The rise of Airbnb is evident in Southwest Florida. More than 4,200 vacation rentals, including the likes of Airbnb and Vrbos, have been registered in Southwest Florida, according to an analysis by the Regional Economic Research Institute at Florida Gulf Coast University. This is more than four times the amount that existed in the 5-county region before the pandemic. Collier County drove a lot of that growth; the number of vacation houses increased nearly 10-fold in the county.

Growth in the vacation rental market may be showing signs of slowing in the state, as economists have pointed to oversaturation and increased regulation that could cap its growth. But, for now, it won’t be hard to book an Airbnb anytime soon.