Airbnb guests pump at least $1.27 billion into local restaurants and cafes across Australia

Airbnb guests in Australia spent at least an estimated $1.27 billion in Australian restaurants and cafes in 2018, supporting small businesses and local jobs in communities across the nation.

Close to 90 per cent of Australian Airbnb hosts say they recommended restaurants and cafes to guests, ensuring vital tourism dollars are spent locally and economic benefits are spread beyond the usual tourist hotspots and CBDs.

Airbnb’s guest community spent at least an estimated $1.27 billion at restaurants and cafes in Australia in 2018, according to the survey findings. If spending levels remain the same, Airbnb guests are estimated to spend over $1.68 billion at Australian restaurants and cafes in 2019.

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb’s Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, said hosts were playing a significant role in driving this spend, with 88 per cent of those surveyed indicating they’d provided guests with recommendations.

“Local hosts play such an important role in encouraging guests to try local venues and spend their money in the communities in which they’re staying,” she said.

On average, almost half of all Airbnb guests in Australia (48 per cent) said their spending occurred in the neighbourhoods in which they stayed.

“The unique nature of our platform encourages guests to get off the well-beaten path and stay and spend in areas outside the traditional tourism areas,” Ms Wheeldon said.

“We’re committed to continuing to do our part to ensure tourism keeps growing sustainably and also benefits those areas that have traditionally missed out, such as communities across regional and rural Australia.”

Restaurant & Catering Industry Association CEO Wes Lambert welcomed the positive economic impact made by Airbnb guests.

“R&CA believes Airbnb has a significant role to play in helping restaurants, cafes and catering businesses thrive, especially in regional Australia,” he said.

“Airbnb provides three important things to our industry across Australia; increased patronage for hospitality business located outside of traditional tourist hot-spots, increased foot traffic and tourists across the country, and greater visibility through the online platform.”

Airbnb guests staying in NSW are estimated to have spent at least $462 million on restaurants and cafes in 2018, while those in Victoria spent at least an estimated $413 million. For 2019, those figures are expected to exceed $613 million and $537 million, respectively.

In WA, at least an estimated $99 million was spent by guests, with the state’s restaurants and cafes on track to take in more than an estimated $134 million from Airbnb guests this year. In Queensland, guests are estimated to have poured at least $255 million into restaurants and cafes and are estimated to top that in 2019 by spending more than $338 million.

Globally, Airbnb guests spent at least an estimated $33 billion* at restaurants and cafes in 2018, based on data for 46 countries and regions alone. If spending levels remain the same, that figure is estimated to exceed $43 billion in these same locations in 2019. 

Amount Airbnb guests are estimated to have spent on restaurants and cafes: