G卯tes groups link up to challenge Airbnb
France's top holiday home providers, G卯tes de France and Cl茅vacances, have announced plans to work together to promote 鈥榪uality鈥� accommodation in a challenge to Airbnb.
With the growth in the market and Airbnb鈥檚 arrival they want to combine forces to create a French 鈥渃hampion鈥� for 鈥渜uality tourism鈥� to recognise visitors鈥� wishes for a local experience.
Christian Biancaniello of Cl茅vacances said it would 鈥渕ake our territories live even more strongly and work for the satisfaction of holidaymakers and the discovery of our heritage鈥�.
Even working together, however, they are dwarfed by the 400,000 properties Airbnb has on its books in France, although none carry a recognised quality tourism label.
G卯tes de France undertakes 鈧�1.1billion of business a year through its network of 42,000 owners of gites and chambres d鈥檋么tes who run 70,000 properties while Cl茅vacances has 20,000 properties on its lists.
Their key is that both have years of customer satisfaction across the country and not just in Paris and major cities.
The partnership will be finalised in autumn when the two groups 鈥� which will stay distinct but work together on marketing and promotion 鈥� will put forward new package offers on travel and other services.
