Regal payday: Airbnb, businesses look to cash in on royal visit

Victoria businesses cashing in on royal visit The royal visit is expected to be a huge economic boost to the region, particularly for tourism-related businesses, including Airbnb’s.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will touch down on Vancouver Island next Saturday and local businesses say they’re expecting a major boost during the visit.

It’s not just restaurants and hotels that are expecting to be busy: Airbnb hosts entrepreneurs are looking to cash in on the influx of royal enthusiasts.

“The hotels are expecting to be over demand and we hope to be the same,” said Nancy Paine, founder of Space Host.

Paine manages 16 Airbnb properties in Victoria and all but one are already booked during the royal trip.

“I know the royals are popular with everyone, aren’t they?” Paine said.

Airbnb hopes to capitalize on that popularity throughout B.C.

One ad on the Airbnb website states:“With over 6,400 Airbnb hosts in the greater Vancouver area alone, there's a perfect Airbnb at every stop of the Royal Tour, for every monarch enthusiast.”

It’s not just vacation rentals either: many hotels are already at full capacity during that stretch.

“The royal visit is really sort of the cherry on top of what’s already been a fantastic lead up to them coming,” Ian Wish with the Hotel Grand Pacific said.

The Victoria hotel even had to turn away members of the royal entourage.

“We did get some calls, they did want to stay with us, but unfortunately we were booked up already,” Wish added.

Restaurants are also expecting a boost to their bottom line, which is a bonus during the so-called shoulder season.

“It tends to chill off a little bit, again excitement coming into town tends to bring more people,” said James Romer, executive chef at the Steamship Grill & Bar.

While tourism-related businesses are looking forward to all the buzz, the biggest economic impacts may be long-term.

“That’s going to be broadcast around the world and people are going to see those images and say ‘wow, what a great place’ and think ‘if it’s good enough for the royals it’s good enough for me,’” said Brock Smith with the Gustavson School of Business.

The Royal Family’s itinerary also includes stops in Vancouver, Bella Bella and Haida Gwaii.

With a report from CTV Vancouver Island's Robert Buffam