PARIS: Airbnb in Paris is growing in popularity. The hosting site, recorded an increase of clientele of 20% for Paris between mid-June and mid-September. At the same time, the fall in the activity of local hoteliers was prolonged and amplified thanks to the threat of terrorism.
The Parisian hoteliers are not very pleased by the competition of alternative hosting platforms, notably that of Airbnb. While their decrease in occupancy lasted and increased this summer in the French capital, especially in the upscale and luxury areas, the American-born website benefited from strong demand.
Airbnb’s French management reported a 20% increase of visitors arriving in the capital, and even 25% for the Ile-de-France. Thanks to Airbnb in Paris the hosts – those who use the platform of intermediation to rent out their spaces – have in total welcomed nearly 700,000 travelers between the 15th of June and the 15th of September, of which more than 500,000 were within Paris for an average stay of 4 days. Another interesting fact: the clientele was 81% foreign, with the United States, the first country after France, making up 23%.
In a morose environment, this growth is explained by the still novelty type of accommodation which corresponds to the evolution of tourist behavior. The data also reflects the summer highlight of French tourism – Euro 2016. Moreover, the French management of Airbnb highlights the impact of its campaign to promote international travel, inviting tourists to “live in Paris.” Hence, in their words, the success of the eleventh, eighteenth, tenth, and fifteenth districts, particularly sought after.
