Spatial dynamics of Airbnb: Locational factors in birth and survival

Locational factors are crucial for Airbnb distribution, yet their impact on spatial dynamics is less understood. This study aims to investigate how locational factors (i.e., accessibility and convenience, spatial competition, land use, neighborhood environment, socioeconomic attributes) affect the static distribution and the spatial dynamics (birth and survival) of Airbnb listings in London from 2019 to 2022. Spatial analysis indicates that while the static distribution follows a similar pattern, the spatial dynamics of Airbnb birth and survival exhibit significant variations. Spatial lag regression models identified three roles of locational factors, i.e., facilitators, constraints and non-factors, with their effects varying among the static distribution, birth and survival. These findings offer new insights into how the impact of locational factors shift from shaping the static distribution to influencing its spatial dynamics, contributing to the broader discourse on urban tourism, spatial economics and the sharing economy.