ECM opens door to Uber, Airbnb-type collaboration

BTN News
Thursday, 23 June 2016

European Cities Marketing (ECM) has decided to work with Uber and Airbnb, but in a structured way.
During its recent Annual Meeting and General Assembly, it was agreed that the 'sharing economy' presents challenges and opportunities for city planners, managers and marketers.


Coinciding with the Global Sharing week, the ECM meeting offered 100 members from more than 35 countries the experiences, views and opinions of different stakeholders to find ways to collaborate, to remedy problems and explore the future together.

ECM president Ignasi de Delàs said: "The big question for our city management organisations is not whether to be pro or con the sharing economy. It is how destinations can actively interact, because the phenomenon is here to stay."


This statement supports a recent discussion paper on Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and the sharing economy produced by Manolis Psarros, chief executive of Toposophy and a keynote speaker at the ECM conference.

The sharing economy is the fastest growing segment in tourism, estimated to represent 50 per cent of all travellers by 2025, expecting to equal the traditional rental economy’s revenue growth. The sharing economy also has bright future within the Meetings Industry, since 65 per cent of business travellers are willing to use the sharing economy for business purposes, according to a recent IMEX survey.

Common regulation, for better common opportunities

"Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) in general are the connectors between industry players and authorities, they are the stage managers of their cities.  And for our member DMOs, there is a need to balance the interest of their established partners with the popularity of the new collaborative platforms,” said Delas.

At the ECM Annual Meeting, consensus was reached by member cities who will now collectively ask sharing economy firms to play within local rules to rationalise, legalise and facilitate growth of the sector.


Tax evasion, violation of labour rights and consumer protection laws - to name a few - are the main drivers for change. Objectively, the successes of the sharing economy have had a negative impact on some local neighbourhoods in Europe's cities (including everyday visitor pressure, gentrification, driving up the cost of shopping and apartment rental costs for local citizens).


  "The sharing economy is undoubtedly an added value for our cities and economies, it is also a great way for visitors to engage with the locals - to get the real and authentic city experience delivered by real people, living real lives.

"We urge key players to do their utmost to play with local rules in order to make the pie bigger by increasing the total number of visitors to some destinations.

"However, up to now, the growth of the tourism sharing economy has largely happened with the engagement of every other stakeholder group except governmental authorities.

"If managed properly, the sharing economy can be a tool that can prove highly cost effective, provide opportunities for deeper citizen engagement and offer considerable rewards on environmental impact too,” said Delas.

ECM opens door to Uber, Airbnb-type collaboration

BTN News
Thursday, 23 June 2016

European Cities Marketing (ECM) has decided to work with Uber and Airbnb, but in a structured way.
During its recent Annual Meeting and General Assembly, it was agreed that the 'sharing economy' presents challenges and opportunities for city planners, managers and marketers.


Coinciding with the Global Sharing week, the ECM meeting offered 100 members from more than 35 countries the experiences, views and opinions of different stakeholders to find ways to collaborate, to remedy problems and explore the future together.

ECM president Ignasi de Delàs said: "The big question for our city management organisations is not whether to be pro or con the sharing economy. It is how destinations can actively interact, because the phenomenon is here to stay."


This statement supports a recent discussion paper on Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and the sharing economy produced by Manolis Psarros, chief executive of Toposophy and a keynote speaker at the ECM conference.

The sharing economy is the fastest growing segment in tourism, estimated to represent 50 per cent of all travellers by 2025, expecting to equal the traditional rental economy’s revenue growth. The sharing economy also has bright future within the Meetings Industry, since 65 per cent of business travellers are willing to use the sharing economy for business purposes, according to a recent IMEX survey.

Common regulation, for better common opportunities

"Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) in general are the connectors between industry players and authorities, they are the stage managers of their cities.  And for our member DMOs, there is a need to balance the interest of their established partners with the popularity of the new collaborative platforms,” said Delas.

At the ECM Annual Meeting, consensus was reached by member cities who will now collectively ask sharing economy firms to play within local rules to rationalise, legalise and facilitate growth of the sector.


Tax evasion, violation of labour rights and consumer protection laws - to name a few - are the main drivers for change. Objectively, the successes of the sharing economy have had a negative impact on some local neighbourhoods in Europe's cities (including everyday visitor pressure, gentrification, driving up the cost of shopping and apartment rental costs for local citizens).


  "The sharing economy is undoubtedly an added value for our cities and economies, it is also a great way for visitors to engage with the locals - to get the real and authentic city experience delivered by real people, living real lives.

"We urge key players to do their utmost to play with local rules in order to make the pie bigger by increasing the total number of visitors to some destinations.

"However, up to now, the growth of the tourism sharing economy has largely happened with the engagement of every other stakeholder group except governmental authorities.

"If managed properly, the sharing economy can be a tool that can prove highly cost effective, provide opportunities for deeper citizen engagement and offer considerable rewards on environmental impact too,” said Delas.