Trump's affect on bookings?

[Victoria110]

I've been experiencing a lull since November .   This is the longest slow stint in the 5 years I've been a host. 

I suspect the current political climate in the US is effecting people's desires/ plans  to come. 

 Any other US hosts noticing this?      Comments from the rest of the world welcome ! 

Victoria

Oakland, California

[Cynthia-and-Chris1]

I've actually had the best year yet - but there have been other discussions here in the community center about a decrease in bookings.  If you search "Trump" you may be able to find a few and read through the comments.

[David126]

Some markets seem particularly saturated, I saw something from someone in LA commenting that the number of hosts had exploded, the number of guests had not.

[Clare0]

@Victoria110 I definitely have had a lull in bookings this year but as much as I'd like, I can't blame it on Trump.  That's a stretch.  Since I am in California as well as you, I blame all the rain and the fact that the number of Airbnb's in my area has doubled since I started. 

To blame Trump would be akin to blaming Putin for not travelling to Russia.  I for one would never let him stop me if I wanted to visit St Petersburg!

[Victoria110]

Hey Claire....this is just being reported today...

ps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/feb/28/us-tourism-experiences-a-trump-slump

[Kile0]

We have also had a lull and I think it might have to do with airbnb algorithms.  I have recently added two other bookings and they are exploding much like mine did when I first put it on here.  I wouldn't have thought that, but in talking to other hosts, they see the same and all the new hosts I have visited with have seen a pretty steady stream of bookings.  

[Monica4]

I know some fellow Canadians have cancelled trips to USA and even trips with just a stopover in the USA before continuing on to other places. This is the second time this happened at a border crossing near my home. Could be part of the reason:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/canadian-denied-entry-us-immigrant-visa-1.4011202

[David126]

@Monica4

Being Canadian does not give you an automatic right to enter the US, people are refused entry at the Candian border going both ways.

I am no doubt getting suspicous in my old age, the two things that immediately come to mind is that stories like this are now deemed newsworthy when they were not before and there are a few clues in the article but they never actually asked why. The two most common reasons are abusing the privelege coupled with no ties, no job no obvious connection to Canada and reason to return home.

Years ago a friend of mine effectively lived in the US on a Visitor Visa, would disappear every now and then but always come back. After 10 years his visa need to be renewed, decided to call it quits as with that pattern there was no way he was ever going to get another one.

[Victoria110]

My qustion regarding Trump's efect on travel was just a few days shy of this being reported on several news outlets:  

ps://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/feb/28/us-tourism-experiences-a-trump-slump

[EcoBuilt0]

Today, April 9, 2017 The Guardian wrore an article that travelers entering the US from the UK may have to give their passwords for their electronics or risk being denied entry into US.

UK tourists may be asked to hand in passwords or risk being denied entry to US

There is no doubt in my mind that the sudden decrease in my bookings that started shortly after the November 2016 election is a result of Trump's travel ban policies, now being extended to travelers from the UK.  Really!

I spent nearly a decade in the airline industry/ hospitality field marketing various  overseas destinations.  I am keenly aware of things that affect peoples' location selections. In MY OPINION many people, NOT all, will find an alternative to visiting the US becasue to do so involves too many unknowns viewed as potential increases to their travel costs if encourtered.  Travelers, the type that frequent Airbnb establishments are generally cost conscious.  Travel agents (a dying breed) know that travels pay close attentiont o costs when planning a trip, and most likely will air on the side of caution and go some place with greater certainty.  

The US hotel industry has been reeling from Airbnb's promience/growing market share in the accommodations' industry.   Styming travel will help them to regain prominence,  cater to the wealthy, and make the wealthy weathier.

It's probably time for a long term rental on our property for stability of income.  I don't foresee my bookings coming back anytime soon.    

[David126]

@EcoBuilt0

That has been happening for sometime, I have read quite a few stories of people having their email checked with discussions about work when they were supposedly entering as tourists.

There was an article in I think the LA Times, maybe the Guardian deportations had actually gone down compared to last year and the Canadians refuse admission to slightly more USC's than the US refuses Canadians.

http://www.politico.eu/article/tighter-security-checks-could-cause-longer-waits-on-schengen-borders/

Worry about homegrown terrorists is prompting tighter controls starting Friday at airports, seaports and border crossings for those who enter or exit the 26-country Schengen passport-free area.

Following an amendment to the Schengen Border Code approved last month, border officers now have to check the documents of all travelers against databases like the Schengen Information System, Interpol and registers of wanted persons.

Previously, EU citizens leaving the zone were generally only checked for the expiration date of their passports and if the passport photo matched the traveler. For travelers from non-EU countries, systematic checks against the databases were already compulsory, but only when entering, not exiting the Schengen area.

[EcoBuilt0]

All the more reason to seek alternative ways to hostings on Airbnb.  Probably 50% of our guests were internatiolnal travelers.  I did not completely understand the article you referenced other than to confirm that the US and probably Global tourism industry will experience a significant decline in foreign travelers' revenue.  Relying on travel by US residents to make up the difference in lost international travel dollars isn't likely.  Fortunately, we moving into spring when schools close and people tend to move and a long term rental listing in Craig's list is probably the way to go for now.

[Jennifer178]

@Victoria110, I am constantly getting bookings from all over the world.  More now than in my first 7 months of hosting.  Some markets are thriving while others are getting hit either due to a glut in hosts, bad weather events or a variety of reasons that ebb and flow from one area to another.  I had a regular visitor from the Netherlands who was thinking of not taking a job here becasue he got tired of all the security hurdles at the airport and being taken in for random questioning before being cleared to leave the airport.  This stuff has been going on for years and years. And the rules are getting tougher everywhere.

 Maybe the world economy has something to do with it to a certain degree.  Will some people not travel to the US becasue of who the president is, yes.  But most people will travel regardless of what they think of the head of state for most any country. My greatest adventures were in countries of questionable leadership.

[EcoBuilt0]

That's good to know that you are having a different hosting experience at this time and I respectfully disagree with your overall evaluation of tourists.  I hold a different opinion and experience of tourists' travel patterns based on economics.  

The higher you go up the economic ladder the less concern there is for travel disturbances since the availability to liquid assets tends to solve many problems.  Our market, the Airbnb consumer, may have liquidity but I suspect that given the size of the world and opportunitites for exciting adventures eleswhere many people are opting for elsewhere.  

One need only read Feb and March 2017 Bloomberg, New York Times and or Wall Street Journal articles describing the downward trend in US travel based on quantifiable statistics.