Airbnb, an app-based hospitality bookings company, has released an updated version of its app, which it hopes will let users "live like a local".
The company offers an alternative to mass-produced tourism, by allowing travellers to book a room in someone else's home. Launched in 2008, Airbnb now has over two million homes and is available in 34 000 cities around the world.
The service is popular in South Africa. Cape Town has 10 000 homes listed - catching up with cities like Sydney (17 400), Tokyo (almost 13 000) and Madrid (over 8 500).
The Airbnb app is, today, being updated to include a system that will match users to homes based on their previous bookings and preferences, and a guidebook feature which allows hosts to give travellers local tips and recommendations.
Airbnb has reengineered its search functionality to be more personalised for hosts and guests. When looking for homes, each traveller will see different results based on their unique preferences and the best match to a host.
The guidebook feature is meant to help travellers experience a place, beyond what is recommended in 'cookie-cutter' travel books. Instead it will include tips from people who live in the neighbourhood.
In an online poll of US travellers commissioned by Airbnb, respondents said they felt overwhelmed with the crowds at tourist attractions, with people finding it as stressful as a work deadline (48%), going to the dentist (48%) or doing their taxes (52%).
"The number one reason people chose to travel on Airbnb is they want to live like a local. They don't want to be tourists stuck in long lines, fighting with the crowds to see the same thing as everyone else," said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO.
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