Reconsidering online reputation systems

Social and socioeconomic interactions and transactions often require trust. In digital spaces, the main approach to facilitating trust has effectively been to try to reduce or even remove the need for it through the implementation of reputation systems. These generate metrics based on digital data such as ratings and reviews submitted by users, interaction histories, and so on, that are intended to label individuals as more or less reliable or trustworthy in a particular interaction context. We suggest that conventional approaches to the design of such systems are rooted in a capitalist, competitive paradigm, relying on methodological individualism, and that the reputation technologies themselves thus embody and enact this paradigm in whatever space they operate in. We question whether the politics, ethics and philosophy that contribute to this paradigm align with those of some of the contexts in which reputation systems are now being used, and suggest that alternative approaches to the establishment of trust and reputation in digital spaces need to be considered for alternative contexts

Non-Commercial Homestay;an exploration of encounters and experiences of guests visiting the UK.

This paper explores the experiences of tourists travelling within the UK using hosts through the web based non commercial homestay organisations. The author, as a host explores the guests’ expectations, experiences and views on hospitality within this unique but growing form of accommodation. In order to ascertain the benefits to the guest, within non commercial homestay it is necessary to review the concept of value for the guest, explore the different forms or dimensions of hospitality, and ascertain levels of reciprocity within the host guest relationship. The paper shows that reciprocity within this hospitality context is asymmetrical and that the sacrifice made by the guest is to the benefit of the host be it non financial

Tourism Trends Among Generation Y in Poland

On the basis of empirical studies and available sources, the author presents tourism as undertaken by young Poles from Generation Y, with reference to demographic, and above all generational changes. She focuses on presenting tourism preferences and typical behaviour. The analysis shows that their behaviour is similar to those observed by Generation Y globally. The similarities are also visible in tourism - new, post-modernist trends, such as gap year and internet couch surfing portals, as forms of independent travel organization, are becoming more and more popular. On the other hand, the consumptionist habits of Generation Y (preferences for comfort and entertainment), as well as an orientation towards family and friends, frequently travelling companions, can also be observe

Managing a non-profit hospitality platform conversion: The case of Couchsurfing.com

Couchsurfing (CS) was founded in 2003 as a non-profit for those interested in creating a common resource for world-wide hospitality exchange and low cost tourism. Built around a non-market communal sharing model, it became a for-profit in August 2011. Applying a discourse relational model approach, this study characterizes how competing discursive articulations over the conversion led to a discursive strategy of moral justification as management sought to retain its non-profit, alternative, democratic imaginary. The study finds that the justifications gained initial appeal, but ultimately lost credibility due to a mismanaged conversion. By articulating the competing discourses through the sacred value protection model (SVPM), this study provides insights into the way in which a management strategy can be interpreted at a micro-analysis level. It recommends that management decisions need to start from the activities of the organizations members, groups and networks so as to account for their emotions, motivations and actions

Women and Couchsurfing: Empowerment and the Construction of Hybrid Identities in a Local-Global Context

Couchsurfing is a worldwide virtual hospitality network. Conceived and launched more than a decade ago, the network firstly attracted people with financial capacities to travel, mainly from Western and more culturally liberal countries. Today, the community has extended to include people that may never travel abroad for cultural or financial hindrances, but who still can participate in a truly global network where like-minded foreigners and also locals gather, exchange and learn from each other. As a global web-based community of people aiming to meet in real life, Couchsurfing precipitates the intercultural encounters towards a rapid, proximate and useful experience for its members. These encounters may take place in more conservative societies where the act of hosting strangers and walking with foreigners may interfere with culturally embedded meanings, practices and limits. Especially when these encounters happen between genders. This research explores the Couchsurfing experiences of women coming from highly gender unequal societies, where travelling and hosting strangers may have immediate and future implications. Using Skype, semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the stories of these women. Using Grounded Theory, this qualitative research shows that women can use Couchsurfing as a tool to construct their hybrid identity, gain social, cultural and symbolic capital, and that Couchsurfing creates “spaces” where women can empower themselves and experience new gender dynamics.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format

Um estudo comparativo Brasil-Portugal sobre os antecedentes do consumo do CouchSurfing

