PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria recently legalized renting out residential properties as AirBNBs. So, there’s a question about how they’ll effect local hotel bookings.
Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO J.D. Dalfanso says the organization has a long-standing relationship with area hotels in accommodating large conventions and meetings. But, he realizes there are reasons AirBNBs might appeal to people visiting Peoria.
“Whether that’s family and friends, or discovering Bradley University or other overnight stays…long weekends or they’re here for a month or two and they stay here a little bit longer,” Dalfanso said.
Dalfanso said the PACVB just asks that AirBNB operators be put in the same playing field as hotels by contributing to the same taxes that apply to short-term residencies.
Dalfanso said coming out of the pandemic, his dream is to have Peoria’s hotels filled and our economy back. As events are scheduled, he thinks that can be achieved.
“That’s the most desired situation, if we have all our hotels filled and we have to resort to AirBNBs,” Dalfanso said.
At this point, the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is not promoting AirBNBs in its materials or on its website…but, it’s a discussion that is going on now.
Here’s the full interview with J.D. Dalfanso.
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