The purpose of this paper was to examine the long-term viability of three different accommodation sharing platforms (Airbnb, Fairbnb, and Couchsurfing) by evaluating the literature and other source materials available. These platforms' potential and challenges have been highlighted, as well as how each of these platforms contributes to various elements of sustainability. The results indicate that these platforms play different roles in various elements of sustainability. These platforms reduce overproduction and consumption by utilizing spare bedrooms and reducing the need for new hotel constructions. They also make travel more affordable, provide income opportunities (Airbnb & Fairbnb), and promote social interactions. However, they do have certain drawbacks as well. Low-cost travel may encourage people to travel more, resulting in higher CO2 emissions, which may have more negative than positive consequences. However, as shown by the effects of several regulations adopted by different cities, such adverse impacts can be minimized with strict government regulations. Nonetheless, while effective and suitable regulation might help to mitigate the negative effects of these platforms, it is difficult to estimate their exact sustainability repercussions. As a result, this paper calls for a more open examination of accommodation sharing services.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Sharing Economy: Overview
2.1 Development of Sharing Economy
2.2 Economic Perspective on the Sharing Economy
2.3 Social Perspective on the Sharing Economy
2.4 Ecological Perspective on the Sharing Economy
3 Sharing in Housing Sector
3.1 Development of Sharing Concept in Housing
3.2 Example 1: Airbnb
3.2.1 The Rise and Growth of Airbnb
3.2.2 Business Model
3.3 Example 2: Fairbnb
3.3.1 The Rise and Growth of Fairbnb
3.3.2 Business Model
3.4 Example 3: Couchsurfing
3.4.1 The Rise and Growth of Couchsurfing
3.4.2 Business Model
3.5 Opportunities and Challenges of Accommodation Sharing Platforms
4 Sustainability in Accommodation Sharing
4.1 The Concept of Sustainability
4.1.1 The Economic Perspective
4.1.2 The Social Perspective
4.1.3 The Ecological Perspective
4.2 How Sustainable are Accommodation Sharing Platforms?
4.2.1 Airbnb
4.2.2 Fairbnb
4.2.3 Couchsurfing
5 Recommendations
6 Conclusion
Research Objectives & Topics
The primary goal of this research is to evaluate the long-term sustainability of three prominent accommodation sharing platforms (Airbnb, Fairbnb, and Couchsurfing) by analyzing available literature to determine how effectively they balance economic, social, and environmental benefits against their operational challenges.
- Comparison of business models and growth trajectories of major P2P accommodation platforms.
- Evaluation of the "triple bottom line" (economic, social, ecological) impact of sharing services.
- Analysis of regulatory responses to the disruption caused by short-term vacation rentals.
- Identification of strategies and recommendations for fostering more sustainable accommodation practices.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.1 The Rise and Growth of Airbnb
Airbnb is a well-known example of the Sharing Economy. Its emergence is undeniably one of the most important and revolutionary recent events in the global tourist industry (Guttentag, 2019, 815). Airbnb began in 2007 when two San Francisco hosts invited three visitors to stay with them at their house (Airbnb, 2022). It began as a prototype in San Francisco and quickly grew to include hundreds more locations throughout the world. Airbnb is typically portrayed as a godsend for tourists searching for low-cost or unusual lodgings, as well as for homeowners wishing to supplement their income (Bivens, 2019, 1). One of the motivations for the formation of Airbnb was the lack of hotel rooms during busy holiday periods. As a result of the ongoing scarcity of room availability, Airbnb stepped up became the most prominent pioneer of sharing lodging. Its mission is to assist communities in earning money in a flexible manner while also assisting in the strengthening of local economies. Airbnb has revolutionized vacation accommodations by allowing guests to feel at home while also exchanging experiences with the local community. It offers adventure and a one-of-a-kind home, as well as the opportunity to participate in local communities throughout the world. Airbnb also offers users novel solutions by giving an online platform through which they may communicate with their community (Chua et al., 2019, 20).
As the demand for holiday lodgings expanded, the company saw the market's immense potential, and Airbnb was established to fulfill it by offering a low-cost, unique travel experience. Airbnb has focused on the potential economic impact they may have on a global scale, while also striving to align this with the goal of sustaining current development in the communities where they operate. Airbnb generated more than $300 million in economic activity in a number of large cities, including New York, Paris, Berlin, and London (Huang et al, 2018, 36).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the global context of resource exploitation and introduces the sharing economy as a solution to increase resource efficiency in the accommodation sector.
2. Sharing Economy: Overview: Provides a theoretical framework of the sharing economy, examining its economic, social, and ecological drivers and impacts.
3. Sharing in Housing Sector: Details the development of home sharing, specifically analyzing the growth models of Airbnb, Fairbnb, and Couchsurfing and their implications for local residents.
4. Sustainability in Accommodation Sharing: Analyzes the sustainability of these platforms using the triple bottom line framework and assesses their ecological footprint in comparison to traditional lodging.
5. Recommendations: Discusses the necessity of regulatory frameworks and municipal policies to manage the expansion of P2P accommodation while protecting housing affordability.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes findings, highlighting that while sharing platforms offer unique social and economic benefits, their long-term environmental sustainability requires better regulation and more purposeful travel behaviors.
Keywords
Sharing Economy, Accommodation Sharing, Sustainability, Airbnb, Fairbnb, Couchsurfing, Peer-to-Peer, Urban Tourism, Triple Bottom Line, Resource Efficiency, Collaborative Consumption, Regulation, Home Sharing, Social Capital, Environmental Impact
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
This thesis examines the long-term sustainability of peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation sharing platforms, specifically analyzing how Airbnb, Fairbnb, and Couchsurfing integrate into the tourism landscape and impact local communities and the environment.
Which platforms are analyzed in depth?
The work primarily focuses on three distinct models: the commercial market leader Airbnb, the community-centered cooperative Fairbnb, and the non-profit hospitality network Couchsurfing.
What is the primary research question?
The study centers on the question: "What are ways to increase the sustainability of accommodation sharing?"
What methodology is applied?
The author performs an extensive analysis of existing literature, research reports, and source materials to assess the economic, social, and ecological contributions and drawbacks of the chosen platforms.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the development of the sharing economy, business models of the selected platforms, their sustainability profiles, and the role of government regulation in mitigating negative externalities like overtourism and gentrification.
What are the key descriptive keywords?
Essential keywords include Sharing Economy, Accommodation Sharing, Sustainability, Social Capital, Triple Bottom Line, and P2P Accommodation.
How does Fairbnb handle profit differently than Airbnb?
Unlike Airbnb’s profit-driven model, Fairbnb re-invests half of its commission fees into locally selected social and community projects to foster local development and mitigate the negative pressures of tourism.
Is Couchsurfing financially profitable?
Couchsurfing operates on a non-monetary, voluntary exchange basis, focusing on cultural and social connections rather than generating income, although it has transitioned to a corporate entity in recent years.
- Quote paper
- Abdiaziz Muhumed Nur (Author), 2022, Opportunities and Challenges of Sustainable Sharing in the Accommodation Sector, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1373639
