GetYourGuide and different main platforms for journey experiences are going through contemporary dose of competitors now that Airbnb has relaunched its effort within the area.
However GetYourGuide is positioning it as excellent news: It’s a “nice validation for the experiences trade,” Johannes Reck, CEO of GetYourGuide, instructed Skift Wednesday. “I’m delighted to see Airbnb’s announcement and them doubling down on the area.”
Airbnb’s up to date experiences providing is relaunching in 650 cities. Examples embody a tour of the newly reopened Notre-Dame with the architect from the restoration group, and a Ramen cooking class in Japan with a Michelin-recognized chef.
Additionally it is launching providers that vacationers – and locals – can order. Suppose catering, images, spa therapies, and private coaching.
“That is nice and tremendous enriching for the market,” Reck mentioned.
For now, there’s loads of progress to go round, with Earnest Analytics estimating that since 2019, spending on journey experiences – booked on-line or offline – has risen by a 3rd. Different rivals embody Viator, Tiqets, and Klook.
GetYourGuide has been in search of cost-effective advertising methods to affiliate its model with individuals who like dwell leisure, sports activities, and actions. It is ramping up advertising within the U.S., the place Tripadvisor’s Viator leads in gross sales, and Airbnb and Expedia have established title recognition.
“The experiences trade could be very totally different to others. We’re constructing our capabilities,” Reck mentioned, referring to offering experiences at each main vacationer spots “in addition to hidden gems.”
“Customers in the end need each. They need to journey to New York Metropolis to see Broadway and The Edge and the Statue of Liberty, however they could additionally need to have a bagel membership in Brooklyn that’s tremendous genuine and extra area of interest,” he mentioned.
Having the potential of serving each marketplaces was “what’s key for experiences, and what’s actually particular about this trade”.
Airbnb’s current transfer was a “nice push” to make journey brokers within the experiences trade extra seen to shoppers, who may in any other case discover their experiences by way of search platforms like Google, Reck mentioned.
“I believe this may solely be optimistic for an trade the place on-line journey brokers are nonetheless a minority of the general spend.”
