Many new online travel websites launched over the last 2 years. Meta search and social travel networks are changing the hotel distribution landscape. However there are a few which might be taking the peer-to-peer travel concept a bit to far…
Care to share a room?
The latest travel platform that has come across our desks is Easynest. The idea is that once you have booked your hotel room, you add it to your profile on this website. Other travellers can request to share the room with you, splitting the cost.
I am not sure how many people would be willing to share their room with a complete stranger. Imagine worse, what if the 2 double beds were on request, and upon arrival the hotel has none available. You would end up snuggling up with a snoring companion you have only just met in the lobby.
I presume the niche market they are targeting is very small or specific. I imagine young people would be willing to do this while backpacking around the globe. Still, you would first want to meet your roomie in person.
Even though I admire the originality of the Easynest model, I am not really convinced it has a real future cut out for itself. It definitely is not meant for the mainstream market, instead they will have to find their niche rapidly and position themselves clearly to them.
Generous and attractive travellers
This brings me to another interesting travel website that has been in existence for quite a while now, MissTravel. This is where the world of online dating meets the world of online travel. With slogans on their homepage such as: ‘Date Abroad’, ‘Attractive Girls Travel Free’ and ‘Generous: Find a Travel Companion’ they offer different options:
• Come to Me
• Show Me Your town
• Travel With Me
Need I say more? Yes, your thoughts are as mine. Looks like sugar daddy travel dating with gold diggers, and perhaps with a great potential for prostitution.
Mind you, commercially I think this might actually work though. There are enough ‘burning the midnight oil’ career guys or just well off types, with plenty of budget who would go for this. Not having enough time (or skills) to get a ‘regular’ companion to travel with, they may consider partnering with an attractive girl willing to ‘see more of the world’.
There is no shortage of creativity when it comes to social travel sites. What I wonder though, with more and more websites jumping in on the social travel trend, will they be able to find their niche clientele…
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Author: Patrick Landman @ Xotels
Hotel Management Company - Xotels Ltd. 