Sofa Swap
The Couch Surfing Project
Using a FaceBook-like model and a concept that goes beyond “your couch is my couch,†the Couch Surfing Project, at couchsurfing.com, encourages members, both guests and hosts, to use their couch time to develop a friendship and share a cultural experiences. It's like a house-swap, but on a smaller scale -- during your stay in the city, you get to sleep on a stranger's couch. In exchange, they'll sleep on yours when they come to your town. The phenomenon is catching on, with over 300,000 members already from over 31,000 places.
Trend Themes
1. Couch Surfing - Opportunity to disrupt the travel industry by creating a platform that connects travelers with local hosts for cultural exchange.
2. Friendship Economy - Opportunity to create platforms that foster genuine friendships and cultural experiences through shared accommodations.
3. Social Sharing - Opportunity to expand the concept of sharing economy to include more interpersonal connections and experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Travel & Tourism - Opportunity for travel companies to incorporate peer-to-peer accommodations and cultural exchange into their offerings.
2. Hospitality - Opportunity for hotels and traditional accommodations to explore new models that promote social interactions and local experiences for guests.
3. Social Networking - Opportunity for social networking platforms to create features or spin-off platforms that facilitate cultural exchange and the formation of genuine friendships.