Emporia is already seeing a massive influx of visitors thanks to the Dynamic Discs Open this weekend, and many more visitors are expected over the next several months with several major events coming up.
In addition to its annual slate of activities including the DDO, graduation and commencement ceremonies and Unbound Gravel series of races the city will also be playing host to the NCAA Division II National Track and Field Championships later this month. With that in mind, Visit Emporia Director Lelan Dains says all of those visitors will need a place to rest their heads.
While the city has plenty of hotels available, many visitors also tend to utilize the homes of residents through Airbnb and other short-term rental services. According to Dains, Emporia has around 100 to 150 such rentals available around the year with that number swelling to about 200 to 250 during major events.
While those numbers help with the demand it does not fully “satisfy it.”
With that in mind, Dains invited residents to look into the opportunity to open their homes to visitors during such events.
Dains says becoming a short-term renter brings several benefits to both a homeowner and the local economy.
For those who may be considering opening their homes in this capacity, Dains encourages them to do so through a “broker” entity such as Airbnb or Vrbo.
For those interested in utilizing such services or signing up to be a rental provider, you can contact Visit Emporia with questions by calling 620-342-1400.
