LULAC brings economic opportunity to Puerto Rico

Airbnb is releasing data showcasing how hosting empowers local residents across Puerto Rico and can help them earn extra income, provides affordable accommodation options for travelers, and supports local businesses. 

With Latin American and hispanic citizens heading to Puerto Rico in July for the LULAC convention, Puerto Ricans can prepare to open their doors and welcome them to their community.

In 2021, the total typical median income of all Hosts in Puerto Rico reached more than $235 million, an increase of around 130% compared to 2019². Also, new Hosts in Puerto Rico noticed an increase in their income in 2021, earning on average, over $6,000, more than 155% compared with 2019³. While new women Hosts in Puerto Rico have earned together around $7.4 million during 2021⁴.

According to a survey conducted by Airbnb in 2022, around 35% of Hosts who offer their spaces through our platform do so to earn money to make ends meet while around 48% share their space to earn extra money for their expenses. In addition, more than 50% say the income they receive from sharing their space on Airbnb has helped them stay living in their home; while over 60% said they use money they earn through hosting to cover needs such as food and other costs that have become more expensive than they used to be. 

For those looking to join the hosting community and start earning extra income, an important topic to consider is which times of the year provide the most significant opportunities to earn more. This is why we are sharing information about the times of the year with more guest arrivals in Puerto Rico during 2021. 

For anyone now interested in hosting around LULAC, there is still time: new listings that were activated and booked in Q1 2022 are getting booked faster compared to a year ago and prospective Hosts in Puerto Rico can learn more about how much they could earn by sharing their space on Airbnb through the What’s My Place Worth tool. The interactive tool computes the estimated income based on geography, type of listing, and also uses prior booking data in the area. For more information, visit Airbnb.com/host.

Friday, July 16: Ranked fourth in the top 10 most booked dates in 2021

Friday, July 23: The Friday before the Constitution Day and José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday holiday was the eighth most booked day of the year. This is consistent with the trend of long weekend/holiday bookings in Puerto Rico.

Friday, July 30: The days that followed the Constitution Day and José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday holiday were also part of the top 10 dates with the most guest arrivals. Thus, July 30 ranked tenth in the top ten of guests arrivals.

According to additional Airbnb data, there has been a surge of around 45%  in searches from US Guests traveling to Puerto Rico in the dates of the LULAC convention which are: July 25 to 30, and becoming a Host through Airbnb during a big event such as this one could mean a great opportunity to earn extra income. 

Becoming a Host also means a contribution to the diversification of tourism, especially in areas off the beaten path where there are less commercial accommodation options. Hosts benefit financially, and so do the communities and businesses where they are located. The suggestions Hosts give guests to help them live like true locals and fully immerse themselves in the culture of the place are vital to boost local economies. 

Hosts surveyed by Airbnb in Puerto Rico indicated that they share recommendations for restaurants, cafes, stores, boutiques, cultural sites and natural attractions, generating a positive economic impact for the entire community. While sharing a space for accommodation and also giving recommendations of other interesting local sites for travelers, Hosts also support local businesses while driving tourism in the island.