Tourist environment and online reputation as a generator of added value in the sharing economy: The case of Airbnb in urban and sun- and-beach holiday destinations

• Published in: Journal of destination marketing & management 2019-03, Vol.11, p.53-66
• Main Authors: Moreno-Izquierdo, Luis, Ramón-Rodríguez, Ana B., Such-Devesa, Maria J., Perles-Ribes, José F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Airbnb; Hedonic prices; Second home; Sharing economy; Tourism destination
• ISSN: 2212-571X; 2212-5752
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2018.11.004

Despite the importance of collaborative accommodation in practically every tourist destination, to date the majority of studies have focused on large cities and urban destinations. This article distinguishes the factors that explain the added value of Airbnb properties, differentiating between urban and sun-and-beach holiday destinations. To do this, nine destinations from one of the most important European tourism regions have been studied using a hedonic pricing model that includes some variables related to the characteristics of the properties and others that define the online reputation of the hosts and properties and the tourism environment. The results reveal that the sharing economy fosters the emergence of private rentals, expanding the overall size of the accommodation market with some clear differences between the two types of tourist destinations, which emphasize the idea that the decisions made by stakeholders should be considered from a local perspective. •Studies nine destinations using a hedonic pricing model.•Distinguishes factors explaining the added value of Airbnb properties.•Tourist experience has a greater influence on pricing in urban destinations.•Finds differences between urban and sun and beach holiday destinations.•Tourism decisions should be considering from a local perspective.