College Graduations Generate $3 Million for Airbnb Hosts Across Massachusetts -- Including $33,000 in Waltham

Between the weekends of May 12 and May 19, Massachusetts residents who home share via Airbnb earned $3 million during the Commonwealth’s numerous college graduation events -- with $7.6 million in Airbnb guest spending going to neighborhood cafes, restaurants, and shops.

“Through home sharing, parents and visiting friends and family are able to stay closer to a graduate’s school and keep valuable tourism dollars in the communities immediately surrounding the institution,” said Will Burns, director of public policy for Airbnb. “The surge in visitors creates millions of dollars for the small businesses in these areas, as well as extra income for Airbnb hosts to help support their families.”

The typical host in Amherst gained $290 sharing their home during the University of Massachusetts commencement weekend, while Airbnb hosts in Boston earned $910 thanks to the graduation events at Boston College, Boston University and Suffolk University.

And in comparison to area hotel rates, the typical price for an Airbnb listing during these commencement weekends ranged from $50 (Worcester State, Worcester PolyTechnic Institute) to $160 (Boston College, Boston University, Suffolk University) -- democratizing travel for families at a time when hotel price gouging is still prevalent for big events and major holidays.

In Waltham, on May 19-21 (the weekend of Brandeis University's graduation), local Airbnb hosts earned a combined $33,000 and guests spent an estimated $173,000 supporting local businesses.

To learn more about Airbnb’s host community and small business support in Massachusetts, visit https://boston.airbnbcitizen.com.