Hospitality exchange

Understand

With the Internet, new kinds of hospitality exchange have emerged. They can be a side income for hosts, or a hobby. Some exchanges have also attracted commercial actors, who may even be the majority in some regions. The stay can be for free, in exchange for money, in exchange for a stay at the guest's property either simultaneously or at another time (home swapping) While this article will not concentrate on opportunities in exchange for help on the host's property, this topic is covered extensively under Volunteer travel. A hospitality exchange network is the organization that connects travelers with locals in the cities they are going to visit. Joining such a network usually just requires filling out an online form; although some networks offer or require additional verification. A listing of available hosts is then provided either in print and/or online, sometimes with references and reviews by other travelers. Each network has its own niche: free, commercial, some cater to older travelers while some attract younger students, some encourage more social interaction between host and guest, while others are more of a financial transaction. Some are focused on home-for-home swapping. Most networks listed here operate worldwide. Hospitality exchange can provide several positive advantages to guests:

Savings on accommodation costs, especially if for free Personal connections and interactions with people from a different culture and/or social class, thereby strengthening intercultural understanding and reducing prejudices and intolerance Local perspective and information about the city that is not easily found in guidebooks A deeper understanding of the life of the locals A close-up experience of genuine residential architecture and interior design Opportunities to stay in areas under-served by hotels or hostels Opportunities to stay in unique properties such as igloos, cabins, and castles Hospitality exchange on the other hand may also have disadvantages over hotel/hostel accommodation:

A paid hospitality exchange is not automatically cheaper than a hotel or serviced apartment; for one, hotels are economically efficient by having many rooms. The exchange may requ

Overview

The following are the major hospitality exchange networks, classified by commercial grade. Follow the link to get more details on a specific network below.

Free (or minor flat fee)

Exchange

Commercial

Hospitality exchange networks

In the following, all networks, again classified by commercial grade, in order of size or reach (website), respectively.

Free (or minor flat fee) This chapter focuses on accommodation which is free, but the related service/website needs to cover maintenance costs and may be commercial.

BeWelcome # of hosts: 120,000 (Jun 2019) BeWelcome was founded in early 2007 and is grouped in the non-profit BeVolunteer organization. It is based on the free and open source BW Rox. BeWelcome is a website run by BeVolunteer, a non-profit association legally registered in Rennes, France. Members of BeWelcome do not have to be members of BeVolunteer. BeWelcome is similar to the Couchsurfing community, but free to use, add free, run by volunteers and has all the same main features. All features of the website and stays are free (a must). Travelers can contact each other via the website with accommodation requests and leave references for each other after they meet. The website also includes a forum, contacts management, map search, and allows for set up of events. It also has a TRIPS feature, which allows you to post your travel itinerary and dates, so that hosts can see your plan and offer accommodation. BeWelcome has also been translated into other languages to make finding a host easier. The website is financed by donations of approximately €1,000 per year and has annual operating expenses of around €700 per year. As of September 2021, the platform has 215,000 members.

Trustroots # of hosts (yes/maybe): 13,000 # of members: 67,986 (Dec 2021) Trustroots is the new kid in town. It was launched in December 2014 targeting hitchhikers and other more alternative niche groups, though it's open to everyone. As of November 2018 you can only search by map, and the website is very usable on mobile phones, and there's an app for Android. The software is open source and the network is run by a UK non-profit foundation. It is comparable to BeWelcome with a nicer website but might not work everywhere. It is best to register with both and just choose the right one depending on the region.

Warmshowers # of hosts: 71,281 Warmshowers is an online hospitality exchange organization exc