As hospitality blazes into social networking, the article in the New York Times last week seems very timely. Always revolving around cost, the essence of travel and seeking authentic experiences in hotels, B&Bs or even rent-a-bed places remains.
I read with interest the article and agree that social networking provides a healthy alternative to expensive hotels (or expensive cities with hotels), but a traveler must be experienced and really know what they are doing. Plus, you need to have enough time to research the listings and figure out what accommodation works best for your travel needs.
It’s an awesome niche though for traveling with low cash and an appetite for adventure and it’s fun trying to predict the unpredictable, especially when you show up at a chef’s house for a couple of nights, or the vintage clothing buyer’s house you’ve agreed to rent your room from, as the article discusses.
This type of B&B networking is not quite competition for hotels as it appeals to a completely seperate market segment of travelers. But, it’s important to note how the social media savvy of these young (25-35) travelers, and ensure that your hotel’s social networking initiatives are up to par.