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Airbnb: Rehoboth tops list of Delaware summer destinations

All of Sussex County sees about $13 million in additional revenue through online service
October 3, 2019

Story Location:
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
United States

Building on strong pre-Memorial Day numbers, Airbnb announced Sept. 11 that Rehoboth Beach was the top destination in Delaware for guests this past summer.

According to a press release, there were 55,600 guest arrivals in Sussex County from Memorial Day to Labor Day, bringing in an estimated $13 million in revenue. After Rehoboth Beach, the press release says Bethany Beach, Lewes, Ocean View and Dewey Beach round out the top five destinations for Airbnb guests this summer.

In the days before Memorial Day, Airbnb announced that approximately 900 guests, generating about $155,000 in extra income for hosts, were expected in Rehoboth over the three-day holiday. 

As a whole, according to the press release, the Delaware host community drew in a combined $14.2 million in supplemental income while welcoming approximately 63,800 guests to the state this summer.

In a prepared statement, Kelley Gossett, head of Mid-Atlantic Public Policy for Airbnb, said hosts and small businesses have enjoyed opportunities created by an expanded tourism economy.

“As we mark yet another historic summer and look ahead, we hope to keep working with state government, as well as towns and cities statewide, to ensure short-term rentals can continue to play a strong role in the entire Delaware economy.”

According to the press release, the top five origin cities for Airbnb guests to Delaware were Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York City and Lancaster, Pa.

Specifically for Rehoboth, the increase of Airbnb guests mirrors an increase in city-issued residential rental permits over the past few years.

Rehoboth Beach has six categories of residential rentals – houses, apartments, cabins, cottages, efficiency apartments and rooms rented. Information provided by the city shows a slight drop from last year, but generally, the number of residential rental licenses issued by the city has increased since at least 2015.

According to city data, there have been 1,235 permits have been issued so far this year, which began April 1.

Residential rental permits issued since 2015:

• 1,019 in 2015

• 1,062 in 2016

• 1,174 in 2017

• 1,294 in 2018

• 1,406 in 2019

• 1,235 in 2020, beginning April 1

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