Have you ever stayed in an Airbnb?

Rather than booking a traditional hotel room, you can rent a room or an entire house from local hosts through an app.

Thousands of people do it each year across the county. Make that hundreds of thousands.

695,000 travelers spent $111 million on community-driven hospitality in South Carolina last year.

Lexington County had 11,000 guest arrivals, totally $1.1 million.

Charleston County topped the list at $54.9 million and 306,000 guest arrivals.

Traditional hotels don’t need to worry, though.

Statewide data shows Airbnb and its host community appear to be complementing rather than competing with the South Carolina hotel industry.

State hotel revenues, rooms sold and overall rooms available has steadily increased even as local hosts welcomed hundreds of thousands of guests.

This suggests that Airbnb is opening up the state to a new slice of prospective tourists by catering to travelers less able to afford hotels, those who desire to stay in neighborhoods or cities that lack hotels, and families who prefer to be together under one roof.

$60K donated to SC colleges

SC Independent Colleges & Universities, Inc. has distributed $60,000 in scholarships to 20 private colleges and universities in South Carolina.

Columbia International University right outside of Lexington County was one of the schools to receive a $3,000 scholarship for one of its students.

The Scholarships were made possible by a grant from the Council of Independent Colleges in Washington, DC.

Sweet treat grand opening

Nothing Bundt Cakes has opened at 131 Harbison Boulevard.

The store held a grand opening ceremony Saturday. The first 50 guests were awarded a free bundtlet per month for a year.

Learn more at https://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/ .

Local author book signing

Tom Poland will present two talks Jan. 22 at the Newberry Opera House, 1201 McKibben St., Newberry.

The first at 11 am is “Lost Traditions of the South,” the second at 7 pm is “SC Backroads” followed by a book signing.

Poland is the author of 14 books and more than 2,000 magazine features and columns, including the Down South column on page A5 of the Chronicle.

He writes about the South, its people, culture, land, natural wealth, ruins and abandoned places. He travels back roads looking for forgotten places, captivating people, and vestiges of bygone times.

Call 803-276-6264 or visit www.newberryoperahouse.com . Space is limited.

Riverbanks offers wild adventures

• Free Fridays - Every Friday in January and February, Residents of Richland and Lexington counties will receive free admission to Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Guests must provide a valid driver’s license, property tax statement or vehicle registration as proof of residency.

• Single Day Camp: Sensational Sea Lions and Seals, Jan. 21. Campers children ages 5 to 9 will explore one of the Zoo’s most popular habitats and make new discoveries about the magnificent marine mammals that call it home. Camp will take place from 9 am to 4 pm; the cost is $45 for Riverbanks members and $60 for the general public. Register at https://www.riverbanks.org/ today.

• Garden Workshop: Teen Cooking Class, Jan. 26. Participants will prepare sweet potato fries with avocado aioli, French bread pizzas, mascarpone mousse in chocolate cups and more. The cost is $20 per person plus general park admission. Register online at www.riverbanks.org .

New C-WC Chamber meeting times

The Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber holds a monthly networking breakfast meeting on the 4th Tuesday of every month (except July and December).

These meetings provide opportunities for members to meet, mingle and do business with each other.

Registration and networking are from 8 - 8:20 am, and the program will run from 8:20 - 9:15 am.

Cost is free for Chamber members and $10 for non-members.

Columbia business re-opens

Foot Solutions of Columbia celebrated their Grand re-opening Tuesday, Jan. 9.

The business has re-modeled and added some new services and social connections.

Foot Solutions has been serving the greater Columbia for 18 years.

Sion Owen, owner and pedorthist with over 25 years of experience invites old and new customers to come by and check out the store.