There’s an Airbnb for that!

No matter what you’re travelling for, and how you want to stay, the sharing economy has a platform just right for you

From the past few years sharing economy has impacted consumer’s habits. The technology has encouraged exchanges between people by making an accessible open market place. An increasing number of applications, start-ups is created which makes it now easier for people to rent or use items to each other in a simple click.

In the hospitality industry Airbnb is considered as the leader and the most recognizable example of the phenomenon. When planning a holiday people are no longer saying “I’m looking for a hotel” but “I’m getting an Airbnb”. Travelers are looking for other experiences than staying in a simple hotel, they now want customization, local advices and tips from where they are staying. Several platforms followed the same trends as Airbnb and became more specialized. Travelers can now choose to rent a place regarding their preferences and needs (family situation, prices, services etc.)

Misterbnb

This new platform created by a French firm has been running since 2013. This start-up is an Airbnb alternative targeting gay men. It offers exactly the same services as Airbnb; you can book a room/ home from an individual, they provide mini-guides and maps except that it’s only for gay travelers. The main objectives is that travelers can live the gay experience by feeling safe and comfortable in another city. The idea came up to Matthieu, misterbnb co-founder & CEO after booking an apartment in Barcelona with his partner. Their host was uncomfortable in front of them and even asked “Are you going to sleep in the same bed?” Misterbnb was then created to provide a gay friendly experience where gay men can connect and expand their sense of community.

 

Kid & Coe

This platform is entirely dedicated to kids. Travelers can find their next destination according to their kids’ needs and preferences. Families can find homes to rent very nicely decorated, and equipped with an optimal design for children and babies. You don’t need to worry anymore, homes are fully furnished with toys, books, highchairs, and trusted nanny numbers. Moreover travelers can find a set of activities for kids (large gardens, sand etc.) close to their house.

Those two platforms are good examples to new trends in the hospitality industry especially in the sharing economy. They demonstrate that every day, people are more specific on what they are looking for. Hotels needs to be careful and adapt themselves to attract the generation 2.0.

Camille & Anthony

Sources:

http://www.cntraveller.in/story/there-s-airbnb/

http://tech.co/digital-hyperlocal-stay-local-travel-2015-08

http://www.tnooz.com/article/misterbnb-the-airbnb-clone-for-gay-men-raises-2-million/

How the Sharing Economy is Changing Events (or is it?)

Source : htp://www.socialscoremedia.com

Shared economy coupled with the twenty first century’s technologies is changing the norms. In every field, new ways of doing anything are appearing simply by sharing. It is said to be eco-friendly, sustainable and cost-saving. The long well established companies of each industries give dirty looks to the outsiders and their success. 

The law seem to be at a lost about what to do about it. Boundaries are generally blurry and each country or even city has its own advancement on the matter. Nonetheless, shared access economy is the next big thing to take into account while planning an event.

For one, innovations such as Airbnb and Uber which count million of users offer more options to travel and accommodate attendees to an event. Some more specific event-related platforms are emerging. Now you can share space, staff, decoration and save money. Even some traditional brands are joining these new actors: Mariott shares its spaces through LiquidSace. This all seem to work for the better to every stakeholder’s interests.

However, if we take a look at the big picture, industries are shaken and cautions are to be taken.  Indeed, thanks to internet and mobile technology sharing is more and more easy but due diligence will wonder about safety, quality and legal matter. Better vouching and user rating systems and applications may lower the event planner’s role, its knowledge no longer required to ensure the best event experience (at least that what the customer may think).

With its flaws and strength, the shared economy in the travel and event industry has a scarce but growing adoption. Indeed, it is said there is three reactions to it as an event planner:

• It is the next big thing but still does not impact my market, I shall stay out of it
• It is the next big thing but still not safe to adopt, I will wait for the proper regulations.
• It is the next big thing and I am proactively joining the movement.

The shared economy poses some challenges to the traditional business model but also means opportunities to be eco friendly and cost efficient.

