Airbnb sees surge in Lincoln for graduation weekend

Airbnb says it’s the largest surge of guests to Lincoln in the history of Airbnb’s platform. 

Saturday is the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s graduation, and Sunday is the Lincoln Marathon. 

With all the supporters of graduates and runners coming into town, they need a place to stay. 

Ben Breit, with Airbnb public affairs, said there are 240 active Airbnbs in the city. 

Airbnb allows people visiting a city to rent someone’s home or apartment for a short amount of time. 

Breit says when there are busy weekends in a city, a lot of people who live in that city want to leave. 

“It’s pretty amazing to be able to go away. We just got back from a trip, my wife and I, and we made income while we were gone,” Stefan Carlson, who rents his home on Airbnb, said. 

The golden rule when using Airbnb is to make sure you book, communicate and pay through the website. Also, be transparent if you are renting your home out. 

“Make sure that expectations are set. You want to make sure you’re being as thorough in your description as possible on your listing page, so that it’s clear to a guest what exactly you have to offer in your home,” Breit said. 

Breit also said new listings come on Airbnb in Lincoln everyday, so it’s not too late to find one for the weekend.