Skip to content

The Taylor Swift surge in business includes European and US Airbnb bookings

June 25, 2024
4 min read
Taylor Swift fans in Argentina
The Taylor Swift surge in business includes European and US Airbnb bookings
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

The Taylor Swift travel effect is driving more than high hotel rates and airfare. The pop music diva is also driving a booming business at Airbnb through the end of this year.

Searches for Airbnb listings by Americans looking for stays during the European dates of Swift's "The Eras Tour" are up 70%, the company reported this week. Americans also account for nearly a third of European Airbnb bookings during this summer's European leg of the tour. But it's more than just European Airbnbs seeing a Swift bump this year.

Search volume for Airbnbs in the remaining North American cities on the tour — Miami, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Toronto and Vancouver — is up more than 1,300%.

"This wave of 'event-cations' is a major trend driving travel this summer, showcasing the powerful connection between cultural moments and building travel plans around big events," reads the Airbnb report. "It also highlights the potential power of Taylornomics before the tour returns to North America later this year. Last year alone, more than a quarter of a million guests checked in to Airbnb listings during her US tour concert dates."

Airbnb searches tripled for listings in London once tickets for Swift's tour dates in the U.K. city went on sale ("The Eras Tour" will return for two stints in August after wrapping a first appearance this past weekend). Bookings by Americans for Airbnb stays in Paris during the Swift concert dates in May were up 60% from a year ago.

Related: The best hotels in Paris in 2024

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Those still looking for a place to stay during the remaining North American leg of "The Eras Tour" should book fast: Searches for Airbnb stays during the October arc of the tour in Miami are up more than 500%. It's a more than 1,200% spike in search volume during the Toronto tour dates, and search volume is up a whopping more than 3,000% for the Vancouver dates — the last three nights of the entire tour.

The surge in Airbnb bookings amid "The Eras Tour" isn't exactly a shock: The U.S. Travel Association estimated last fall that the tour's entire economic impact on the U.S. likely surpassed $10 billion.

Hotel executives around the world noted the concert was a major draw for travelers and helped boost business.

"The Taylor Swift model is absolutely factored in. It's the new line item in revenue management," Dimitris Manikis — Wyndham's president of Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia and Africa — told TPG last fall. "How do we actually maximize it? It was always sports events, but now it's not just sports anymore. It's everything. Airlines are now factoring it. Cities are factoring it."

"Our hotels have seen huge surges in demand and [average daily rates] during Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour' with a city's [hotel performance] nearly doubling during her concert dates," Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano said last year during a company analyst meeting. "Customers want to be at these events and enjoy these experiences in person."

The question that remains, however, is what will happen to hotel rates next summer if there isn't a Swift concert to drive all this international travel?

Related reading:

Featured image by FERNANDO GENS/PICTURE ALLIANCE/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

Best for businesses with high spending
TPG Editor‘s Rating
4.5 / 5
Go to review

Rewards

2 - 10X miles

Intro offer

LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles

Annual Fee

$395

Recommended Credit

740-850
Excellent

Why We Chose It

The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
  • In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
  • Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.

Cons

  • The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
  • Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
  • LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
  • Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
  • With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
  • Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
  • Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Apply for Capital One Venture X Business
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for businesses with high spending
TPG Editor‘s Rating
4.5 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

2X miles2 miles per dollar on every purchase
5X miles5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
10X miles10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel
  • Intro Offer

    LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles
  • Annual Fee

    $395
  • Recommended Credit

    740-850
    Excellent

Why We Chose It

The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
  • In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
  • Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.

Cons

  • The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
  • Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
  • LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
  • Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
  • With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
  • Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
  • Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month