Renting out rooms or entire apartments or homes during Jazz Fest, the annual two-weekend event, has been a longstanding tradition for some residents, but the advent of Airbnb has turned the practice into a major business. And that has inspired backlash.
According to a news release from the short-term rental site, 20,000 people in town for Jazz Fest this year are staying in short-term rentals they found through the site. The release said there are 15 different neighborhoods in the city where more than 200 people booked homes or rooms through the site.
The website couched that as a positive for the city, estimating that those visitors will generate $12 million in economic activity at local businesses or restaurants.
That’s not a view shared by all, particularly in some of the neighborhoods where short-term rentals offered through Airbnb and other sites like VRBO are most prevalent.
Read more via The Advocate
