If you’ve been keeping up with current events, you’ve probably heard about Airbnb’s recent legal problems. For those who aren’t aware, cities like New York have been going after Airbnb because it hasn’t paid taxes (such as the New York City Hotel Occupancy tax of 5.875 percent) and it’s violating the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law.
Startups like Airbnb are under fire by certain cities because they are absolutely disrupting the hotel industry. If Airbnb wasn’t listing over 800,000 homes or rooms and attracting more than 20 million guests, do you think people would be so concerned? Probably not as much. But how exactly have startups disrupted the hotel industry and what can we expect in the future?
Affordable Accommodations
This has probably been the most impactful disruption that startups have had on the hotel industry. For example, you could save money during a business trip by spending $50 a night for a room on Airbnb as opposed to spending $100 or $150 on a room at a hotel, which doesn’t include added costs like taxes. If you’re a college student wanting to explore the world during summer break, you can budget your trip by finding hosts on Couchsurfing.
With Millennials becoming more conscious about their spending as a result of the recession, it’s not surprising that most people seek out the best deals possible. Which is great news for Generation Y, but not so much for the hotel industry.
Personalized Hotel Pricing
The days when we’ll all be paying the same for a hotel stay are numbered. Companies like Duetto make it so hotels can enable dynamic pricing models that constantly change based on demand, weather patterns, events, online shopping behavior, and numerous additional data sets. Based on this information, they can tell hotels when to drop rates and when to increase them to always have the optimal price.
Cultural Experiences
One of the best perks of traveling is the chance to absorb the culture. Whether you’re a New Yorker visiting San Francisco or a Chicago native heading to Italy, the chance to chat with locals, eat regional cuisine and take in the sights and sounds unique to the area are what makes traveling worthwhile.
While you probably aren’t spending that much time in your hotel room, startups are offering travelers a richer experience by connecting them with local hosts. Take for example Homestay or Onefinestay. These companies allow you to have an authentic meal at someone’s home, receive recommendations off the beaten path or just live the daily life of local residents. Hotels just can’t offer these type of cultural experiences.
Lodgings Suited to Your Needs
What if you’re traveling with a large group of people? Do you know the organization it takes to block out several hotel rooms for a family vacation or getaway with your friends? Being able to rent out entire houses on Airbnb allow you to find a place that can accommodate your entire group.
Besides giving you the opportunity to rent houses, you can also find places that match your interest and preferences. For example, you could rent a home in a treehouse catering to travelers looking for a relaxed vacation with amenities that include a meditation room and yoga classes. That is definitely more appealing than a bland hotel to someone who wants to escape city life.
Last-Minute Options
We have all had those times when we have to dip out of town for a few of days because of a last-minute emergency. Or you just found out you have someone to watch the kids or have received bonus vacation time. Instead of scrambling to find a last-minute hotel, which could be booked or more expensive, there are plenty of homes and rooms that you can find on sites like HotelTonight. Startups can help put our minds to ease if we ever want to book a last-minute room.
Personal Connections
While review sites have helped travelers by providing feedback, they doesn’t always provide you with personal connections. On Airbnb you’ll find authentic reviews and be able to contact the host from the start of the booking process through departing the residence. Furthermore, hosts can provide personal concierge service, such as picking you up from the airport or driving you home from a local winery. And they are more than happy to recommend restaurants or attractions that you may never have had the chance to discover.
As Vikram Singh from Skift puts it so perfectly “Do I remember the guy who checked me into my last hotel room? Nope. Do I remember my last Airbnb host? You bet I do.”
These are just five ways that startups have disrupted the hotel industry. But what can we expect in the next couple of years? Maybe we will begin to see high-tech hotel rooms, data that can be used for personalized experiences and the ability to have all of our travel plans located in centralized portal. Only time will tell.
