The impact of the Airbnb community in Alberta
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb helped generate more than $1.2B in economic activity in Alberta.
- 65% of Alberta hosts say their Airbnb income helps cover the rising cost of living.
Key Takeaways
- Airbnb helped generate more than $1.2B in economic activity in Alberta.
- 65% of Alberta hosts say their Airbnb income helps cover the rising cost of living.
In Alberta, Airbnb is an important economic tool for residents who share their home to earn extra money. Home sharing allows many Albertans to keep up with rising costs of living, inflation, and mortgage rates.
Overwhelmingly, hosts in Alberta are sharing a single home, often their primary residence.
- The typical host in Alberta hosted for fewer than 90 nights a year in 20241
- The typical host in Alberta earned about $13,000 in 20242
Hosting on Airbnb is a vital source of supplemental income for many local residents. According to a survey of Hosts in Alberta3
65%
of Alberta hosts say their Airbnb income helps cover the rising cost of living
50%+
said the income earned through hosting has helped them stay in their home
55%
of hosts are women and many of them are working mothers supporting young families
1M+
Guests welcomed by Alberta hosts last year. That includes over 600,000 Albertans travelling within their own country4.
By welcoming guests who spend money at small businesses, restaurants, and attractions, hosts in Alberta help support their local communities and Alberta’s tourism economy. In 2024 alone5:
$1.2B
Airbnb helped generate more than $1.2 billion in economic activity in Alberta
11,000
Jobs supported by guest spending and over $820 million in labour income
$931
The typical Airbnb guest spent an additional $931 on local restaurants, shops and entertainment during their stay
Driving tourism and resident support in the province’s largest two cities6:
In Calgary:
- 40% of guests are Albertans travelling and exploring their own back yard
- Nearly 80% of guests are domestic travellers
In Edmonton
- More than 55% of guests are Albertans
- Over 90% of guests are domestic travellers
- 59% of guest trips originated within 300 miles of Edmonton
Meet the hosts of Alberta
“ In addition to tourists, our family has hosted many individuals in transitional situations. People on temporary work assignments, those who have sold their homes and are waiting for their new home to be completed, and family members visiting Calgarians who can’t accommodate them.”
-Said A
“We’ve hosted construction workers, families in town for weddings, and parents bringing their kids to hockey tournaments. We’ve had repeat guests as well, like grandparents who attend their grandchildren’s school performances.”
– Kathrine B
“Many of our guests have shared how much they appreciated staying with us, as it’s often people who are relocating to the area or staying in town to support family and friends during important life transitions. It’s been meaningful to provide a comfortable space for people during these times.”
-Tsegay M
“We’ve had about 125 guests so far. While there are many guests who are eager to spend time in the Rocky Mountains, there are many who are visiting for business, weddings, and family reunions.“
-Christal R
At Airbnb we are committed to building effective tools and policies to support community safety, responsible travel, and thriving neighbourhoods. Since 2020, we have implemented:
- 24/7 Neighbourhood Support Line
- Global ban on disruptive parties
- Over 50% decrease in party reports to us globally since 20207
