Many people are not confident, to say the
least, about transacting online . . . and with good reason. There are a lot of fraudulent activities going
on in cyberspace, lots of money being lost, and at the worst, even lives. Well, as much as crime is prevalent in the
online world, there are a lot of money saving conveniences as well. Costs go down because we remove the middleman’s
cut, we go straight from manufacturer to customer, or at least remove some layers
in between that translate to additional expense. Well, now the travel industry also has its
online version . . . Airbnb.
There are multiple advantages to utilizing
this online travel service: first as a traveler, you have a varied selection
of residences with rate options, you can customize your vacation packages at
the comforts of your home, you get to see lots of pictures and reviews about
the place before you book, and you have a 24-hour option of changing venues if
you are unhappy with your selection among others. Second as a property owner or
even just a homeowner, you have a chance to earn extra income from an unused
room by simply enlisting your property to the Airbnb directory. As a traveller,
your choice of residence includes options you may not find in a hotel, such as
a yacht, castle, or even and island all to yourself at a rate that may surprise
you.
So if
you want to pursue or explore this travel or income-generating option, read on
. . .
Press
Release:
MANILA,
Philippines – December 20, 2012 - Airbnb, an online marketplace
listing to discover and book unique accommodations, announced its expansion
into Southeast Asia beginning in the Philippines at a press conference held at
Mary Grace, Greenbelt. Airbnb will
focus on engaging with its rapidly-growing community in Manila and throughout the
country, as the company has seen over 400% growth year-over-year in the
Philippines in 2012.
“Airbnb is about creating unique,
memorable experiences, and we’re seeing a huge increase in demand in the
Philippines and across Asia,” says co-founder and Chief Technology Officer
Nathan Blecharczyk. “Manila is a growing travel destination, and people from
the Philippines are traveling abroad at increasing rates, so we believe it will
be a crucial market for us as we continue to grow.”
A few statistics on Airbnb’s growth in the
Philippines:
- · Guests have come from 67 different countries around the world to travel in the Philippines on Airbnb.
- · The number of guest nights booked on Airbnb in the Philippines has increased 345% in 2012 alone.
- · The number of Airbnb guest nights booked by people from the Philippines traveling elsewhere has increased 263% in 2012, with the most popular destinations being Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Singapore, Manila, Rome, Seoul, Barcelona, Florence, and London.
- · Airbnb has over 975 listings in the Philippines, including 530 in Manila.
To support the rapid growth in the Philippines,
Airbnb has tabbed Ole Ruch as manager of the Southeast Asia region. The team
focused on the Philippines will work to better support hosts and guests in the
market, assisting in managing listings, bookings, and educating users about the
Airbnb process.
Airbnb is currently the world market leader in
unique, short-term accommodations. In June the company celebrated 10 million
nights booked, and on any given night, over 50,000 guests are staying at Airbnb
accommodations around the world.
About
Airbnb:
Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world – online or from a mobile phone. Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 30,000 cities and 192 countries. And with world-class customer service and a growing community of users, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to monetize their extra space and showcase it to an audience of millions.
Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world – online or from a mobile phone. Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 30,000 cities and 192 countries. And with world-class customer service and a growing community of users, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to monetize their extra space and showcase it to an audience of millions.
