FILE - the Airbnb logo is displayed on a computer monitor and cell phone. (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images) (Mario Tama, 2024 Getty Images)
HOUSTON – As the City of Houston continues to examine how to regulate short-term rental properties, Airbnb is touting big numbers it has collected and remitted in tourism taxes.
According to its website, Airbnb has been collecting and remitting $13.5 billion in tourism taxes on behalf of hosts worldwide. In Texas, as of 2024, Airbnb has generated $105 million, with $35 million of that coming from Houston alone.
Since 2019, Airbnb notes it has been collecting a 7% Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) on reservations that have helped fund critical government services.
Historian, educator, writer, expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer, essayist, film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar. Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue.