Airbnb's "Cowboy Carter" effect
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Searches for Airbnbs in tour cities have skyrocketed since "Cowboy Carter" tickets went on sale last month.
Why it matters: Beyoncé fans won't just fill Airbnbs — they'll pour money into local restaurants, shops and attractions.
- A 2024 survey found U.S. Airbnb guests spent an average of $205 per day locally, with about 40% of their spending staying in the neighborhood of their listing.
Zoom in: Searches for stays in Houston at the time of Beyonce's two-night stop there have skyrocketed by 620% compared to searches during that time the previous year.
- Airbnb did not provide Axios with percent changes for every tour stop.
What they're saying: "The rise of passion tourism continues to be a significant focus, with no indication of slowing down, Airbnb's Ali Killam told Axios. "When travelers are looking for destinations to plan their next trip, it's evident that many are eager to travel to places where their favorite artists are performing.
We've seen this before when Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" boosted local economies.
- "From the Swiftie surge across the world for 'The Eras Tour' to the spike in searches for Puerto Rico ahead of Bad Bunny's upcoming residency, the influx of fans looking for Airbnbs to stay in while traveling for Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' is just another example of this trend," Killam said.
Fun fact: During the first leg of Taylor Swift's "The Eras Tour" in 2023, Airbnb hosts collectively earned over $62 million during her concert weekends.
