Airbnb and New York State Parks: An Economic Engine for the Empire State

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1 REPORT JUNE 2017 Airbnb and New York State Parks: An Economic Engine for the Empire State Executive Summary / 2 Growth of New York State Parks / 3 Data on Airbnb Community Near New York State Parks / 6 Conclusion / 14 Appendix/ 15

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As school ends and summer truly begins, New Yorkers will once again flock to State Parks, from Niagara Falls to Jones Beach. In recent years, the parks have become more than New Yorkers backyard. In fact, they ve become economic engines for communities throughout the Empire State. Last year, nearly 70 million people visited New York s State Parks-- an all-time high and an increase of over 20 percent since Airbnb is proud to be part of this remarkable growth. 1 This report details Airbnb s community near eight state parks from 2014 to The parks selected cover all regions of the state, highlighting the extraordinary breadth of the state park system, which covers over 520 square miles. When you add Adirondack and Catskill Parks, which are separately managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the land area of NYS Parks is larger than the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 2016, Airbnb hosts near the eight profiled state parks earned nearly $12.5 million in supplemental income-- an increase of 421 percent since Other key findings include: 1,650 Airbnb hosts within 15 miles of the eight profiled parks had at least one booking in 2016, nearly four times more than in These hosts welcomed 85,000 travelers in 2016, up 455 percent since These guests stayed nearly 234,000 nights in 2016, up 420 percent since In 2016, the median income of hosts near these parks ranged from $2,800 for Green Lakes State Park to $9,100 near Watkins Glen State Park. In 2016, the average length of stay by Airbnb guests near these parks ranged from 2.2 nights at Niagara Falls State Park to 4.3 nights near Jones Beach State Park. In the pages that follow, we analyze the growth of New York State Parks, followed by the expansion of the Airbnb community near eight of these parks. 1 Data included in this report is for Airbnb activity within 15 miles of the selected parks. Park location is determined by Google Maps designation, as indicated in a map below. The profiles parks are: Niagara Falls State Park, Jones Beach State Park, Saratoga Spa State Park, Bear Mountain State Park, Green Lakes State Park, Letchworth State Park, Watkins Glen State Park, and Allegheny State Park (Red House Area). Figures have been rounded. 2

3 GROWTH OF NEW YORK STATE PARKS [Niagara Falls] has been allowed to remain a very proper place of wilderness, and here you may ramble, for the most part, in undiverted contemplation...why shouldn t the State buy up the precious acres as California has done the Yo-Semite? It is the opinion of a sentimental tourist that no price would be too great to pay Henry James, 28 Sept On April 30, 1883, then-new York Governor Grover Cleveland signed a bill to create the first 3 state reservation at Niagara Falls. Two years later, after bruising court battles over the State s use of eminent domain to secure the park, Niagara Falls was at last in the hands of the People of the State of New York. On July 15, 1885, a 100-gun salute marked the occasion, with comparisons made to the 4 completion of the Erie Canal and the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. Governor David Hill accepted the presentation of Niagara on behalf of the People, stating, We do not forget that there is but one Niagara Falls in the world. Nature has given no other state in our Union such a magnificent boon. 142 years later, Niagara Falls remains one of the world s great natural wonders, drawing travelers from across the country and around the world. However, while Niagara was the first New York State Park, it has now been joined by over 180 additional parks covering 335,000 acres, as well as dozens of historic 2 Reprinted in Travels with Henry James, Nation Books: New York, N.Y., 2016, p Niagara Free at Last, New York Times (16 Jul. 1885). 3

4 5 sites commemorating the history of the Empire State. Today, these parks represent one of the great assets of New York-- providing respite and recreation for millions of residents and an economic engine for cities and towns from Buffalo to Brooklyn. Last year, New York State Parks received 69.3 million visitors, a six percent increase over and a 21 percent increase since The chart below shows the 25 most attended State Parks in New York in 2016, with the parks 7 profiled in this report highlighted in bold. 5 New York State Council of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Annual Report: 2014, available: ;

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6 8 With major investments-- from the Empire State Trail to the Governor s NY Parks 2020 initiative 9 -- the New York State Parks are poised to continue to be a source of economic opportunity and family fun for generations to come. Airbnb is proud to be part of the Parks success. As detailed below, home sharing in communities near State Parks has skyrocketed over the past four years, bringing millions of dollars into the pockets of local residents and boosting small businesses that rely on tourism for their bottom line. DATA ON THE AIRBNB COMMUNITY NEAR NEW YORK STATE PARKS From Niagara Falls to Jones Beach, mountains and valleys, waters and shores provide New York State with a natural beauty that has been heralded and enjoyed since Henry Hudson's Half Moon made its historic trip northward on the river that is itself an example of that beauty Years: New York State Parks, This report examines Airbnb activity in communities surrounding eight of New York s most 10 visited state parks: Niagara Falls State Park (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Jones Beach State Park (Wantagh, N.Y.) Saratoga Spa State Park (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) Bear Mountain State Park (Bear Mountain, N.Y.) Watkins Glen State Park (Watkins Glen, N.Y.) Allegheny State Park (Red House Area) (Salamanca, N.Y.) Green Lakes State Park (Fayettevile, N.Y.) Letchworth State Park (Castile, N.Y.) The data in this report reflects Airbnb activity in communities within 15 miles of the park. Park location is determined by Google Maps. 6

7 As shown in the map below, these parks span the breadth of the Empire State, from Jones Beach on Long Island and Allegheny in the Southern Tier to Watkins Glen in the Finger Lakes and Bear Mountain in the Hudson Valley. Niagara Falls State Park If there is a crown jewel in the New York State Park system, Niagara Falls might be it. With over 9.5 million visitors in 2016 (an increase of nearly 30 percent since 2003), this Natural Wonder of the World is the most popular park in the state and one of the most visited destinations in the world. 7

