What’s a more authentic travel experience, a hotel, or Airbnb?
Essay
Consumers are often seeking authenticity when they travel to connect to a place and its people. Organisations such as Airbnb have developed their reputation on the premise that it provides visitors with an ‘authentically’ local experience. This reputation for authenticity can have both negative and positive impacts for local communities.
Debate exists on what provides a more authentic travel experience, a hotel, or an Airbnb? Your task is to consider the sections below to address this topic and present your arguments.
Your essay should comprise of the following section:
a) Introduction (150 words)
b) Define authenticity and commodification and discuss their application to Airbnb and hotels. As part of this discussion consider the question – what’s a more authentic travel experience, a hotel, or an Airbnb? (300 words)
c) Using supporting research, discuss the positives and negatives of authenticity (300 words)
d) Provide recommendations on how a destination can manage the issues you have identified drawing on examples from other destinations and what can be done to take advantage of the opportunities and overcome the challenges (300 words)
e) Conclusion to summarise key points (150 words)
