KC Homeowners Prepare to Host World Cup Fans

Short-term rental hosts attend 'Hosting Crash Courses' to welcome international visitors during the World Cup

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Homeowners across the Kansas City metro area are attending 'Hosting Crash Courses' to learn how to accommodate World Cup fans and travelers while being good neighbors. The courses teach hosts communication skills and hospitality basics as they prepare to welcome international visitors into their homes. Suzette Leftwich, a Kansas City native, is working to get her house ready to list on Airbnb, seeing it as an 'opportunity to make money off the international visitors.' Susan Brown, who runs the KC Short Term Rental Alliance, says the economic benefits will extend beyond individual hosts, as visitors will patronize local cafes and shops.

Why it matters

With the upcoming World Cup, Kansas City, Parkville and Roeland Park have all changed rules to make it easier for short-term rental hosts to accommodate the influx of international visitors. This represents an economic opportunity not just for individual hosts, but for the broader community as visitors spend money at local businesses.

The details

The 'Hosting Crash Courses' teach hosts communication skills and hospitality basics to prepare them for welcoming international visitors. Hosts are making improvements around their homes and learning the process to list their properties on platforms like Airbnb. PriceLabs predicts hosts could earn six times their normal summer income during the World Cup, as they expect shorter stays but much higher rates.

  • The courses wrap up on Saturday at 5 p.m.

The players

Suzette Leftwich

A Kansas City native who is working to get her house ready to list on Airbnb, seeing it as an 'opportunity to make money off the international visitors.'

Susan Brown

Runs the KC Short Term Rental Alliance and says the economic benefits will extend beyond individual hosts, as visitors will patronize local cafes and shops.

Andy McNulty

Former CEO of Gucci, delivered a keynote presentation on elevating guest experience at the hosting course.

Kyle Driskell

A PriceLabs consultant who predicts hosts could earn six times their normal summer income during the World Cup.

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What they’re saying

“It's an opportunity to make money off the international visitors that are coming here. We've always kind of wanted to do it. And so, this was kind of like a kick in the butt to do it now and not miss on this rush of opportunity.”

— Suzette Leftwich

“We want this to work for everybody. This is an economic opportunity, not only for people that are hosting, but we'll be bringing people into the neighborhoods where they can go to their local cafes, to the local shops, spreading out that economic goodness.”

— Susan Brown, runs the KC Short Term Rental Alliance

“Typically, what we were seeing is lower rates, people staying longer. Now, we expect it to be people staying shorter periods and much, much higher rates.”

— Kyle Driskell, PriceLabs consultant

“The guest experience can seem complicated because there are so many different types of guests, cultures, personalities, wants, needs. But the reality is that's the opportunity.”

— Andy McNulty, former CEO of Gucci

“In essence, everybody is after one thing, and that's about how to be welcomed into the home, how to be made to feel welcomed, and that's hospitality.”

— Andy McNulty, former CEO of Gucci

What’s next

The hosting courses wrap up on Saturday at 5 p.m., providing homeowners with the final training before the World Cup influx of international visitors.

The takeaway

This represents a significant economic opportunity for both individual short-term rental hosts and the broader Kansas City community, as the influx of World Cup visitors will generate increased spending at local businesses. However, it also requires hosts to properly prepare their homes and learn hospitality skills to ensure a positive experience for their international guests.