Latest news with #homeexchange
CNA
16-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - ThirdHome – stay at someone's ultra-luxurious holiday home while they enjoy yours!
In 'Destination Anywhere' Melanie Oliveiro discovers the latest trends in the global luxury home exchange sector with Giles Adams, director of strategy & operations at ThirdHome, a luxury travel club for second-home owners. Adams will explain second-home ownership, which refers to owning a vacation property in addition to one's primary residence. Instead of renting out their homes to strangers (like the Airbnb model), ThirdHome members can exchange unused time in their property for stays in other members' luxury homes around the world – facilitating an extravagant holiday with a difference!
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Inside the private club where Aussies swap homes with strangers
Luxury home swapping has become big business, with one exclusive club adding 500 new Australian members in just the past year. Global home exchange club, ThirdHome, is booming as more Aussies trade their holiday homes for more luxurious experiences, with the club now boasting a portfolio of more than 20,000 properties in 100 countries around the world. It recently opened a Gold Coast office to service its growing member base and support the expanding market for prestige second homes. 'Australia and New Zealand is a great market for what we're doing,' US founder Wade Shealy said, speaking on the sidelines of the Australasian Real Estate Conference (AREC) on the Gold Coast. 'We've added about 500 new members in the past year (in Australia). 'It needs to be a desirable location, and here on the Gold Coast is a very desirable area for our members to go to.' Mr Shealy, whose wife Debbi Fields is the self-made billionaire founder of Mrs Fields Bakeries, said he was planning to open an office in Asia next to allow more members to travel between Australia and Asia rather than just the United States and Europe. MORE: The surprise city where it costs more to park than Sydney Kamala Harris weighs in on Aus housing crisis Launched in 2010, ThirdHome allows home owners to trade their unused time in their second home to gain access to other members' yachts, villas, estates or castles. Members are able to travel rent-free, with the club using a travel credits system. Members pay a nominal exchange fee, ranging from $700 to $2000 a week. The club's newest Australian members include a couple in Sydney's Northern Beaches, the owner of a Japanese ski chalet, and a couple who recently listed three international properties and are now travelling the world almost cost-free. Homes in the club's Australian portfolio are scattered from Bondi Beach, Byron Bay, Melbourne, Gold Coast hinterland, and Sunshine Coast, and range from $1.5m, up to $100m. 'We look for the location, and we also look at the property and make sure it's in great condition, the interiors are up-to-date and desirable,' Mr Shealy said. 'The hosts are typically people who live in Australia, for example in Sydney, and have a house on the beach on the Sunshine Coast. They love to travel, they're very adventurous and they're trusting, because they're willing to give their house to another club member.' Mr Shealy said only half of ThirdHome's properties were used for short-term rental accommodation, with many members preferring to only open their homes to club members. 'Typically, a short term rental can only be utilised for 25 weeks a year, so leaving it sitting empty for the rest of the time just doesn't make sense,' he said. 'People are so mobile now, they want to go different places. ThirdHome is a way they can justify buying a second home. 'I think people are thinking more about how to use their home to enhance their life rather than for short-term rental. Sure, it generates some revenue and helps pay some of the bills, but it doesn't add to the quality of their lives.' During the conference, Mr Shealy was gifting more than 1000 agents attending AREC a luxury holiday at one of ThirdHome's global properties — with only the booking fee to be covered.
Hospitality Net
13-05-2025
- Hospitality Net
Kindred Finds That as Costs Continue to Rise, Travelers Are Adapting, Not Abandoning, Summer Plans
NEW YORK - Summer travel isn't canceled – it's just getting a smarter upgrade. Today, Kindred , a global home-swapping community, released its 2025 Summer Travel Report, offering a closer look into how Americans are navigating rising costs and shifting their approach to vacations. With the average getaway now costing $259.20 more per person – and frustration mounting with traditional lodging, as 84% of hotel guests and 84% of short-term rental users report pain points with their experiences – Americans are doubling down, making more intentional, creative choices to maximize their travel budgets. The report reveals that 90% of U.S. travelers are actively looking for ways to cut back on summer travel spending. Among the top strategies: staying with friends or family (41%), finding more cost-effective accommodations (40%), opting for staycations (26%). Notably, 12% are turning to home swapping – a rising trend in the U.S. that's long been a popular and cost-effective form of travel outside the country. What's driving this shift? Americans cite inflation and increased cost of living (49%), rising travel prices (45%), and economic uncertainty (28%) as primary motivators. Rising costs are reshaping expectations. What once passed as acceptable in travel no longer meets the mark - especially as people become more selective with how they spend. We're seeing a clear shift toward more thoughtful, value-driven travel that aligns with both budget and beliefs. Travelers still want to explore the world, but they're seeking options that offer greater connection, flexibility, and authenticity. Traditional accommodation models are increasingly seen as overpriced and impersonal. That's why we've seen a 7x year-on-year increase in membership at Kindred as more people turn to home swapping, where you can take 10 trips for the price of one and experience travel in a more meaningful, human way. Justine Palefsky, CEO and Co-Founder of Kindred As costs climb, expectations are rising too — yet many say that traditional accommodation options simply aren't keeping up. Top hotel complaints include the high costs for extras (30%), noise and disruptions (27%), expensive dining (26%), and limited kitchen facilities (22%) Short-term rental frustrations include high cleaning or service fees (18%), rising prices (19%), and a lack of personal connection (13%) Among Kindred members, saving money is the top motivator (90%), with the average trip costing about one-tenth of a typical short-term rental. But motivations go beyond cost: over half want to experience destinations like a local (52%) or travel more often (51%), while others point to longer stays (45%) and more sustainable, values-led travel (44%). One in four (26%) say they now travel significantly more since joining Kindred. Home swapping with Kindred - a community of over 100,000 members - gives travelers access to dream destinations without the hefty price tag, helping their travel dollars go further. The most frequently booked cities by U.S. Kindred members for this summer include: London Brooklyn New York City Paris Amsterdam San Francisco Barcelona Chicago Los Angeles Berlin With stays averaging just $15 to $30 a night, Kindred makes it possible to travel more often, stay longer, and experience more meaningful stays. To learn more, visit . Research methodology *Research was carried out amongst 2,000 nationally representative US adults. Field work was carried out April 28-May 1, 2025. Research was commissioned by Kindred and carried out by OnePoll. **Kindred members' insight was gathered by a global members survey. 833 global members completed the survey between March 11-15, 2025. ****The popular destinations on Kindred are Trips starting June 1-August 31, 2025, by destination, booked by US Kindred members. The data was collected on May 9, 2025. About Kindred Kindred, a global home-swapping community, is revolutionizing the way people travel by introducing a new model built on trust, connection, and member-hosted homes – an alternative to both hotels and short-term rentals. With over 100,000 global members across 150+ cities, Kindred offers both owners and rentals alike a radically more accessible, responsible, and authentic way to travel.
