I TRAVEL, THEREFORE I AM

Cover Ermenegildo Zegna vest | Tommy Hilfiger shirt & jeans

If not long ago, somebody announced the biggest trend in travelling is staying at a strangers’ home, I guess we wouldn’t have believed it. Well cut to now when seemingly everyone is using Airbnb, a global website for renting private properties. It all began in 2007 when two flatmates and graduates from Rhode Island School of Design, Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky, received a notification from their landlords that their rent would increase. In order not to lose their apartment, they decided to rent out an air-bed in their house, and build a site to evaluate and receive requests for this simple set-up, alongside Nathan Blecharczyk. We now know what it has grown to become and opened its doors to Italy back in 2011, and was recently awarded by Glassdoor as the best company to work for. We met Andrea Crociani, Marketing Manager of Airbnb Italy, who told us that the way we travel has changed, thanks to a simple and yet genius intuition. Don’t miss his secret tip – a special house in Bali: https://www.airbnb.it/rooms/800284

How do you conduct the research for the most amazing houses?

People consider us to be a reliable platform with an important global showcase, so we are lucky because we don’t have to look for the most beautiful houses; the owners of the houses themselves chose to publish their announcements on Airbnb. Just to give you an idea, there are 1600 castles, more than 600 tree houses and 3000 boats on Airbnb.

Have you ever thought about the business of renting commercial locations (for parties and events, for example)?

Inside every announcement you can highlight if the location is available for organizing special events. For us it isn’t a business but an additional opportunity that our hosts offer to their guests.

Are there any special services you wish to implement?

We are constantly working to improve our platform. In the last weeks we extended our Host Insurance Protection to 15 new countries, which guarantees a coverage of 1 million dollars to the hosts if a guest has an accident in the house or in a surrounding area. It is another important step that Airbnb is making to support their customers in the best possible way.

Will a social community dedicated only to Airbnb users ever exist?

Partly, it already exists. In the platform there are some groups that are online communities created and organised by the Airbnb hosts. They speak about precise arguments and interests. They are the virtual space in which the host can be helped, share information and connect with similar people. Here, the members of the community can publish comments and participate to the discussions. Often, these virtual encounters turn into meet-ups in the real world.

What is your favourite destination and why?

A house without walls completely made of bamboo in the middle of the forests of Bali, close to mountain Batukaru. The only company you have is that of a dog, two cats and a monkey.

The countries you loved and the ones you wish to visit soon are?

I went to Asia three times now and I have to say that I like it a lot, especially Thailand and Indonesia where spirituality and meditation were an important part of my enjoyment. San Francisco also holds a special place in my heart, it is the only city out of Europe where I could live in. It is also the city where the adventure of airbnb started.

What is your favourite destination and why?

A house without walls completely made of bamboo in the middle of the forests of Bali, close to mountain Batukaru. The only company you have is that of a dog, two cats and a monkey.

What’s inside your suitacase?

 My suitcase is always very small. I can’t travel without my swimming trunks and a pair of flip flops. Even if I go to the mountains I like to relax in a Spa.

 Your look for travelling is…

 Pretty wild!

What’s the meaning of travelling to you?

Travelling is fiding myself everytime, is part of my constant transformation.

@All Rights Reserved

Photographer | Pier Nicola Bruno
Style | Fabio Ferraris
Grooming | Valeria Orlando @Hmbattaglia
Special Thanks | Yamaha

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