After a year of pent-up wanderlust in 2020, Americans finally hit the road and traveled again last summer. Many fled the cities, breaking free from lockdowns and Covid restrictions. And they didn’t just want a change of scenery. They also wanted a change of lodging structure! From tipis and wagons, to potato and shoe-shaped “dwellings” — unique Airbnbs are skyrocketing in popularity. And they’re here to stay
Airbnb has always been about unique experiences. Part of the company’s marketing strategy is to allow guests to live like locals, providing homes with warmth and character. Homes with PERSONALITY. Not cold, cookie cutter-type rooms.
That “personality” is what’s drawing people by the droves. Guests are hurriedly booking these types of lodging oddities:
We all know how the pandemic changed the way people travel. Fear of Covid-19 drove many to seek remote, rural places where they could physically distance themselves. These types of areas don’t offer much accommodation, let alone a hotel.
But that’s not to say there aren’t unique Airbnbs in urban areas as well. Tiny homes, yurts, and treehouses have also been turning up in big cities. This treehouse in Atlanta and yurt in Los Angeles are always booked.
And because of their rarity, unique Airbnbs have become the destination – in and of themselves.
Many of them are architectural gems you’d never find anywhere else. Others are wacky, whimsical, and quirky. But as long as they’re Instagrammable, they’re bookable!
And here’s the deal. It’s not just the guests who are walking away smiling. Property owners are making good money, too. Airbnb says hosts with unique home stays have collectively earned more than $300 million since the start of the pandemic. Their spaces range anywhere from $93 to $600 per night.
Read also: 9 Sound and Solid Reasons Why You Should Start a Glamping Business
Since 2016, unique home stays have already been trending on Airbnb. Listings grew 40% in 2019, and at the end of 2020, the number of guests seeking unique stays more than doubled between the first months of that year and the same period in 2018. Globally.
Airbnb said searches for unexpected and unique spaces like shepherd’s huts, windmills and tiny houses increased by nearly 70% that year. Some of the most booked listings of all time, across the world, were domes, RVs, treehouses and yurts.
In 2020, Airbnb said it has had more active listings for unique stays than at any other time in its 13-year history.
It now has over 170,000 unique properties to choose from. That’s a 30%increase over May 2019.
The number of searches for unique listings has grown 94% in mid-2021 compared to the same period in 2019.
Globally, 55% of Airbnb’s 100 most wish-listed homes fall under the “unique” category. Searches have exploded by a whopping 1000% compared to 2019.
Unique rentals have become so popular that in the entire short-term rental industry, they’re the only types of accommodation that saw positive growth in active listings in 2021.
Read also: The Pros and Cons of Hosting a Tiny House Airbnb: What You Need to Know
Is there much future in unique Airbnbs? You bet!
84% of American adults that Airbnb surveyed in February 2021 said they were “open to exploring” unique and remote lodgings for a future trip. Cabins, barns and tree houses were at the top of their wishlists.
Vrbo conducted their own study and found that demand for cabin rentals was up 25% year-over-year, and searches for chalets was up 20%. It said 61% of families that responded to their survey were more likely to pick an outdoorsy destination than a city for their next trip.
Aside from unique shapes and designs, guests are also looking for glamping accommodations that offer plenty of privacy and outdoor space.
Read also: Why Branding Your Airbnb is Critical for Your Short-term Rental Business
There’s so much promise in quirky Airbnbs that the company has thrown all-out support for it. In the summer of 2020, it created a filter that’s solely dedicated to finding unique home stays. Airbnb launched Flexible Destinations, a new feature that’s designed to improve the browsing and booking experience for non-traditional stays.
When guests click “I’m Flexible”, they’ll see unique listing categories, with the nearest ones to their location at the top of the list.
In 2022, the company relaunched its million-dollar search for the world’s wildest home through the Airbnb OMG! Fund. The $1 million campaign aims to help finance the most fantastic, daring, and imaginative dwelling place possible on this planet.
An expert panel of designers and style innovators will select 10 recipients whose designs will be rated on originality, feasibility, sustainability, and social good. They’re looking for the craziest ideas, yet realistic enough to be built within a budget of $100,000.
In 2020, Airbnb already ran the Go Near campaign, a marketing effort aimed at supporting domestic travel. It collaborated with local and foreign organizations like rural communities, farmer associations, and destination management organizations. For example, it partnered with the National Park foundation of the US, the French Association of Rural Mayors, and the Zhejiang Tourism Homestay Inn Federation of China.
Last year, it launched The Greatest Outdoors, a campaign to showcase more unique places, glamping options, and entire rural homes. According to RentalScaleup, the ultimate goal of the campaign was to work with local associations and get not just more rental demand, but also supply. It says Airbnb needs more homes in outdoorsy locations to meet the rising searches for “glamping”, “cabins near me”, and “farm stays”.
Got space in your backyard? Live near the woods, a lake, or the desert? Own a small farm or homestead?
Share your unique space, landscape, or way of life. Start a glamping business. An already existing, unutilized space in your property can be monetized if it’s safe, clean, and accessible.
Imagine how you can repurpose and convert that space into something comfortable and Instagrammable!
A garden shed can transform into an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or guest suite. A large tree in the yard could support a cozy treehouse.
If you live in an apartment building, see if you can rent part of the rooftop to set up a dome or a tipi. Just be sure to follow the relevant rules, from your landlord’s and HOA’s regulations to all the local and federal ordinances.
All it takes is a unique idea, some funding, and of course, work and dedication. Those initial investments could lead to a successful side-hustle that can bring you long-term, reliable income.
And remember to think outside the box. If you have the creativity and the means to execute the idea, go for it. The sky’s the limit!
Ready to learn how we built & operate a $2M/year short term rental business, operate properties throughout the USA remotely, and acquired 70+ properties without owning any in just 2 years? Attend our free online master class to learn how you can do the same. Click here.
