Cleveland, Ohio – Beginning April 1, 2016, Airbnb will begin collecting and remitting an excise tax on Airbnb guests staying in Cuyahoga County. The excise tax will be based on Cuyahoga County’s current lodging tax rates, the same tax paid by hotel guests. Cuyahoga County is the first government entity in Ohio to enter into an agreement with Airbnb.

“We are very pleased with the county and Airbnb agreement,” said County Executive Armond Budish. “Airbnb represents part of the new economy. It is very important for the county to stay abreast of new technology and new sources of revenue so that we can continue to support our residents and municipalities.”

Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world.

From March 1, 2015, to March 1, 2016, more than 16,200 guests visited Cuyahoga County through Airbnb, representing a 193 percent increase from the prior year. There were 575 listings in Cuyahoga County. Overall hosts earned $2.3 million, with the typical host earning about $5,000 in supplemental income.

"Thanks to the leadership of Cuyahoga County policymakers, today the county becomes the first in Ohio to embrace the economic benefits of home sharing and ensure that our community of hosts can pay their fair share,” said Michael O’Neil, Regional Public Policy Director, Airbnb. “With the Republican National Convention in Cleveland just around the corner, this agreement ensures the entire community can benefit from local people opening their homes to visitors from across the country."

ABOUT AIRBNB

Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world — online or from a mobile phone or tablet. Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 34,000 cities and 190 countries. And with world-class customer service and a growing community of users, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to monetize their extra space and showcase it to an audience of millions.