We care to introduce you to two share economy event-related services: 

Source : http://www.showslice.co.uk

Showslice is an online procurement platform based on collaboration from large event organisers. By signing up on the website, any event organiser can share information and procurement with other members. 

The idea is to rent instead of buying. Someone organising an event can for example rent the infrastructure, the A&V equipment or even the production crew to another professional from the event industry. This platform breaks down the barriers of communication by providing in an easy way to get in contact with people meeting the same event requirements, and is an efficient tool to save on budget, labour costs, time, planning effort and waste production.

 

Source : https://liquidspace.com

LiquidSpace is a collaborative idea available on internet or via a mobile application, which creates a bridge between people looking for meeting spaces, and those who have meeting spaces to share. 

On one hand, any people looking for a meeting space can easily access to large range of offers for private offices, boardrooms, meeting rooms or conference rooms depending on his location, date and room size criteria. With Liquidspace, the booking is convenient as there is no contract to sign, nor phone calls to make. On the other hand, any person having available unused workspace can list it on Liquidspace to get a chance to win extra money from renting it. The users can decide of which members will rent their venue, set the price and offer a rent by the hour or by the day. To make the experience even easier, Liquidspace provides a calendar service which updates automatically through the self-service booking and payment system. This collaborative tool is also a way for professionals of the event industry to promote their brand with a custom profile page, links from their business website, special promotional offers, mass emails, search engine optimization and much more.

Sources : 

http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/sharing-economy-events

http://www.showslice.co.uk/

https://liquidspace.com/

http://www.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialscoremedia.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F02%2FShared-economy.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.socialscoremedia.com%2Fthe-rise-of-the-sharing-economy%2F&h=4843&w=8071&tbnid=pvgF0jh-4s94mM%3A&zoom=1&docid=MoMvlxV2ehdzdM&ei=vpcaVeOFAdLXaqWsgMgO&tbm=isch&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=254&page=2&start=15&ndsp=15&ved=0CE4QrQMwDw

A NEW BORN in the collaborative tourism industry: the KLM Must See Map.

A new trend in the tourism sector has emerged for these last years named the collaborative tourism. This new form is more focused on the social aspect than other aspects, which means travellers are more able to share their experiences and knowledge thanks to new specialized websites such as Tripnco  and Aventuro. These both websites are platforms for travellers for which in one hand want to find other partners to organize a common travel and in the other hand for traveller who desire to participate in a travel already prepared either by the members or by other travellers registered in these websites. Aventuro is more specialized in the adventure tourism than Tripcno but both of them have the same purpose toward their customers. And as we can see, consumers are on the centre of the process of decision-making. That is what we call prosumers.

Therefore, advantages are numerous both for travellers and travel agencies.

Firstly, for travellers, there is a better share of their experiences and interests with people who want to have information about a destination or desire to have information about a specific region or country due to a lack of information. Then, it is easier to constitute a group with people sharing similar interests. Another significant advantage is the cost sharing which allow “collaborative economies” for travellers. As regards the advantages for travel agencies, we can notice that they can target the expectations and needs of their customers easier and faster. As a consequence, they could observe the real trends that are related to their customers. They make their customer in the same time more loyal. The collaborative tourism will certainly modify the tourism sector in a near future because travellers are still looking for better expertise and service. That is why the tourism sector has to adapt rapidly to these new trends if they want to be competitive.

Being competitive creating new services, this is one of the objective and a success of KLM with the project of the Must see map. This is a great example of the collaborative tourism since using the Must see map, travellers can prepare their new stay with the recommendation of their friends from different social network on the places to go, to eat, etc…

Once, the friends end their say, KLM print and send the complete map with all the advices included on the map to the user for free.

To know more about the KLM's Must see map, watch the video. 

Sources:

- http://www.aventureo.com/
- http://www.etourisme-outgoing.fr/tourisme-communautaire-et-collaboratif/
- http://www.tripnco.com/fr/
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dosrsAy4ENY