Airbnb Acquires Gaest.Com, Expanding Options for Creative Meeting Spaces
March 5, 2019
In a move demonstrating its increasing interest in business travel, Airbnb has acquired Gaest.com—proving the duo is a match made in heaven just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Gaest.com, an online marketplace designed to help meeting and event planners find inspiring spaces for short-term rentals (hours or days), was founded in 2015 in Denmark. It now operates across six continents on a platform similar to that of Airbnb, where hosts can list their spaces and also provide other add-ons to enhance the experience.
As the demand for more creative, flexible meeting spaces continues to rise, increased access to such spaces that are easy to find, book and utilize is also growing. Many platforms similar to Gaest.com have sprung up around the world in the last few years, though few with a reach as wide.
“We’re thrilled to join one of the world’s most innovative companies and become an integral part of their mission to make it easier for professionals to feel a sense of belonging at work,” said Anders Mogensen, co-founder and CEO of Gaest.com.
He continued, “Our dream from day one has been to make it easier, faster and more cost-effective to list, discover and book unique spaces that spark creativity, motivate interaction and encourage knowledge sharing.”
The acquisition of Gaest.com will expand Airbnb’s creative meeting listings by more than 3,000 spaces. Planners will still be able to book spaces using Gaest.com’s platform on its website, so the user experience won’t be changing. Currently, you can search for venues based on time of your event, number of people, budget, audiovisual features and other offerings (like catering and entertainment options).
The listings are heavily concentrated in the UK and Denmark, as well as other countries like Sweden and Australia; there are no listings in the U.S. as of now, but that could be changing in the near future.
“We imagine a world where anyone can share their space for professional events,” said David Holyoke, global head of Airbnb for Work, the company’s platform for business travelers that encompasses accommodations, team building activities (through Airbnb Experiences) and finding Wi-Fi-equipped creative workspaces.
“Bringing in a leadership team with strong domain knowledge allows us to accelerate our work in this area, and more importantly, Gaest.com and Airbnb share a vision of helping every space owner become entrepreneurs through sharing their spaces with those who need it,” Holyoke added.
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Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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