There are now more than 30,000 Texans who share their homes as Airbnb hosts, with the typical Houston-area host earning roughly $5,100 annually in supplemental income.
Texas AirBnB's Ben Briet said they looked at the economic impact of home sharing.
"Local host and homeowners earn a combined $44 million in supplemental income and that was while welcoming 285,000 guests to Harris County," said Briet. "Throughout the entire Houston area, that's including Galveston, Montgomery County and Brazoria County and Fort Bend, it did total about $72 million in supplemental income, and 512,000 guest arrivals."
The Houston hotels aren't taking a hit, either...just attracting a different type of clientele.
According to the most recent state-commissioned Texas Tourism Report, Texas hotels are experiencing robust growth in overall development, nights sold, occupancy rate, and revenue -- in parallel with short-term rental growth.
More Houston area residents are sharing their homes to earn supplemental income and make ends meet.
When hotels sell out during big events, home sharing provides significant value through expanded lodging capacity.