Airbnb Growth Skyrockets In Twin Cities Ahead of Super Bowl

TWIN CITIES, MN — Airbnb this week released data demonstrating the company's massive growth in the metro as it works with residents in Minneapolis and Saint Paul to expand lodging capacity before the 2018 Super Bowl to be played at U.S. Bank Stadium. In February, Airbnb announced a goal to double the platform’s Twin Cities host community before the big game.

"At the time of the February 2017 PROJECT 612 launch, there were 1,000 active Airbnb hosts in Minneapolis and Saint Paul combined," the company said in a statement. "At the halfway point to the big day, there are now 1,730 active hosts in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, according to the company. This represents 73 percent host community growth in just six months."

Airbnb did take aim at local policy makers in the state's capital city, stating that the company's growth "comes as both Minneapolis and Saint Paul proceed with developing separate short-term rental ordinances. While Minneapolis is continuing to work on its draft, Saint Paul has released a proposal with very complex zoning restrictions, which many Saint Paul resident-hosts have found to be overly cumbersome."

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Laura Spanjian, Airbnb’s Midwest Policy Director, said that “Airbnb and our hosts fully support reasonable regulations. We are committed to serving as good partners to both Saint Paul and Minneapolis every step of the way.”

Image via Shutterstock