UK: A new marketplace which claims to be the first sustainable short stay platform of its kind and to offer access to premium homes – Smarter – has launched in London.
In response to the boom in the short stay staycation market following a year of travel restrictions, Smarter is designed to offer a fresh presence in the holiday rental accommodation space and disrupt the status quo set by traditional OTAs and booking platforms.
Operating a careful selection process based on both the quality of individual listings and management service, the company is setting out to create a new standard for overall guest experience.
Writing on social media, Smarter founder Guy van der Westhuizen said: “I’m delighted to announce the launch of Smarter, a pioneering new short stay booking platform for premium short stays.
“Founded on the principles of trust, sustainability and value, we’ve partnered with London’s leading short stay managers to present the city’s finest, fully-verified, professionally-managed homes at highly competitive rates. Further, we’re making a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of our industry by super-offsetting all our stays, including our guests’ flights, from the proceeds of every single booking on our platform, and by funding the Stay For Good Foundation, our sister charity dedicated to sustainable development projects.
“Smarter is here to restore booking confidence and travellers’ trust, and together with our partner managers, to reshape the industry from the top in a way serves the planet, and our guests, a great deal better,” he added.
Offering homes with prices ranging from £200 to £2000 per night, Smarter is partnering with the UK’s leading carbon offset provider, ClimateCare, to deliver carbon emission reductions alongside a number of sustainable development impacts. The company’s projects follow the same robust process of design, monitoring and independent verification set down by the United Nations’ Clean Development Mechanism.
According to Smarter, the money spent to offset emissions from stays booked through the company will support a portfolio of projects around the world that are designed to cut global carbon emissions, for example in Ghana and India.
Among the homes available on the Smarter platform are:
- The Lodge, as featured on Grand Designs, a neo-gothic moated lodge in Fulham
The Neo-Gothic Moat in the heart of Fulham is a five-bedroom home with its own moat and a history dating back to 1865. It is spread over three floors and was formerly a 19th century lodge on the grounds of the Fulham Cemetery,
- Waterford Road
The double fronted house, located in the heart of Fulham has an open plan living area at the entrance of the home, a second sitting room, and four “decadent and stylish” bedrooms.
- Chalcot Road
Chalcot Road is a four bedroom, four bathroom home in Primrose Hill. The sitting room contains contemporary seats and ornamental fireplaces, while the master bedroom is a taupe-painted room with a king-size bed, smoked-glass wardrobes and a state-of-the-art ensuite.
