Airbnb Bookings for Summer in Greece Up by 232%

Bookings for Airbnbs in Greece this summer are up by 232 percent placing the country in the lead in Europe in terms of overall booking performance through to March 1, according to market analysts AirDNA.

More specifically, summer bookings for Greece have soared compared to the same period last year with Santorini (up by 552 percent), Athens (by 429 percent) and Corfu (by 317 percent) being the top performing Greek destinations. 

Next in line in terms of booking increase rate is Portugal, where bookings are up by 196 percent and Croatia up by 151 percent. All three countries are seeing exceptional growth in future summer bookings relative to last season.

According to AirDNA, the Russia-Ukraine crisis appears not to have affected bookings, at least not yet. Analysts expect the impact of the war to emerge  at later date.

For now, data reveals that Airbnbs are being booked across Europe as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted and appetite for travel returns.

In the meantime, demand hit a post-pandemic high for Europe in February 2022, with 20.8 percent more nights stayed over February 2019 and 73.9 percent more nights stayed versus February 2021. This demand pushed average daily rates (ADR) 2 percent higher than last year and 28.9 percent above February 2019 levels.

At the same time, since March 1, spring booking pace was 113.5 percent ahead of the same period last year and 3.4 percent higher than 2019. 

Looking further ahead, AirDNA analysts expect current summer pacing data (June to September) to continue rising and demand during these peak months. 

Since March 1, there have been 74 percent more summer nights booked than in 2021, while rates continue to trend 4.2 percent higher against last year and 25.1 percent above pre-pandemic 2019 rates.

Earlier this month, the Greek Property Managers Association (PASIDA) has joined a global Airbnb initiative to raise funds for people impacted by the Russian invasion through symbolic bookings made for properties in Ukraine.

People worldwide have been booking Airbnbs in Ukraine without planning to go or stay raising more than 15 million dollars while the San Francisco-based company has offered free housing to some 100,000 Ukrainian refugees fleeing their homes.