Why will it matter in 2024? As travel costs continue to rise, home swaps have become a more affordable option than shelling out for expensive hotels or Airbnb. And while the concepts of Couchsurfing and home exchanges have been around for decades, some sophisticated new platforms are redefining what home exchanges look like today.
Twin City, which operates in cities like Lisbon and Los Angeles, has curated a community of over 1,100 carefully vetted users in just eight months. For an annual subscription fee of approximately $189, members can find Twins to connect with through the platform and are encouraged to exchange local recommendations in their city or home, much like they are exchanging with a trusted friend. You can feel it. Not a stranger.
Meanwhile, Kindred, a home-swapping platform where members earn credits every night they trade a home, raised $15 million in funding this year to expand its operations across the U.S. and Europe, and currently has more than 10,000 homes in more than 50 countries. Owns a house. City. Members only pay a cleaning fee and service fee for each stay, and the stay itself is free.
Travelers can completely waive membership fees and have direct access to TikTok. On TikTok, Gen Z appears to be leading the home swap movement on social media. The trending tags #houseswap and #homeswap, inspired by the movie The Holiday, have received more than 23 million and 20 million views, respectively, allowing users to promote their homes and share like-minded We use this platform as a way to find and exchange friends with others, and to record our experiences. Adventures along the way. —Gina Jackson
4. Stations become new gourmet destinations
What are the trends? Train stations around the world are not designed for commuters to stay or hang out, so they usually pass through them as quickly as possible. Now, as travel delays increase and travelers seek more local experiences, train stations are welcoming travelers with shops, restaurants and bars to explore. The historic station is being renovated to create a more dynamic visitor experience, and bespoke food and drink offerings are integral to the redesign.
Why will it be important in 2024? As stations are renovated to accommodate more travelers and update aging infrastructure, local restaurants and bars will grow to attract more customers. Added. In 2023, New York City’s new Moynihan Train Hall will open Yono Sushi, a bar by the team behind the acclaimed Dead Rabbit, Irish Exit and trendy Bondist, as well as popular New York restaurants Pastrami Queen and A Jacob’s Pickles location has also opened. Mexican hotspot La Esquina is coming soon. As part of its renovation, Toronto’s Union Station will launch Union Market in May 2023, along with popular local food retailers Manotas Organics, Chocolatta Brigadeiro’s, Patty’s Express, and Kibo.
In the UK, Platform 1, a new bar and restaurant beneath Glasgow Central Station, opened in November. The cavernous space, featuring historic brick arches, serves street food-style cuisine and craft beers from the on-site microbrewery, with an outdoor beer garden. Meanwhile, in Somerset, Castle Cary station is undergoing renovations, with the nearby Hotel The Newt creating a creamery, cafe and co-working space, due to open in 2024.
