KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Airbnb said its rental hosts in Florida earned a combined $810 million in supplemental income this past year, and one of the top counties for these earnings is Osceola County.

  • Gov. DeSantis challenging Airbnb current West Bank policy
  • One Airbnb host says being a host is part of his livelihood 

But this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he’d move to sanction the travel booking company in Florida if it doesn’t reverse its policy on rentals in the West Bank. DeSantis said state law prohibits Florida from doing business with companies that boycott Israel.

But how would that affect local businesses? Stefan Oswald has been an Airbnb host in Kissimmee for three years, and he embraces the cultural diversity tourists bring in.

“I get to live vicariously through most my guests because they have all their amazing stories from whatever part of the world they're from,” Oswald said.

Inside his condo, Oswald tries to make guests feel comfortable by showing them how to get to popular places and by having a map that allows travelers to label where they are from.

Oswald is concerned there may be a negative impact for his business after hearing the governor recently said Florida would take action against Airbnb for its decision to remove listings of rooms and homes for rent in West Bank Jewish settlements.

Airbnb sent us a statement that reads: “Airbnb has unequivocally rejected the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement, and we remain deeply committed to our more than 20,000 hosts in Israel. We have worked with the Florida State Board of Administration on this matter, we remain committed to the more than 45,000 Airbnb hosts in Florida.”

Oswald’s passion is to perform magic tricks at The Great Magic Hall in Old Town, but his true livelihood comes from Airbnb, so he hopes a solution comes about soon. 

“(Airbnb) is what the world needs right now. And it's helping out so many people,” he said.

Airbnb also claims its policy aligns Airbnb's presence in this region with U.S. multinational hotels. Florida’s State Board of Administration is expected to present its findings on this issue at the end of the month.