#Airbnb management agency

[airbricksproperty]

Choosing the Right Airbnb Property Manager in Melbourne: A Simple Guide

Our professional management company can make a massive difference if you're a property owner considering Airbnb. Although hosting yourself is possible, managing bookings, cleaning, and guest communication can become overwhelming. That's where Airbnb managers in Melbourne help maximise your income and minimise stress.

The Benefits of Hiring Airbnb Property Managers in Melbourne

A good Airbnb property management service ensures your property is maintained to a high standard. They take care of guest communications, ensure regular cleaning, and handle any issues during a guest's stay. You can expect higher occupancy rates, better guest reviews, and consistent revenue with the right property manager.

Pros of a Good Management Company:

Increased occupancy and revenue

Professional maintenance and cleaning

Quick response to guest inquiries

24/7 guest support

Conversely, poor property management can lead to low occupancy rates, negative reviews, and poor maintenance. Choosing the right company is key to your success as an Airbnb host.

What to Look for in a Good Airbnb Property Manager

When selecting Airbnb property management in Melbourne, consider these key points:

Experience: Look for a company with at least 2 years of experience.

Transparent pricing: Make sure you understand the fee structure.

24/7 support: Ensure they offer emergency assistance and are available around the clock.

Proven track record: Check reviews and references from other property owners.

Full-Service vs. Basic Management

If you're looking for a hands-off experience, full-service Airbnb management companies are a great choice. They offer everything from guest communication and cleaning to dynamic pricing adjustments. However, if you're more hands-on, basic management may suit you better.

Conclusion:

Managing an Airbnb property doesn't have to be stressful. With the right property manager, you can enjoy the rewards of hosting without the hassle. At Airbricks, we offer reliable, professional Airbnb property management services in Melbourne.

Ready to get started? Visit us today and discover how Airbricks can take your Airbnb business to the next level!

[life-in-provo-ut]

Provo, Utah, is rated above average for livability.

Provo's overall livability rating is above average. This rating is the sum of the city's qualities and characteristics, which are then weighted to determine a good quality of life compared to other cities. The livability score considers education, crime, cost of living, and residents' overall satisfaction, which is a predictive indicator for the rating Provo received for livability. When deciding where to reside, the cost of living is a crucial factor to consider. Provo has a cheaper cost of living than the national average and most other cities in the state. While some areas can be higher than others on a state and federal level, the overall average of housing costs, utilities, grocery items, transportation, and health is very affordable. 

Housekeeper Coordination in Provo, UT

Carefree Bnb is the best management company. Included in their services is housekeeper coordination in Provo, UT. They ensure that your housekeeper is aware of the exact time of each turnover and obtain confirmation that they will be present to ensure that your guests have a pleasant stay. They take care for everything, so you won't have to worry about getting on their calendars or scheduling anything. Carefree Bnb is an excellent option for Provo, Utah, short-term rental management. It's a full-service management company that can help you get the most out of your listing while reducing stress. The Treehouse A-outline, The Brownish Owl Cabin, and The No place Transport are overseen via Lighthearted Bnb. Some of their services include guest communication, guest screening, pricing and listing optimization, housekeeper coordination, and maintenance coordination. You can also find the ideal vacation rental at Carefree Bnb, and there are many options to meet your needs. Here, you can view a variety of Carefree Bnb listings.

Provo City Center Temple

The dazzling Provo City Center Temple remains in Provo's focal business locale on College Road between Center Road and 200 South. The former Provo temple was constructed in the 1880s and ravaged by an accidental fire in 2010; it has been meticulously preserved and enhanced. This temple is a Victorian masterpiece; the landmark temple brings back history and magnifies the pioneers' historical vision. On the temple grounds, a charming pavilion with a full basement serves as a waiting area for non-temple visitors and a location for wedding parties to take pictures. Beautiful gathering and contemplation areas are provided by the expansive landscaped grounds. If you're in Provo, Utah, you should not miss seeing the beautiful Provo City Center Temple. 

Home price in Utah falls after 11 years of increases.

After nearly 11 years of increases, home prices in Utah are falling. According to the Utah Association of Realtors, the first year-over-year decline in statewide home prices occurred in January after 129 months of price increases. Furthermore, prices fell once more in February 2023. The association's communications director, Deanna Devey, stated that home prices are down, which is good because buyers have really struggled with affordability. The realtor group's monthly report indicates that in February, the median sale price in Utah was $464,000. That's a 7.6% decrease from the median sales price of $502,000 in February. In May 2022, home prices in Utah peaked at nearly $540,000. Read more. 

