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UK: Airbnb and location tech app what3words have announced a collaboration in support of the booming demand for holiday properties in the UK, as Brits look forward to increased freedom following the latest lifting of restrictions.
As many Brits look to holiday closer to home this summer, what3words says it is envisaging a travel rebound “unlike anything we have seen before”.
Airbnb has partnered with the proprietary geocode system to make it easier for anyone who wants to take advantage of the anticipated travel surge by hosting “unforgettable” stays, such as those based in remote locations in the Scottish lowlands, or around any one of the UK’s 15 national parks.
The location of many so-called hidden gems and unique stays can often be challenging to describe. Traditional addresses do not always point to the correct entrance, and postcodes often cover a broad area.
The partnership will see what3words and Airbnb teaming up to inspire potential hosts with the opportunity that the summer staycation brings. It will be kickstarted with an education host event, showing that with a patch of land or a spare outbuilding that can be found easily with its what3words address – any spot has the potential to be listed on Airbnb during the summer season.
what3words has divided the world into three-metre squares and given each square a unique combination of three random words: a what3words address. The ability for hosts – whether budding new hosts or experienced Superhosts, like Adam and Rosie’s Orchard at Aikenhead House with its remote location in the Scottish lowlands – to provide precise locations to their guests is a key factor in delivering a hassle-free experience.
Nearby travel has made up 82 per cent of nights booked in the UK in 2021 so far, and the percentage of rural nights booked for the summer has jumped from 23 per cent in summer 2019 to 48 per cent in summer 2021. The sharp rise has led to significantly heightened searches for holiday homes, and entrepreneurial would-be hosts are looking to fill that demand.
Using what3words, hosts can direct guests to the exact entrance of their stay, allowing anyone to share the location of their property hassle-free. The system supports those who wish to explore their entrepreneurial flare by opening up their properties and making use of unusual spaces and plots of land that do not have their own allocated address, such as tents, stables, treehouses and barn conversions.
With half of new listings that were both activated and booked in early 2021 receiving their first reservation request within four days, and the average host earning nearly £1,000 last summer through Airbnb, prospective hosts will be able to learn more about how much they could potentially earn by sharing their space on the home-sharing platform through the What’s My Place Worth tool.
Chris Sheldrick, co-founder and CEO at what3words, said: “We already see a huge number of hosts on Airbnb using what3words for a smooth arrival and check-in process. Guests want to arrive relaxed and on-time, and hosts want the stay to start like this too.
“But Covid-19 has brought a new dynamic to this. Having a tool like what3words enables people to address and list any part of their property on Airbnb.
“It’s amazing to see inspired and entrepreneurial hosts maximising their properties and turning them into unique accommodation,” he added.
Amanda Cupples, general manager for Northern Europe at Airbnb, said: “From remote cabins to rural barns, Airbnb provides endless opportunities for adventure across the UK, particularly for those staycationing this summer. Through Airbnb’s collaboration with what3words, hosts on Airbnb can provide guests with an unforgettable stay, without worrying about navigation.
“And, with rural travel accounting for almost half of British Airbnb bookings for summer 2021, Brits are more excited than ever to discover these off-the-beaten path destinations,” she added.
Rosie from Aikenhead House said: “We’re out here in rural Perthshire – and people often arrive after work in the evening when it’s dark and tricky to find. Giving the what3words address means they know exactly where they’re going whether that’s the car parking space, their tent or the next day to find nearby activities.
“During the first lockdown, we saw there was going to be an opportunity for national staycations when restrictions would allow. We decided to put up the bell tent to host extra guests – and it’s been really popular ever since,” she added.
