Airbnb: More than $12M was made by R.I. hosts in 2016

AIRBNB said Providence had the largest number of guest arrivals in 2016, but Newport had the largest host revenue. / COURTESY AIRBNB
AIRBNB said Providence had the largest number of guest arrivals in 2016, but Newport had the largest host revenue. / COURTESY AIRBNB

PROVIDENCE – Airbnb said on Thursday that Rhode Island’s 1,300 active hosts made more than $12 million in supplemental income last year by welcoming approximately 69,000 visitors to the Ocean State, a 97 percent year-over-year increase in inbound guests.

It said the typical host in Rhode Island made $6,900 in 2016, and the funds were used to make rent or mortgage payments, save for retirement or repay student loans.

The typical listing is occupied 24 nights per year and the average length of stay is 2.8 nights, Airbnb said.

“We are proud to see that more and more Rhode Islanders have discovered home sharing as an opportunity to share their community with visitors from around the world, and earn a little bit of extra money along the way. From Newport to Woonsocket, Airbnb hosts are ambassadors to the Ocean State, and we are grateful they have embraced home sharing as a way to welcome thousands of visitors,” Josh Meltzer, head of Northeast public policy, Airbnb, said in a statement.

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Providence had the most guest arrivals with 21,708, followed by Newport with 17,646; North Kingstown with 4,509; Middletown with 4,438; and Jamestown, 1,987.

Host revenue in Providence totaled $3.1 million last year, and $3.8 million in Newport. Middletown hosts received just over $1 million, while North Kingstown hosts netted $774,588 and Jamestown, $433,473.

In 2015, San Francisco-based Airbnb worked with the state to pass a law allowing the home sharing platform to collect and remit taxes on behalf of its users.

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