Link to Map

Driving Direction

Provo City Center Temple

50 S University Ave, Provo, UT 84601, United States

Head south on S University Ave toward W 200 S St

0.3 mi

Turn right onto W 500 S St

0.1 mi

Turn left onto 100 W

 Destination will be on the right

285 ft

Carefree Bnb

560 S 100 W St, 

Provo, UT 84601

[boreal-sea]

Society needs to do a few things to help unhoused people. Firstly, and obviously, those who want to be housed in houses and apartments should be able to get them. Cities should create and enforce rent reduction policies on landlords who let apartments and homes sit vacant - and if they sit vacant too long, the city takes control of the property. Most Airbnbs have to go. Apartments and homes that are foreclosed or owned by banks need to be given to the city to be used for low income or free housing. House selling agencies like Zillow etc who have unsold properties just sitting around should be forced to lower the prices of those homes until someone buys them, and if they are still vacant after a certain amount of time, they too go to the city to manage. You wanna get angry? Google the number of foreclosed homes in your town or city, then Google the estimated homeless population in your area.

But.

I also think society needs to get easier for people who don't have and don't want a permanent house or apartment?? Cities and towns need to ease restrictions on "tiny homes", trailers, campers, mobile homes, live-in-vans, and things like that. They need to provide safe, dry areas for people who want to camp. They need to provide clean places to bathe and shower and clean your clothes. They need to provide water and electricity and plumbing to these places. Because of how job applications work right now, those camps need to have a real address that the people living there can use.

Oh yeah - and of course, hostile architecture needs to be banned WHILE mandating that public spaces must have a minimum mandatory amount of seating.

[remy-lupin]

Accidental Roommates; where initial hostility turns into romance

1. Person A and Person B both sign a lease for the same apartment due to an agency mix-up. Initially, their cohabitation is marked by bickering over space and routine, but as they settle into a rhythm, their petty disputes give way to playful teasing and eventually, mutual affection.

2. When Person A's apartment requires sudden renovations, they are relocated to a temporary unit already occupied by Person B. Their initial frustration with the cramped space slowly transforms into admiration and warmth as they start to appreciate each other's company and support.

3. Person A sublets a room online and arrives to find Person B, who had no idea the arrangement was made. Tensions run high as they argue over the misunderstanding, but forced proximity leads them to discover comforting similarities and shared interests, sparking romance.

4. Person A and Person B book the same vacation rental and decide to stay due to lack of alternatives. Their initial annoyance with each other's habits slowly turns into amusement and affection as they experience the holiday destination together, finding joy in their unexpected partnership.

5. At the start of college, Person A and Person B are mistakenly assigned the same dorm room. They clash over everything from music tastes to study habits, but shared challenges and late-night talks gradually forge a bond that blossoms into a deep connection.

6. Person A books an entire Airbnb, only to find Person B already there due to a double booking. Their shared displeasure turns to cooperation as they navigate the city together, leading to laughter-filled adventures and romantic evenings.

7. Awarded a residency at the same artist retreat, Person A and Person B initially clash over creative visions and studio space. Their artistic debates and shared passion for art eventually lead to a profound respect and a colorful romantic relationship.

8. After a natural disaster, Person A and Person B are placed in the same emergency housing. Their stress and initial disputes over living arrangements give way to a deep-seated companionship, as they find comfort and love in each other's support during recovery.

9. Person A starts house-sitting without knowing Person B, a relative of the homeowner, is also staying. Their initial territorial disputes over household management slowly evolve into a cooperative dynamic, sparking romance as they care for the home together.

10. During a corporate retreat, Person A and Person B are accidentally booked into the same cabin. They initially resist the close quarters with petty squabbles, but shared team activities and personal vulnerabilities reveal a mutual attraction, turning professional rivalry into romantic intrigue.

