Related Studies and Specific Case: Airbnb in Barcelona(Socio 5)

Millennial travelers & sharing economies like Airbnb

·What we know about the Millennials generation?

Millennials are becoming an influential cohort, taking a growing role in shaping social and economic trends worldwide. This is also true when it comes to the sharing economy, which seems like a natural fit for this generation, born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s.

Fuente: http://bit.ly/2zb38C1

After all, we are characterized as digital-savvy, open-minded to changes, and comfortable with peer-to-peer interaction.

The millennial generation is more interested in the idea that our identity is based on relationships and experiences more than based in our possessions and consumption habits (like our parents).

According to some surveys, 78% of millennials are more interested in thrilling, active vacations than lazy trips.

As a millennial traveler, I’m agree with this statistics. I would be out walking my feet off in a new city, learning to surf or meet and sharing experiences with locals than laying on a beach or sitting on a tour bus all day. I definitely prefer to seek out new adventures and challenge myself when I'm traveling.

·What we know about the Sharing Economy?

Fuente: http://bit.ly/2AkQtup

The sharing economy has generated a lot of debate discussions  over ethical, regulatory, and cultural challenges it presents and a growing interest from investors, established firms, researchers and politics. It has also drawn increasing public attention, mainly due to large investments in leading companies such as Uber and Airbnb.

This type of economic model has a lot of controversy but some experts faith in the sharing economy as engine of a better future (Mason, 2015; Rifkin, 2014).

Exactly, what makes the sharing economy unique depends on whom one asks. According to Botsman and Rogers (2010), “collaborative consumption” is characterized by “critical mass,idling capacity, belief in the commons, and trust between strangers.” Schor (2014a) highlights the facilitation of sharing between strangers; she calls the phenomenon “stranger sharing.”

But, we can’t forget that the technologies have an important role in the sharing economies, according to some experts like Belk (2014) focuses on temporary access to goods and services and reliance on the Internet, especially Web 2.0 technologies.

·Case Study: Airbnb in Barcelona

Fuente: http://bit.ly/1SA0fut

We will focus this post in on one of the pioneering companies, with greater success but also one of the most controversial companies. Yes, you guessed it! We are talking about Airbnb! As you know, this platform is one of the companies with as many followers as detractors.

We have searched all kinds of reports, studies, statistics and academic publications to know and understand both points of view to make this post.

In this case, we focused this post in our city Barcelona, one of the most European touristic cities.

As we already know, the relationship between Airbnb and Barcelona is not very popular because of its harmony.

This company has been well received by some residents who see the option provided by Airbnb, as an opportunity to earn extra money, sharing their homes.

Fuente: http://bit.ly/2CiDc6X

But made the law, made the trap, and many other people saw the business opportunity to speculate and earn a lot of money with their properties, promoting gentrification, real estate inflation, real estate mobbing and the impossibility for locals to find apartments for rent with affordable and reasonable prices.

For that reason, the local council has fought together with neighborhood organizations to locate illegal homes offered on airbnb or other similar platforms. In addition, the platform has reached agreements with the city council, to impose the tourist tax on the guests, among other actions.

This post is based in one study part of the series of studies carried out by Airbnb in cities such as San Francisco, New York, Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam. All are available on the public policy blog of Airbnb and provide the company with a positive argument, endorsed by the academic world, which allows to face the regulatory attacks in many of these cities.

According to the Report on the community of Airbnb in Barcelona made by Airbnb, the Airbnb users age range is 25-39 years according to the Millennials generation. And Barcelona receives people from all over the world, specially in 52% from the rest of Europe.

Curiosities:

Millennials currently spend more than $200 billion annually on travel; and they plan to increase frequency and spending.

They are inspired by destinations and authentic experiences.

44 percent of millennials prefer rentals to hotels.

Airbnb understands the millennial’s mindset.   

Nearly half are making less money than their parents did.

Fuente: http://bit.ly/2BiZisz

In this study Airbnb defends that: Airbnb helps thousands of families in Barcelona to earn extra money to stay afloat during these difficult times by opening their homes to travelers, "says Jeroen Merchiers, Airbnb's General Director for Spain and Portugal.

"In just one year, thousands of local hosts have helped travelers from all over the world to experience Barcelona in a more authentic and sustainable way throughout the different neighborhoods of the city."

The study also indicates that the majority of Airbnb hosts in Barcelona use the money they earn to pay their bills and face mortgage or rental expenses.

"Airbnb guests stay longer and spend more in different neighborhoods of the city," said Alexander Neumann, economist at Dwif Consulting, "It is undeniable that Airbnb significantly supports local commerce and strengthens the city."

To finalize this post, as a millennial and technology lover and the resources that it offers us, I see fit to attach 2 videos of youtube, to contrast the 2 faces of Airbnb with a dynamic method.

In the first video, we can see what is the Airbnb's main reason for being and the experience that it offers.

Fuente: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOYhUhG1V24

In the second video, we see the opposite, it is the dark and negative part of this platform and what its activity has led.

Fuente: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mstn4Bo2_GA

With this post we realize that the initial idea of Airbnb was very good, but it has degenerated into something that can be very beneficial for some locals and tourists but much more harmful for the rest of the residents of a neighborhood or city.

In future posts, we will explain more about this controversial company from different and objective points of view. Because, we think that it’s too important that you as a reader, reflect about it and create your own opinion about this very successful company and its impact on the communities.