Local city ‘trend’ with short-term rental customers

Penetanguishene has become a ‘trending destination’ for Airbnb users.

That’s according to Matt McNama, senior communications manager at the short-term rental company.

“We know that many Airbnb bookings in North Simcoe are domestic bookings, especially in the (Greater Toronto Area) as more and more Ontarians explore their own backyards for affordable vacations and weekend getaways,” said McNama.

“That’s certainly the case for destinations like Penetanguishene and that’s why we see it as a trending destination for autumn.”

McNama says Airbnbs are a popular option among travelers, especially those looking for out-of-the-way places.

“Not only are Airbnb listings often more affordable than hotels, they are also found in areas where there are often fewer hotels, where residents are often the only providers of accommodation.”

McNama says this role helps bring tourism spending to smaller communities while supporting small businesses, “not to mention supporting the residents who host them as the cost of living increases.”

When comparing the price per night over recent years, year-round prices for Airbnbs tend to be lower during the fall.

Municipalities that make the list of biggest savings during this period compared to peak times include: Penetanguishene, Edmundston, New Brunswick, Alberta cities Drumheller, Cardston, Chestermere and Sylvan Lake, and Granby and Saint-Jérôme in Quebec.

When asked why prices in Penetanguishene are typically lower, McNama says a contributing factor is the host’s ability to set their own prices.

“As the peak summer travel season leaves us with colder weather, more affordable accommodations could lead to sustaining some of the tourist influx communities in Ontario during the summer,” he says.

Village Media also asked McNama whether Airbnb bears any responsibility for what some might see as a depletion of the available housing market in a municipality.

“The reality is that short-term rentals represent less than one per cent of the total housing supply in Ontario,” he says.

“There simply are not enough listings to meet the 3.5 million homes needed to achieve affordability by 2030, according to CMHC.”

McNama also points to a recent StatsCan report that looked at how many homes could return to the long-term housing market and found that even in cities like Barrie, fewer than 300 short-term rentals could be put to long-term use.

“Canada and Ontario need to build more houses, not reconfigure the existing housing supply,” he says. “Keep in mind that many residents who rent their homes do so to cover rising costs of living, with the vast majority of hosts in Ontario renting just one home.”

McNama says short-term rentals have been part of the fabric of North Simcoe for decades.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to fill the housing gap, especially in non-urban communities,” he says. “Keep in mind that more than 50% of Ontario is home to Airbnb listings in areas that do not have hotels.

“This helps bring visitors to small communities, along with visitor spending. It supports live-in hosts and gives guests the opportunity to stay in a location that is convenient for them.”