In 2008, Airbnb was launched and since its introduction, the online service has transformed the global hospitality industry. In 2022, there are around 100,000 cities with active Airbnb listings, including Dublin and Galway, and even though Airbnb’s valuation has fallen in 2020, the online travel booking site has recovered, recording a more than 250% increase in net income last year.
Airbnb has become so popular that reports suggest more than 50% of travelers would rather stay in an Airbnb home than a traditional hotel. https://www.travelpulse.com/news/airbnb-vs-hotels-new-data-shows-travelers-preferences/. Part of that could be down to cost and quality, but it’s also because travelers have more of a say in where they stay. For example, you can book a hotel room, but you might not get the view you want. However, with Airbnb, you don’t need to book until you find a place that ticks everything off your wish list.
Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen an online service outperform its traditional counterpart. Let’s look at the gambling industry. Ever since online casinos entered the mainstream, many gamblers have enjoyed the flexibility that comes with online gambling. They no longer need to leave their homes to indulge in the activity, and the introduction of live casino games on platforms like https://games.paddypower.com/p/live-casino has fueled this appreciation especially as these games replicate the traditional casino experience. Players can still interact with the dealers in charge of their games in real time, but instead of being in person, this interaction is done via a monitor. Similarly, Airbnb is known for offering enticing promotions that travelers can’t get through hotels, as is the online casino industry, which offers welcome bonuses and free spins that aren’t typically available at hotels. land-based casinos.
Now, that’s not to say no one goes to traditional hotels anymore because they do. As pointed out on https://www.stratosjets.com/blog/online-travel-statistics/, two-thirds of all online travel booking sales are made from a hotel website, although sites like TripAdvisor and Airbnb receive millions of visits each month. Land-based casinos and betting shops are also still popular, especially in countries like South Africa, where these in-person establishments are places people go on weekends to socialize with friends and family. . There are 45 reported land-based casinos in South Africa alone.
Other links between hospitality and gambling
The transition from land-based establishments to online services is not the only link between the hospitality industry and the gambling market. For example, there are still hundreds of casino hotels around the world that offer luxurious accommodations and on-site entertainment. Las Vegas in the United States is perhaps best known for its casino hotels, including Caesar’s Palace and the Bellagio. However, South America, England and Ireland also have reputable casino hotels.
The introduction of online services has transformed industries like hospitality and gambling, but that doesn’t mean hotels and land-based casinos have been left behind. It just means the world is divided on how they prefer to do things, and that’s fine. After all, what’s the point of having countless choices if no one is exercising the different options?
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