World Cup bookings aren’t meeting expectations

 World Cup bookings aren’t meeting expectations

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On Fridays, the Brew’s Dave Lozo looks at a sports business story that says a lot more than just the final score of a game. If you need a place to stay for the World Cup, there are still plenty of rooms available. Hoteliers and Airbnb proprietors in a majority of host cities have said that bookings are surprisingly way below expectations, with the matches only about a month away: Per a survey from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), 80% to 90% of hoteliers in Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle are trailing behind a typical summer. Some industry insiders are calling the World Cup a “non-event.” Seven in 10 respondents said that geopolitical and visa concerns are keeping international fans away. Airbnbs aren’t faring much better. Only one host city (Boston) has reported that more than 50% of Airbnb rentals were booked as of late April. That’s despite Airbnb offering a $750 bonus for new hosts during the tournament.