[afriblaq]

California Wildfires: TikTok Detectives Uncover Secret Land Grab Scheme! DISTURBING TRUTH WILL SHOCK

Ways you can help?  https://www.the100percenters.com/la-w.... If you've lost your home due to the recent Los Angeles wildfires, several resources are available to assist you:

Emergency Shelters and Temporary Housing: 

 211 LA and Airbnb Partnership: 211 LA has partnered with Airbnb to offer free temporary shelter for those displaced by the fires. To apply, fill out the form on 211 LA's website. LAHSA

Airbnb.org Commitment: Airbnb.org has committed to providing free emergency housing for an additional 25,000 people affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. They are working with local organizations to connect those in need with hosts offering their properties as emergency accommodations. AIRBNB NEWSROOM

Financial Assistance:

FEMA Assistance: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers aid to individuals affected by the wildfires. Eligible survivors may receive funds for rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses, and other related expenses. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362. FEMA Additional Support:

American Red Cross Los Angeles: 

Provides emergency services, including shelter, food, and emotional support. Find a shelter through their resources. 

 Salvation Army and World Central Kitchen: Offer meals and essential supplies to those in need. 

 Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Distributes food and essentials to affected individuals. 

 Pasadena Humane: Assists with sheltering pets displaced by the fires and seeks foster homes.

Transportation Assistance: 

 Uber and Lyft: Providing free rides to shelters for evacuees. Storage Solutions: 

 U-Haul: Offering 30 days of free storage for those affected by the wildfires. Health and Safety: 

 Air Quality Alerts: Due to degraded air quality, it's advisable to stay indoors and use N95 masks if you need to go outside. 

Community Support:

GoFundMe: A dedicated wildfire relief page has been set up for donations to support those affected. Please reach out to these organizations directly to access the support you need during this challenging time.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Wilfred Reilly

Published: Jan 1, 2025

It’s always worth remembering that the person responsible for probably 95 percent of what you do is you.

Now that we Westerners know we mostly do have free will, no one seems to like using it. A few days before New Year’s Eve, writing for a — nay, the — conservative magazine, this strikes me as a point worth discussing.

We saw what I’ll call agency-rejectionism first — in very recent discourse — from the feminists. A few weeks back, British pornographic actress Lily Phillips opted to have sex with 101 men in a “gang-bang” scene which she orchestrated and choreographed. The almost universal reaction from women’s advocates was that the fit but slender, blonde Phillips was being abused.

Self-described lesbian radical feminist Julie Bindel penned a raging column for the U.K. Guardian, bold-headlined “Shame on the Men Exploiting Lily Phillips.” Tens of thousands of angry women supported this take across social and digital media, with one typical take being Polly Clark’s: “Lots of men congratulating other men . . . in the face of televised abuse of a woman. Evil is always legalistic and careful with its terms. The Lily Phillips case is not about ‘sex.’ This isn’t about sex. It’s bestial abuse of another human being.” A full list of these responses, including Bindel (again), calling for prison for “any man involved in the torture of this woman,” and the more gender-neutral Hot & Freddy demanding “death penalty for all the dudes,” can be found here.

Unfortunately for Phillips’s unrequested “defenders,” however, there exists basically no evidence of (actual, legal) abuse in her case. Phillips is a 23-year-old adult from a fairly wealthy family, who cleared five British GCSE (“G-level”) exams and went on to college. She has never been sexually abused and describes herself — in one of the articles just linked — as not being a victim of any kind. Her financial manager is her own, feminist, mother. The young woman currently runs a for-profit OnlyFans business, managed by an all-female staff of eight, has made more than $2,500,000 (£2,000,000) to date, and stands to make hundreds of thousands more from her most recent stunt.

As it happens, she not only choreographed that event but booked the setting for it — a nice little Airbnb, now very worried about cleaning and fumigation costs — invited all of the male participants, and contracted with the professional film crew. She now, apparently, plans on a larger-scale repeat. The actress’s new goal is to break the “world sex record” by engaging with 1,000 men in a day (the current mark is 919). Those interested in a casting call may apply here. Perhaps women simply have personal agency, just as men do.

Moving on, a similar wailing cry of, “How could society fail (X amoral person)?” was heard an ocean away at about the same time, when U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny was acquitted on the charge of the choking death of vagrant Jordan Neely during a subway fight. A simple Google search for “We all failed Jordan Neely” turns up hundreds of thousands of hits, including predictable drivel from the New Yorker (“The System That Failed Jordan Neely”), USA Today’s main opinion editorial (“Daniel Penny’s Acquittal Isn’t Cause for Celebration”), the Washington Post (“Penny Verdict Reveals How New York City Failed Jordan Neely”), and a major piece from the National Coalition for the Homeless (“Justice Denied: Honoring Jordan Neely and Demanding Change”).

A consistent theme throughout this national coverage is that “America” failed to provide Neely with housing or clean clothing or medical treatment — and that Penny went too hard on him in that train car, perhaps for this reason. But is this empirically true? Not really.

