Airbnb brings millions to Montana
MISSOULA,Mont. — Airbnb is the world’s leading community driven hospitality company and brings millions of dollars to the state of Montana.
In 2017, Airbnb hosts earned over $19.7 million and welcomed nearly 147,000 people to Montana.
Dylan Moore, a local entrepreneur, has been living in Missoula for two years and sees Airbnb as big business for Missoula.
“Missoula is on the rise with Airbnb,” said Moore. “A few years ago, they never had it, and now it’s all over the place.”
Regulations have been put in place to control what type of individuals can rent out a room for profit.
Owner of Goldsmith’s Inn Bed and Breakfast weighed in on the matter.
“There aren’t enough people to regulate this business,” Sick Goldsmith said. “When you’re renting out things nightly or weekly, everybody should be treated the same way because that is what you’re doing when renting short-term rentals.”
In 2017 Bozeman topped the list for the most Airbnb guests in Montana. Bozeman made $2.9 million with 22,000 guests, making a bigger income than any other part of Montana for that year. That type of business is why Moore thinks bigger companies are making their way to Missoula.
“I think this is great for this region,” Moore said. “We are attracting companies like JP Morgan and other tech companies. They see how Missoula and Montana in general are flourishing.”
Goldsmith doesn’t mind the competition. However, he wants the regulations in place to be enforced.
The San Francisco-based company says nearly a quarter of those offering rentals in Montana are at least 60 years old.
