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I don't disagree with you but I could see a hybrid model working for AirBnb. Say they own an apartment complex and allow people to either purchase units or lea

by everly 10y ago

I don't disagree with you but I could see a hybrid model working for AirBnb. Say they own an apartment complex and allow people to either purchase units or lease long-term, with the option to rent out their place to short-term AirBnb users when they aren't there. AirBnb and its users would benefit from having on-site staff as well as standardized units, reducing unpredictability for everyone involved and making it a hotel-like experience, while still profiting off of capital owned by the working class.

vkou 10y ago
I doubt that short-term apartment owner vacancy rates will be low enough to justify the costs. I could see this working for vacation properties, but this kind of business model already exists - just drive up to Whistler, BC... Or any serious ski resort, really.
- everly 10y ago
  Again, I can't really disagree. What I'm imagining is probably closest to a time-share property but re-branded to lose the stigma and with slightly more standardized units. I just like the idea of something that allows remote workers to easily move between multiple cities, for varying intervals of time, with similar, predictable accommodations. No idea if there's actually a viable market or if it's even in the realm of what AirBnb are trying to do.
  - personlurking 10y ago
    > I just like the idea of something that allows remote workers to easily move between multiple cities, for varying intervals of time, with similar, predictable accommodations. As someone who has moved an aweful lot, I always imagined such an option should exist and was always frustrated to know it doesn't. Barring a large corporation offering a seamless option, I'd like to see hostels tackle this problem by being built to offer several rentals (rooms) per location, perhaps with a 2-3 month limit. In a large enough city, one could just do a search for these types of rooms via Hostelbookers et al. At least such an offering would take care of the "I just moved here and want to figure out the lay of the land first" problem.

by everly 10y ago

vkou 10y ago

I doubt that short-term apartment owner vacancy rates will be low enough to justify the costs. I could see this working for vacation properties, but this kind of business model already exists - just drive up to Whistler, BC... Or any serious ski resort, really.

everly 10y ago
Again, I can't really disagree. What I'm imagining is probably closest to a time-share property but re-branded to lose the stigma and with slightly more standardized units. I just like the idea of something that allows remote workers to easily move between multiple cities, for varying intervals of time, with similar, predictable accommodations. No idea if there's actually a viable market or if it's even in the realm of what AirBnb are trying to do.
- personlurking 10y ago
  > I just like the idea of something that allows remote workers to easily move between multiple cities, for varying intervals of time, with similar, predictable accommodations. As someone who has moved an aweful lot, I always imagined such an option should exist and was always frustrated to know it doesn't. Barring a large corporation offering a seamless option, I'd like to see hostels tackle this problem by being built to offer several rentals (rooms) per location, perhaps with a 2-3 month limit. In a large enough city, one could just do a search for these types of rooms via Hostelbookers et al. At least such an offering would take care of the "I just moved here and want to figure out the lay of the land first" problem.