Airbnb offers $200 Sundance hosting bonus
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Airbnb is offering Boulder residents a $200 bonus to list their homes during the Sundance Film Festival in January — the latest effort to expand lodging ahead of an expected influx of visitors.
Why it matters: Limited hotel capacity is prompting Airbnb and Boulder-area communities to recruit residents to house festivalgoers.
How it works: The incentive applies only to someone who had no active listings in Boulder as of Aug. 1.
- They must list an entire home that's available in January 2027, secure a booking by Dec. 31 and cost at least $100 before taxes.
- Renters can also qualify if their landlords allow them to list their homes during Sundance.
What they're saying: "Airbnb is committed to supporting the region in increasing accommodations for big events like Sundance," Alex Folsom, Airbnb Colorado policy manager, told us.
- "More lodging options … keep prices down while allowing more locals to benefit from hosting for this major event in their community."
State of play: Several communities in Boulder County are loosening their short-term rental rules for Sundance.
- Boulder created a separate Festival Lodging Rental License with fewer requirements than its standard short-term rental license and expanded eligibility to tenants with landlord approval.
- Louisville and Superior offer similar Sundance-specific temporary licenses, allowing residents to host during the festival without becoming regular STR operators.
Between the lines: Julia Koster, executive director at the Colorado Short-Term Rental Association, told us communities that expand their short-term rental options during the festival are likely to benefit economically.
- "It will keep those visitors in Boulder longer, rather than them having to drive 30 or 40 minutes or an hour even, depending on if they were staying in downtown Denver or somewhere further away," Koster said.
What we're watching: Koster said she expects the incentives and relaxed rules to attract first-time hosts.
- "I think what's really exciting is it's creating an opportunity for those who have not had a chance to short-term rent if they want to earn a little bit of extra income during the festival," she said.