BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — There are just about five weeks to go until we see history in the skies over Western New York.
Our region sits on the path of totality for the total solar eclipse set to take place on April 8. More than one million people are expected to visit this area to watch, and amid the solar craze comes the question: Where will all tourists stay?
7 News spoke with an Airbnb representative about this once-in-a-lifetime event and a woman from Milwaukee who is making the trek to Buffalo but is using other accommodations amid the frenzy.
According to Airbnb, the Empire State is the "most booked" for the solar eclipse.
The vacation rental property company says there was nearly a 900% surge in searches on the platform for New York during the weekend of the solar eclipse. However, as of Friday, more than 20% of listings are still available to book in Buffalo, more than 40% of listings are still available to book in Rochester, and 70% of listings are still available to book in Syracuse.
Airbnb North America Communications Manager, Haven Thorn, says Airbnb listings outnumber hotels by more than 15 to 1 for the event.
"New York is among the most booked states, if not the most booked state, across all of North America on Airbnb for the solar eclipse," said Thorn. "There's plenty of inventory for guests to still book," Thorn said.
The platform is seeing guests from all over the world flock to Buffalo for the solar weekend, and according to Thorn, some "super hosts" are sweetening the deal for their visitors.
"A lot of hosts are offering solar eclipse viewing glasses for their guests," he explained.
Beyond the solar weekend, travelers are also taking advantage of what else Western New York has to offer.
"What we're seeing is a surge in searches for outdoor category listings, stays that offer things like an air stream, a camper van, or an A-frame," Thorn added.
Hotels are booking up quickly, despite how expensive they might be in Western New York.
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While Airbnb is one way to go, a retired woman from Milwaukee making the trek to Buffalo has found another option: staying in a hostel.
"At a hostel, there's always a common area where everybody sits down. They talk about their experiences that day, and swap ideas," Milwaukee resident Sandra Wicker explained via Zoom.
This will be Wicker's first trip to Buffalo. She tells 7 News she is also a volunteer at Visit Milwaukee, so she knows first-hand what a tourist can expect when visiting a new city.
"I took a look at a map and thought, 'Where is it going to be going?' I saw Buffalo. 'Wait, isn't that where the Darwin Martin House is?' I've always wanted to see that house. I've always been a fan of art glass windows. I had a T-shirt for the longest time in one of the windows there. And I thought, 'I'd be able to see it in person,'" she said.
She is a big Frank Lloyd Wright fan. The popular American architect, who happens to be a Wisconsin native, has designed more than 1,000 structures, seven of which reside in Buffalo, including the Martin House.
She explained, "The Darwin Martin, that's going to be important to see. The great eclipse. That's going to be important to see. But then there have been so many other little gems that I've been finding that are in Buffalo. Some of them are not too far from me. Some of them are within walking distance."
According to NASA, while a total solar eclipse occurs every year or two, it only happens once in the same place every 400 years.
