HomeAway has partnered with Gogobot to launch ‘Insider Guides’ for travellers.
Insider Guides allow holiday rental owners to create customized guidebooks for their guests with recommendations to their local amenities such as restaurants, attractions and activities. The move acts as direct competition to the recent addition of 12 city ‘neighbourhoods’ on AirBnb.
What is Gogobot? Gogobot was founded in California in November 2010 by Travis Katz and Ori Zaltzman and has since raised over $19 million from venture capital investment. It is a social sharing website where over 2.5 million contributing travellers and locals share their tips, photos, reviews and advice to help others plan their trips. Users can share and receive a personalized travel recommendations across their various social networks. Insider Guides combine both the expertise of rental home owners with other members’ contributions so that The Insider Guides guidebooks give travellers a first-hand perspective.
HomeAway CEO Brian Sharples added “I love the idea that HomeAway’s Insider Guides provides travelers with trusted, local advice”. “As a vacation rental owner, I’ll use the product to showcase the hidden gems around my home that aren’t found in any guidebook. Near my vacation home in Colorado, families and groups can find the most popular ski slopes, but what about the little known mom-and-pop restaurant that serves the best food in town? That’s what Insider Guides provides our travellers.”