For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The

great affair is to move.— Robert Louis Stevenson

Submitted BY: GROUP NO - 19

About Couchsurfing

Hospitality exchange and social

networking website through

which the members gets a

chance to find out hosts who are

offering their place to stay for the

travellers and backpackers.

Information on if the host is

hosting an event and the

travellers join in

Founded in 2003 as a non-profit

organization, assets sold to

CouchSurfing International in 2011

membership is free of charge,

with an annual subscription

members can have access to

special services

Challenges

No clear business model, stuck between non-profit and for profit

organization

Doesn’t recognize the loyal surfers

Management is not trustworthy

Contradicting its own vision

Positioning conflicts

Competitors

airbnb

beWelcome

Couchsurfing Explained

Cost: Completely free!

Hosts should not charge their surfers for anything, and CS

mentions on its website that anyone who does would be

removed from the community.

Hosts: backbone of the community, offer spare room, airmattress or couch for travellers to stay, often take guests

out for tours, cook them meals, and introduce them to

other local people.

Couchsurfing Explained

Surfers: people who travel and look to

make a connection

Ambassadors

People that Couchsurfing.org

members that have both a great love

for the Couchsurfing project and a

deep desire to promote the wonderful

experiences that CS has to offer

perform unpaid, voluntary

administrative work on the website, as

well as reaching out to new members

Couchsurfing ExplainedGroups:

groups formed by members with a general theme such as

music, sports, politics, etc.

Members of groups sometimes meet up and create events for

members, as well as anyone who happens to be traveling to

the area during the event’s time

Events: created by group members and focus on a theme

How to Travel with CS

Create your profile

Connect

Start the Couch Search

Set your itinerary on CS

Keep Track of Your Hosts and Requests

Surf!

Follow Up

Brands and Couchsurfing

Brands have not yet been able to devise a way to

make use of this platform.

individuals are using Couchsurfing to earn money

by hosting individuals or groups of people (even

though this is against Couchsurfing norms)

Events

Advertisements

Brands can use Ad Space on the CS website

to display ads

Likely brands – Those with target customers :

young, global, urban lifestyle.

Advantage: CouchSurfing has registered

and track able users

Best practices

Register and maintain a

detailed profile

Send personalized to match up to the host’s interests

Comment and be active

Check references

Check verification

status and if the person is

vouched for

Make Offers

How Not To Use CouchSurfing

Don’t make

hushed up or quick

decisions

Designed for fast moving travelers

Don’t trust all the

hosts, know their profile

let family, friends

know your place of

stay

Video explaining CS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSakme86kTo

FAQ What is Couchsurfing all about?

What do you mean by hosts?

What do you mean by surfers?

Why to use Couchsurfing?

Who should use Couchsurfing?

What are events in Couchsurfing?

Why one makes events on Couchsurfing?

How does Couchsurfing earn money?

What are the brands/ corporates using Couchsurfing?

Does Couchsurfing allow the hosts to charge money?

Is Couchsurfing safe?

Can we use Couchsurfing in India?

Why would someone let a stranger in their house?

How can a surfer search for the host?

You mean to say that through Couchsurfing one could stay at a place for free?

Couchsurfing could be a threat to the hotel business! What is your say on this?

How can you know if you should trust the host?

How can you know if you should trust the surfer?

Who are ambassadors of Couchsurfing?

Why do ambassadors perform unpaid administrative work on the website?