The spatial patterns of Airbnb offers, hotels and attractions: are professional hosts taking over cities?

Abstract

Airbnb has created a significant incentive to invest in real-estate with the purpose of short-term accommodation provision in touristic cities. The robust growth of Airbnb supply has been accompanied with an increasing professionalization of the platform, contributing to such challenges as overtourism and gentrification. The main aim of this analysis is to examine the spatial characteristics of Airbnb supply in Barcelona, Berlin and London, focussing on the differences between offers that belong to non-professional and professional hosts. Based on Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis techniques the study demonstrates that listings that belong to professional hosts are more concentrated in city centres, and are more influenced by the location of tourist attractions and hotels than non-professional offers. On the other hand, non-professional listings facilitate a spatially more diverse accommodation supply. The results suggest that professional offers may contribute more to the negative effects of Airbnb on local residents.