EDITOR'S COMMENT
• As we predicted in our recent A-Z piece for travel and hospitality in 2022, Gen-Z-focused online travel agency Hopper is set to take on its OTA counterparts by expanding into the short-term vertical with the launch of Hopper Homes.
Hopper is more than just another kid on the block though. The company already provided flight, hotel and car rental options and was the number one downloaded travel app in North America in 2021, while Hopper Homes is launching with more than two million properties already in its inventory.
Retaining a Gen Z / millennial focus is key to Hopper Homes' business proposition, at a time when four in ten travellers renting short-term rentals globally are under the age of 35 [Phocuswright]. To attract these demographics, the platform is designed to alleviate traveller anxiety during the booking process by offering pricing transparency and flexibility in its payment and cancellation terms, as well as to promote its Carrot Cash loyalty credit system.
By placing such a strong emphasis on flexibility and transparency, Hopper Homes is laying down the gauntlet to its rivals who have been accused of failing to meet those standards throughout the pandemic. The development of its mobile app and further fintech products - Price Prediction and Cancel for Any Reason - positions Hopper to take advantage of more opportunities as travel returns, with younger globetrotters especially seeking more flexibility in how and what they book, and a seamless, instantaneous booking experience.
As for hosts and managers, Hopper CEO Frederic Lalonde believes that the company's clear and flexible cancellation policies will ensure they achieve "increased conversion rates without taking on any risks themselves", when speaking to Bloomberg. That would be music to the ears of already aggrieved hosts but time will tell as Hopper Homes rolls out more features.
• The entries period for the 2022 Shortyz Awards is now open! You can submit your entries in as many of the 20 categories here as you wish at no cost by Friday 11 March. View the full list of categories here.
Hear from some of our judges and 2021 winners about why you should enter the 2022 Shortyz Awards and what it meant to them to win their awards.
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