Hosts on Airbnb. More than a third of Hosts across the UK say they host to afford the rising cost of living, and nearly a third say the additional income helps them make ends meet.

What have Airbnb hosts said about the scheme?

Superhost Lucy, who owns The Cowshed just outside of Birmingham, said:“We actually have the parents of one of the athletes from team New Zealand staying in The Cowshed for the Commonwealth Games, so we’re very excited. Sharing the joy of our beautiful place with others and hearing all about the wonderful experiences and memories they are making is fantastic. And on a practical level, the income we make from hosting has been fantastic and we’ve never looked back.

“We have put a lot of time and effort into creating the perfect space, and we love seeing new people coming to the area and enjoying themselves by eating out in the lovely local restaurants and spending their pennies locally on the great nearby attractions.”

What has Airbnb said about the scheme?

Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe at Airbnb, said: “Birmingham 2022 is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the West Midlands and what better way for visitors to experience the region than sharing the home of a local.

“The Commonwealth Games gives local families the chance to boost their income as many battle a difficult cost of living crisis. Since its conception, Airbnb has helped local families afford their homes, and helped cities meet surges in demand around major events, and we are excited about the opportunity the games provides for families in Birmingham to benefit from hosting.”

What has Birmingham City Council said about offering Airbnb local?

Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “As Birmingham counts down to what is set to be an unforgettable Commonwealth Games, demand for accommodation will be as high as it has ever been across the city. So this is a great opportunity for Birmingham’s residents to host on Airbnb, allowing more visitors to enjoy our brilliant city in a more authentic way, while also earning additional income.”

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