Unplugged Travel as an integrated part of our lives - how will this trend change the world of travel? In October 2014 Lonely Planet announced unplugged & authentic travel as one of the 10 major travel trends for the future Unplugged means disconnected or also without using any electronic devices both literally and symbolically this definition can be applied to a new way of travelling: We leave our daily live behind, set free from computers and smartphones and take an adventure. 3
Unplugged Travel as an integrated part of our lives - how will this trend change the world of travel? In a more pragmatic way this means: Tourists become travellers, and travelling becomes an integrated part of their daily life Travellers want to leave their stressful daily life behind and escape rather than just take a trip Travellers want to discover and explore Travellers much rather rely on personal recommendations and tips from locals Travellers look more and more for an exchange with locals and other travellers Each trip is aimed to be authentic, unique and memorable the trip of one s life The choice of accommodation is an important element of the perfect travel experience, it is required to be authentic, individual and adjustable to personal needs And this is where we come in - after all, our philosophy is #OnlyBeLocal 4
Alon Eldar Stadler CEO and founder Only-apartments 1987 1995: Studied architecture at the School of Architecture of Barcelona (ETSAB) In 1995, creates his own architecture study, having a lot of success. In 2001 join Elisabet and they create another architecture study, El Pilar Arquitectura 2003: ApartmentsRamblas is born, online company specialized on short term rental apartments in Barcelona downtown. In 2005, as result of growth and expansion, ApartmentsRamblas becomes Only-apartments 6
The company The business model is now ready for a web site and incorporates more languages and destinations. 2006 ApartmentsRamblas becomes Only-apartments and grows with 15 employees. 2007 2008 Due to Only-apartments expansion, Alon and Elisabet are now engaged in the business on a full time basis. Only-apartments now employees more than 70 employees and services customers 24/7 and 365 days a year. The company opens a new office in China. 2013 2012 Only-apartments enters the Alternative Spanish Stock exchange and opens an office in Miami, USA. 2014 2005 The first apartment in an international destination is acquired, Paris. Only-apartments creates United Rentals with three other companies. 2011 2009 2010 7 2003 2004 There are now 40 apartments for rent and ApartmentsRamblas is born. Alon and Elisabet decide to rent their apartment. The Development department is created and the website is refined. Only-apartments continues to incorporate more countries and destinations for the benefit of their customers.
2003 Number of cities Number of countries Number of guests Number of reservations Number of apartments 1 1 1.344 384 8 8
2003 2006 Number of cities Number of countries Number of guests Number of reservations Number of apartments 1 1 1.344 384 8 Number of cities Number of countries Number of guests Number of reservations Number of apartments 19 12 7.799 1.927 550 9
2003 2006 2010 Number of cities Number of countries Number of guests Number of reservations Number of apartments 1 1 1.344 384 8 Number of cities Number of countries Number of guests Number of reservations Number of apartments 19 12 7.799 1.927 550 Number of cities Number of countries Number of guests Number of reservations Number of apartments 268 58 407.980 122.196 5.558 10
+10 years We are experts in apartment rentals 25 Languages 1 million 100,000 Monthly unique visits Comments about our apartments 2,000 Destinations 30,000 Apartments around the world Global Visiblity 109 Countries +1 million Nights booked International Team 70 workers from 24 different nationalities 11
Our clients Solo Travellers Group of Friends Families with children Young Couples 25-30 years Couples around 50-60 years 12
Our philosophy of travelling... Booking an apartment is as easy as booking A flight, a car We are travellers not tourists Travelling is freedom Feel like a local wherever you go Feel like you re at home anywhere around the world #OnlyBeLocal 13
Uber CoLunching Unplugged traveling: Impact on the travel world The birth of the trend towards unplugged and authentic traveling has also caused the creation of a whole new economy that aims to help travellers to fulfil their goal of traveling unplugged and authentically LikeALocal OutpostTravel Couchsurfing Only-apartments TripAdvisor EatWith AirBnb BlaBlaCar SideTour SpottedbyLocals Vayable Knok 14 and these are just a random few.
independent fast Unplugged traveling: Impact on the travel world All those developments have completely changed the world of The world of travel is travel and are still changing it even more Travellers have found a new independence and encounter almost no borders It is easy to feel at home at any place almost instantly, because traveling becomes a part of our lives and we are used to being constantly on the move Due to a new more mobile lifestyle the world has become more international, and it is easy to encounter likeminded people everywhere Anything can be booked anytime and from anywhere instant free mobile changing individual Our world has become smaller and bigger at the same time 15
This is what Only-apartments is working for? 16
This is what Only-apartments is working for? 17
The role of the internet in travel Finally, the core reason why the world is travelling differently today is due to smartphones and the internet. How can this be combined with the unplugged traveller? Will mobile & the internet, the very tools that are directly responsible for the trend towards unplugged travel, be the same tools that drive its expansion? Would the fact of being constantly available online not contradict the goal of unplugging and escaping from one s life for the duration of a trip? Could this trend help people to go back to enjoying analogue encounters and personal conversations? 18
The role of the internet in travel Worldwide, 94% of people bring at least one mobile device when they take personal vacations, and 97% bring at least one device on business trips. Dara Khosrowshahi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Expedia, Inc. and President, Expedia Worldwide: "Travellers are not only researching and booking trips on mobile, but they're also complimenting their meals, complaining to providers and capturing every trip detail. This is the new normal when it comes to travel. 19
The role of the internet in travel 76% of travellers say that their smartphones are "very important/critical" to their daily lives. More than one-third (35%) of the world's travellers use their smartphones more when they travel than they do at home 20
The role of the internet in travel When they are on the road, the following mobile app/device functions are the most frequently utilized by both leisure and business travelers Email/messaging 61% Camera/video recording Maps/navigation 47% Social media 45% Weather 38% Utility (alarm, calculator) 33% Entertainment 24% 21
The role of the internet in travel - My opinion Travelling becomes a part of our daily lives rather than a unique event we use the internet in the same way we use it everyday Most people don t consider using the internet for booking/researching/staying connected as being plugged in People are not willing to refrain from the advantages the internet has to offer and would not be able to properly enjoy their trip without being online Could you give me your Wi-Fi password? The internet has become an integral part of our way of traveling. Sharing photos, social media, weather, news... Travellers want to be updated and plugged in If this is not the case, Why do airports, bars, restaurants, apartments and hotels continually offer free wifi?
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