Idaho Airbnb hosts earn $22 million in 2017

Idaho Airbnb hosts earned almost $22 million in 2017, according to an Airbnb spokesperson.

The Idaho host communities also welcomed about 196,000 guests into the Gem State. That total of Airbnb guest arrivals to Idaho, represents a 106 percent increase from last year.

“More and more people are really eager to have this sort of experiences on our platform that are possible. Staying with local host, sort of understanding the communities through the eyes of locals,” said Christopher Nulty, the head of public affairs, the Americas at Airbnb.

Another increase: there are more than 4,000 hosts across the state, which is a 139 percent bump from last year.

“Idaho was lucky enough to be in the path of totality last year, and a lot of people living in Idaho really recognized this as an opportunity to take their homes — which is typically for most homeowners the biggest expense — and turn it into an economic opportunity,” Nulty said.

The total solar eclipse in August was the biggest night on record for Airbnb in Idaho. There were more than 8,300 guest arrivals, which was a 450 percent spike for the night before the eclipse.

“For a lot of people who had never thought about putting their homes up on Airbnb, there was this moment of ‘Oh wow. My small town, my community happens to be in that path. Let me start sharing my home during those couple of nights,'” Nulty said.