Gold Coast businesses capitalise on Airbnb boom

Gold Coast property owners aren’t the only ones capitalising on the short-term accommodation boom — cleaners and interior designers are getting in on the act too.

GOLD COAST property owners aren’t the only ones capitalising on the short-term accommodation boom — cleaners and interior designers are getting in on the act too.

Hometime, a property management firm exclusively for Airbnb listings, has doubled in size since it launched on the Coast this time last year.

Hometime Qld Manager Shane Flanagan is one of many exclusive Air BnB real estate agents that have sprung up on the Gold Coast. Shane with the keys to someone’s next Gold Coast holiday. Picture Glenn Hampson

Marketing manager Rosa Willis said Hometime employed five agents and 12 cleaners locally.

The company has accommodated 10,000 guests on the Coast since it first began.

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“The firm began as an AirBnb cleaning business in Sydney and Melbourne but grew to property management,” Ms Willis said.

“The Gold Coast has always been the number one holiday destination in Australia so it was the perfect fit.”

Hometime agents act as hosts in the place of the homeowners, managing the cleaning of the property and the return of the key.

An AirBnb refurbishment by Atamira Interiors.

The firm takes a 20 per cent commission on each booking.

Hometime co-host Shane Flanagan said family friendly properties which had been “baby proofed” have become particularly popular for the service.

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“The clients we have are certainly younger here. We have young families who typically couldn't afford hotels in the middle of the Gold Coast so we are creating business that wasn’t there before.”

Tallai interior designer Natalie Scott specialises in making properties or granny flats more AirBnb friendly.

Natalie Scott of Atamira Interiors says she is seeing more demand from AirBnb owners. Photo: Atamira Interiors.

She said her business, Atamira Interiors, had worked on seven short-term rental properties in the past year.

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“It wasn’t something I approached on purpose but the demand for that sort of decorating has grown,” Ms Scott said.

“For me it is about having a bit of a quirky style, making it attractive and comfortable. Greenery helps.”

“You know the space has made the right mark when you see photos of the interior online.

“I recently just had a young girl stay on one of our Airbnbs who has a huge following and vlogged the entire house, that is what the market seems to be about.”