Airbnb hosts in World Cup cities are going big to squeeze every dollar out of their homes

Myriam Totta and her husband spent $55,000 on their Kansas City-area home to enhance its rental appeal ahead of the World Cup this summer.

Chase Castor for BI

Myriam Totta's early days as an Airbnb host have been marked by a series of disappointments.

She and her husband spent $55,000 over the past year to make their Kansas City-area home more appealing for short-term renters. The four-bedroom home features the kind of touches — cozy TV-watching areas, an outdoor fire pit, and newly purchased furniture ...