By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Jul 11, 2022 at 6:15 PM

Airbnb – meaning “Air Bed and Breakfast” – is an online service based in San Francisco, Calif. that allows property owners to rent out their spaces to travelers for short or long term stays.

According to data released by Airbnb, “Summerfest is one of the biggest festivals in the U.S. and the destination is trending.”

Yeah, duh, says Milwaukee.

But more noteworthy aspects of the research show the impact Summerfest had on local Airbnbs as well as the origin cities of festgoers who used the service.

The information is based on Summerfest 2021. Summerfest 2022 numbers are not yet available. However, searches were up 50 percent in the months prior to Summerfest 2022 over last year.

According to Airbnb, Milwaukee hosts collectively earn over $13 million annually, with the typical host earning nearly $10,000 per year. Specifically during Summerfest 2021 (Sept. 2-18, 2021), hosts earned collectively $1 million with the typical host earning $1,500.

Research from 2021 also showed the top cities from where people traveled during Summerfest were Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.