Struggling for a slice of cake

“… By creating the best possible environment for hosts to flourish we allow them to concentrate on serving the end consumer to the best of their ability. Come, bring your best offer, and let the guests decide what they want to book… “.

Ruslans Kovalovs, Managing Director @thegoldenmoon.com

If you are reading this, there is a good chance these statements are familiar: “There are a lot of hotels that aren’t right for Airbnb, and probably never will be.” “Focusing on just boutique and bed and breakfasts ensures that the company [Airbnb] stays true to its vision”. On the other hand: “Boutique hotels beware: the hotel industry gets a new frenemy [meaning Airbnb]”. “The hotel industry takes Airbnb as a threat and is prepared to take action against it”.  Fairly bold statements, making it clear that for some reason, there is a massive effort to keep hotels and local hosts disconnected.

Struggling for a slice of cake

Commercial wars are designed to protect a business’ market share and prevent competitors from acquiring some of it. They protect interests, create boundaries, and aim to bring more control and power over a market share. This is what they are designed to do. It’s nothing personal, but why should a business’ or market’s wars, vision or ambitions prevent your business from developing?

It is time to move on

Regardless of what epithets are used to describe Airbnb, it is a great business that provides many an opportunity to travel more, a chance for others to become entrepreneurs, own a little business, and one which has brought a sense of adventure and hope for a future. In a sense, it has brought more justice into society by spreading profits between the rich and not so rich more equally. Apparently, not everybody likes this. Nevertheless, the travel industry must now deal with the reality that Airbnb is here to stay. So, it is time to adapt to the new reality.

Benefits of misfortune

Do not let your business become a hostage to someone’s war or vision. It is undeniable that local hosts benefit from a wider audience of hotels guests when provided with the opportunity.  Hotels will also benefit in that they can reach a previously unreachable market of local hosts’ guests by advertising along with their listing. In fact, some already do so. Now, with Thegoldenmoon.com, both markets can do so openly without accusing each other of “overstretching their roots”, being “misguiding” or hurting feelings. TheGM permits hotels, local hosts and all other property owners showcase on one platform. That’s the beauty of it.

While some create boundaries- others remove them

There are 80 categories of properties in the list making TheGM the largest provider of accommodation categories under one brand name. “In fact, we include them all. By creating the best possible environment for hosts to flourish we allow them to concentrate on serving the end consumer to the best of their ability. Come, bring your best offer, and let the guests decide what they want to book”, says Ruslans Kovalovs, the Managing Director at TheGM. “…At TheGM, local hosts are just another category of accommodation providers. Claiming they represent a threat for hotels is no different from stating that site caravans are deadly weapons of hotels’ detractors. Do not allow your property or hotel to be limited by this short-sighted approach…”. 

“…Guests do not care about a business’ vision and ambitions. With plenty of choices, demanding everything right here and right now, this type of guests is already here. Does your business have an answer? I suspect nobody expects that guests will wait until the business has made the right decision…”.

Right here right now

Do not forget that guests are the most important variable to your business. Without them, you wouldn’t have a business. They are not prepared to tolerate limitations. Guests do not care about a business’ vision and ambitions. He continues: “With plenty of choices, demanding everything right here and right now, this type of guests is already here. Does your business have an answer? I suspect nobody expects that guests will wait until the business has made the right decision”. Thus, while the big boys fight for a slice of cake, make sure yours is on the right side. Apart from a business’s reasons, vision or ambitions, there is nothing to prevent your AirB&B, hotel, or any other type of property from advertising together.

Thegoldenmoon’s Super Offer

The first few who recognise the opportunity that Thegoldenmoon.com presents will gain competitive advantage. TheGM has an attractive offer for the early adopters: the first registered listings will pay nothing for using the platform for 5 years. It might well address another problem with paying enormous fees to current well-known booking platforms. So, make sure you are among those grabbing the best seats.

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