Airbnb as a benchmark for local short-let rental service provision quality : an analytic study from the hosting perspective

Abstract

This study will primarily explore the tourism segment that the short-let businesses cater for, thus examining the present situation regarding services provided to the short-let guests. The research also focuses on the perception of the hosts’ ability and professionalism and their judgement about this sector, whilst obtaining feedback on how to support them to ameliorate the service given and to strengthen the short-let sector in general. Eventually, if the short-let sector is managed professionally, it can contribute to the improvement of the overall tourist experience for those who choose an alternative type of accommodation from the standard hotels, thus contributing to the overall success of the tourism industry in Malta. This constantly developing idea of innovativeness regarding accommodation has been brought into the tourism field. Creative tourism has been seen as a technique to rejuvenate physical, cultural and social goals. It creates tourism-related items and gives benefits that incorporate the idea of inventiveness to fulfil vacationers' needs by building a more dynamic and durable type of involvement. The examination carried out during this research has identified the gap within the end tourism product of this particular market segment. The author also set out a research hypothesis to explore whether Airbnb hosts give a professional enough service when short letting, or otherwise. Therefore, this research identifies the current physical licensing requirements for holiday properties in Malta and the lack of the hospitality requirements to obtain the abovementioned license. The study proceeds with a consideration of the results. The restrictions which appeared were entered into, and a number of proposals put forward in terms of how to guide and support the short-let hosts to professionalise the level of service offered to their guests were also included. In addition, this study also proposed recommendations about the licensing of apartments with regard to the hospitality aspect.