Airbnb says it's seeing a sharp rise in reservations in rural areas; the short-term rental site is clearly not just for urban hipsters anymore. Guest arrivals at rural rentals were up 138% last year in the U.S.
In some areas, the site says, Airbnb host earnings are a large part of household income, and provide opportunities for stays in areas that have no or few commercial hotel rooms. Airbnb consistently points to economic benefits from its service, which is under attack or restriction in some urban areas.
Chris Lehane, Airbnb's head of global policy, says that areas near national and state parks, sports tournaments and so forth are among the most popular choices.
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