8 Given the history of Niagara Falls State Park, it is no surprise that the communities surrounding the park, including the cities of Niagara Falls and Buffalo, have a long history of short-term rentals. In recent years, many of these rentals-- including bed and breakfasts as well as traditional home shares-- have flourished on Airbnb. In 2014, 40 hosts near Niagara Falls welcomed 2,900 guests. Last year, 160 hosts welcomed 18,600 guests, a 4X increase in hosts and a more than 6X increase in guests. 8

9 Jones Beach State Park The 6.5 miles and 2400 acres of Jones Beach State Park constitute one of the great summer destinations in the Empire State. From aviation aficionados at Bethpage Air Show to wildlife lovers exploring the Theodore Roosevelt Nature Center, Jones Beach has something for everyone. Last year, nearly 6 million people visited Jones Beach State Park-- the highest total since The cities and towns around the park are reaping the benefits. In 2016, 490 Airbnb hosts near Jones Beach welcomed nearly 20,000 guests. Just two years earlier, in 2014, 130 hosts welcomed 3,200 guests. 9

10 Saratoga Spa State Park A National Historic Landmark, Saratoga Spa State Park provides a unique mix of art, culture, sport, and natural recreation. It is home to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Spa Little Theater, the National Museum of Dance, and the Saratoga Automobile Museum, along with two golf course, a pool, and miles of trails for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Last year, nearly 2.3 million people visited Saratoga Spa, a 156 percent rise from As a result, tourism is a core part of the greater Saratoga Springs economy. In 2016, 360 individuals played host to 11,700 guests on Airbnb in the communities around Saratoga Spa State Park, up from 80 hosts and 2,400 guests in

11 Bear Mountain State Park Located just 40 miles from Times Square, Bear Mountain State Park is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Midtown Manhattan. Last year, over 2.2 million people-- an all-time high-- came to Bear Mountain to explore museums, a zoo, and hiking trails providing majestic views of the Hudson Valley. While the Park is home to the Bear Mountain Inn, most travelers stay in the surrounding communities. In 2016, 300 Airbnb hosts welcomed 16,800 guests to these cities and towns, an increase of 233 percent for hosts and 342 percent for guests in the past two years alone. Watkins Glen State Park Located just a mile up the road from famed Watkins Glen International Speedway, Watkins Glen State Park is one of the great treasures of the Finger Lakes. Ranked as the third best State 11

12 Park in the nation in just behind its sister park, Letchworth, above-- Watkins Glen features 19 waterfalls, 200-foot cliffs, and, for good measure, an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Last year, over 900,000 people visited the Park-- an all-time high and an increase of 146 percent since In the communities surrounding Watkins Glen, Airbnb has grown right alongside park visitorship. In 2014, there were 30 hosts and 1,400 inbound guests to these communities. By last year, those numbers had skyrocketed to 100 hosts and 7,700 guests, helping to power local businesses that rely on tourism for their bottom line. 12

13 Allegheny State Park (Red House Area) With biking, boating, swimming, and snowmobiling, Allegheny State Park is a haven for active leisure in every season. No wonder that over 715,000 people visited Allegheny State Park in While the park offers cabins and campsites for rent, an increasing number of travelers are choosing to stay with locals in the surrounding communities. In 2014, just 10 hosts in the area welcomed 260 guests. In 2016, 60 hosts brought 2,200 travelers to town, an astonishing 500 percent growth in hosts and nearly 750% growth in guests-- the largest of any of the parks profiled in this report. 13

14 Green Lakes State Park From ancient glaciers to world-class golf, Green Lakes State Park provides a plethora of activities showcasing the wonder of Central New York. In 2016, nearly 1 million travelers paid a visit, an increase of 23 percent since Given the relative lack of traditional accommodations in the towns surrounding Green Lakes, travelers are increasingly turning to Airbnb for lodging. In 2014, 50 hosts shared their homes with 1,200 guests. By last year, those numbers had soared to 160 hosts and 7,200 guests, $770,000 in the pockets of local residents and millions more to small businesses. Letchworth State Park Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth State Park is home to 66 hiking trails that provide views of the Park s three majestic waterfalls. Whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and hot air balloon rides make sure that travelers to Letchworth are never bored. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Letchworth was recently named the best state park in 11 the nation. This honor has led to a boom in visitors, with over 780,000 people visited in 2016 alone, the second highest total since Airbnb is a small, but growing contributor to this local economic engine. In 2016, 20 hosts brought 900 guests to the communities surrounding Letchworth-- a rise of 300% in the host population and 463% in the guest population in two years alone. CONCLUSION New York parks are the heart of the tourism economy...more and more people are discovering their unparalleled natural beauty and recreation opportunities that are available in every corner of the state Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Home sharing is bringing travelers to every part of New York. From honeymooners at Niagara Falls and race fans at Watkins Glen to families enjoying active travel from Jones Beach to Allegheny, thousands of travelers-- from New York and around the world-- are using Airbnb to explore the extraordinary treasures of the New York State Park system. Indeed, in the last two years alone, Airbnb guest growth outside New York City was 270 percent, generating $ million in economic activity Upstate HR&A Advisors, Sharing for a Stronger New York: Economic Impact Analysis 2016, available: 14

15 We are proud to be part of the growth and success of the state park system and look forward to another record-breaking summer. APPENDIX The charts below highlight key metrics across all selected parks between

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