Roundup: Big 2025 destination events that attract guests

Updated on October 29, 2024

As 2025 approaches, it’s never too early to start preparing to host travelers intent on experiencing the excitement of concerts, festivals, sports events, and natural phenomena coming to your area. This influx of guests offers short-term rental hosts a unique opportunity to attract bookings, maximize profits, and showcase hospitality to event-goers, who are often eager and willing to pay a premium for lodging and ready to have the time of their lives.

Whether it’s music lovers flocking to a summer festival, sports fans gathering for a championship game, nature enthusiasts, or revelants celebrating Pride Month, the calendar of major events below holds significant potential for hosts.

According to Unpack ’24: The Trends in Travel, about 40% of travelers in 2024 were more likely to travel to watch a concert than they were in 2023, and 70% were more likely to travel to a concert outside their own town.

“I’m a prime example [of that trend] as I traveled to another city to see Taylor Swift, and yes, as you would assume, she was fantastic,” said Lee Dreyfus, Vrbo Partner Success Account Manager, during the Winter RR Summit.

According to Unpack ’25: The Trends in Travel, that trend is likely to continue, and natural phenomena are also expected to draw droves of travelers in 2025.

About 80% of travelers said it’s important to stay in lodging that offers prime viewing of natural wonders, such as the Northern Lights, making short-term rentals in secluded or rural areas a desirable choice for phenomena seekers, the Unpack ‘25 report found.

How can you draw these concert-, festival-, sports-, and nature-loving travelers?

Lee advised hosts to keep updated on events in their area and plan ahead for them. You can find upcoming events in your area by visiting Ticketmaster or Stubhub and searching under your city.

If you use the Vrbo site, he suggested leveraging instant booking and iCal calendar sync.

This “speeds up the booking process for those who are trying to snag a property quickly because they’re afraid there will not be a lot of inventory soon or prices will go up because of the event,” he said.

Finally, he suggested that hosts keep their calendars open at least 18 months in advance to capitalize on events that are planned far in advance.

And whether you’re someone who is considering hosting for the first time for a major event or a a seasoned hospitality professional, we encourage you to read our guide on what to know before short-term renting around big destination events. The guide provides tips for setting up your space, complying with local laws, and other key points to know before hosting during big destination events.

Major Concert Tours 2025

BLACKPINK Born Pink World Tour
Dates and locations TBD

Bright Eyes
Jan. 16-April 26, See locations

Dua Lipa Radical Optimism Tour
Sept. 5-6 – Chicago, Illinois
Sept. 9-10 – Boston, Massachusetts
Sept. 13-14 – Atlanta, Georgia
Sept. 17-18, 20-21 – New York City, New York
Sept. 26-27 – Miami, Florida
Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Dallas, Texas
Oct. 4-5 + Oct. 7-8 – Los Angeles, California
Oct. 11-12 – San Francisco, California
Oct. 15-16 – Seattle, Washington

Jonas Brothers 20th Anniversary Tour
The tour has been confirmed.

Katy Perry
June 20 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
More U.S. tour dates may be added.

Rascal Flatts
Feb.15 – Grand Rapids, Michigan
March 6 – Columbus, Ohio
March 7 – Toledo, Ohio
March 20 – Huntsville, Alabama
March 27 – Fort Worth, Texas
March 29 – Little Rock, Arkansas
April 4 – Orlando, Florida
April 5 – Jacksonville, Florida
Other dates and locations

Metallica M72 World Tour
April 12 – Las Vegas, Nevada
April 19 – Syracuse, New York
May 1 and May 3 – Nashville, Tennessee
May 7 – Blacksburg, Virginia
May 9 and May 11 – Columbus, Ohio
May 23 and May 25 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 28 – Washington, D.C.
May 31 – Charlotte, North Carolina
June 3 – Atlanta, Georgia
June 6 and June 8 – Tampa, Florida
June 14 – Houston, Texas
June 20 and June 22 – Santa Clara, California
June 27 and June 29 – Denver, Colorado

Shakira World Tour
May 13 – Charlotte, North Carolina
May 15 – East Rutherford, New Jersey
May 22 – Detroit, Michigan
May 29 – Boston, Massachusetts
May 31 – Washington, D.C.
June 4 – Orlando, Florida
June 6 – Miami Gardens, Florida
June 11 – Arlington, Texas
June 13 – San Antonio, Texas
June 15 – Houston, Texas
June 20 – Inglewood, California
June 22 – Phoenix, Arizona
June 26 – San Diego, California
June 28 – Las Vegas, Nevada
June 30 – San Francisco, California