Tourism is one of the areas most affected by the shared economy through organizations such as CouchSurfing, AirBnb and BeLocal Exchange. The aim of this article was to propose a theoretical model to identify the consumption history of CouchSurfing from the perspective of guest consumers. For this, a study with a quantitative approach was carried out, comparing the reality of this type of accommodation in Brazil and Portugal. A survey was conducted with 421 people from Brazil and 408 from Portugal who have already used CouchSurfing as guests. As a method of data analysis, basic descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling analysis were used. The results of the multigroup analyzes of the study indicated similarities and differences between the samples from Brazil and Portugal. The similarities were that, in both, the hypotheses that the Performance Expectation, the Co-creation Perception, the Anti-Industry Perspective and the Perceived Risk are related to the Intention to Use were supported.El turismo es una de las áreas más afectadas por la economía compartida a través de organizaciones como CouchSurfing, AirBnb y BeLocal Exchange. El objetivo de este artículo era proponer un modelo teórico para identificar el historial de consumo de CouchSurfing desde la perspectiva de los consumidores invitados. Para ello, se realizó un estudio con enfoque cuantitativo, comparando la realidad de este tipo de alojamiento en Brasil y Portugal. Se realizó una encuesta con 421 personas de Brasil y 408 de Portugal que ya han utilizado CouchSurfing como invitados. Como método de análisis de datos, se utilizaron estadísticas descriptivas básicas, análisis factorial exploratorio y análisis de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales. Los resultados de los análisis multigrupo del estudio indicaron similitudes y diferencias entre las muestras de Brasil y Portugal. Las similitudes fueron que, en ambos casos, se respaldaron las hipótesis de que la Expectativa de rendimiento, la Percepción de la co-creación, la Perspectiva anti-industria y el Riesgo percibido están relacionadas con la Intención de uso.O turismo é uma das áreas mais afetadas pela economia compartilhada por meio de organizações como CouchSurfing, AirBnb e BeLocal Exchange. O objetivo deste artigo foi propor um modelo teórico para identificar os antecedentes de consumo do CouchSurfing na perspectiva dos consumidores-hóspedes. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo de abordagem quantitativa, comparando a realidade deste tipo de hospedagem no Brasil e em Portugal. Foi realizado um survey com 421 pessoas do Brasil e 408 de Portugal que já utilizaram CouchSurfing como hóspedes. Como método de análise de dados, foram utilizados estatística descritiva básica, análise fatorial exploratória e análise de modelagem de equações estruturais. Os resultados das análises multigrupos do estudo indicaram semelhanças e diferenças entre as amostras do Brasil e de Portugal. As semelhanças foram que, em ambas, as hipóteses de que a Expectativa de Desempenho, a Percepção de Co-criação, a Perspectiva Anti-Indústria e o Risco Percebido têm relação com a Intenção de Uso foram suportadas

Couchsurfing User Preferences and the Impact of the Platform on Destination Tourism

Couchsurfing is a website, i.e., a platform that provides services to those who dare to use free accommodation in someone’s home and a platform that offers the opportunity to socialize with other Couchsurfers and join groups where mutual experiences on tourism and destination activities are exchanged. Given that the concept of Couchsurfing is unusual in comparison to other platforms of sharing economy, the aim of this research paper is to determine the profile or characteristics of platform users and the impact of Couchsurfing on destination tourism. The main goal is to answer the question on how a platform that provides free accommodation in a foreigner’s home contributes to the development of tourism and the recognition of the destination. For this purpose, a survey questionnaire on the attitudes of users was conducted, as well as an in-depth interview with the hosts. Methods of analysis, comparison and descriptive method were used. The focus of the research is Croatia as a tourist destination and the key results include financial analysis in terms of consumption and registration of tourists on Couchsurfing who do not pay the sojourn tax, as well as the effects of supply, demand and marketing through tourists’ activities in the destination including social media and other destination image forming activities. These aspects were complemented by research on the safety and future of Couchsurfing

Societal Transformation through the Sharing Economy: An example of Trust and Risk on Couchsurfing (pretest)

Societal transformation through contemporary online platforms fosters the change of consumption habits. In this regard, sharing economy platforms are changing the hospitality industry by attracting predominately the millennials generation through modern technologies and innovative business models. The given study examines the non-monetary hospitality platform Couchsurfing. In this regard, the authors investigate the influence of trust and perceived risk on the consumers’ intention to engage in a particular sharing activity. The authors further separate intermediary and users from each other to investigate the distinct influence of the two-sided market mechanisms on the consumers’ intention. This study follows a quantitative approach and employs survey data of over 200 consumers. In view of that, the authors conduct an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis in order prepare structural equation modeling for an extended study