As it happens, Jordan Neely had pretty high-quality housing available to him at the time of his death. He simply opted not to live in it. As the New York-focused website Vital City points out, “in lieu of prison” in a recently decided criminal matter, “Neely was offered 15 months of (free) supportive housing and intensive outpatient psychiatric treatment.” However, he “absconded” from his bungalow after less than two weeks. He was given psychiatric medications while in treatment, but also opted to stop taking these pills: obviously, by default while still under their influence and aware that he could not safely do so.

Not only was Neely’s overall situation largely his fault, so was the very specific situation that led to his death. What is often misleadingly described as Neely “using colorful language” with other passengers on his train car, or “asking them for food and water,” was actually — per my best-possible compilation from several articles and police reports — the phrase: “I’ll hurt everyone here! I will KILL you! I don’t care if I go back to prison!” This obviously insane behavior prompted not merely Daniel Penny but several other random male citizens to confront and restrain Neely.

One glance at Neely’s arrest record would only have strengthened the unsurprising, absolutely correct conclusion that Daniel Penny and his fellow subway heroes drew from their opponent’s crazed ranting and filthy appearance. As it happens, Neely had been locked up some 42 previous times, for crimes including an unprovoked subway attack on a 67-year-old woman (which shattered her orbital bone), breaking the nose of a different subway rider, “pulling down his pants and exposing himself” to an unsuspecting young woman on a train, and attempting to snatch a pre-teen girl away from her guardians . . . in a train station. Neely’s encounter with Penny was only the latest — and, as it turned out, the last — time he fought with strangers on the NYC public rails.

On X and Facebook, we are currently seeing a broader example of the same trend of personal responsibility denial — and one which may hit closer to home for tax-paying readers of this article. Monorail salesman, likely genius, and of-late GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy just began a major conversation and attracted an apple-throwing mob by — while defending most recipients of H-1B foreign “talent” visas — pointing out that white and black American youth may not be the hardest working imaginable occupants of the classroom.

Quoth he: “The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over ‘native’ Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH: Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long That doesn’t start in college, it starts YOUNG.”

Ramaswamy was greeted with, alongside some support, an immediate wave of anger and excuses. Elijah Schafer of The Blaze argued: “Vivek — white people built marvelous nations and were almost completely white until 1965. We didn’t have H1B visas replacing jobs and were fine. (H1B support) is only about cheap labor!” Other debaters agreed, with some suggesting that the U.S. should immediately end upper-end foreign migration totally. Our kids? Best in the world!

An honorable and tempting idea. However, as I once noted at book length, a ton of objective statistics indicate that Ramaswamy is largely correct. The average American SAT score was 1024 in the most recent year on record. It’s well below that for Latinos, and below 950 for blacks. Despite this, as writer Adam Grant noted in a sourced response to Ramaswamy, one-third of native-born American college students expect a “B” grade for showing up in class. In contrast, Asian-American students, many foreign born, study roughly three times as much as black kids and twice as much as white kids — and post a 1250 on the annual aptitude test. They tend not to expect a B+ for — forgive me — “being” present.

Delano Squires, a black conservative writer whom I personally know and like, pointed out during the whole Vivek-induced controversy that no one objects to the invocation of personal responsibility or responsibility culture when this is made in the direction of failures or poor people, or even working-class blacks as a whole, or Appalachians. However, we all tend to get a bit testy when similar reminders are made to us or our beautiful children.

Let’s make them to everyone. I intentionally opened this essay with extreme cases, but, as New Year’s Day approaches, it’s always worth remembering that the person responsible for probably 95 percent of what you do is you. Let us all work on ourselves, each other, and the country.

[ Via: https://archive.today/YE3uZ ]

==

This is part of the larger victimhood industry. We have to stop rewarding self-professed "victims" - while not ignoring actual victims - who just refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and choices and feel compelled to blame others.

[towardsway]

Section 1: Planning Your Budget Vacation

1.1 Setting a Budget

Establish a clear budget for your trip, factoring in transportation, lodging, meals, and activities. Use budgeting tools or apps to keep track of expenses and prioritize your spending.

1.2 Researching Destinations

Some destinations offer more value than others. Research places known for their affordability, such as Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe, and consider traveling during the off-peak season to save on costs.

1.3 Travel Tips

Utilize travel apps and websites to compare prices. Set alerts for flight deals and be flexible with your travel dates to take advantage of the best rates.

Section 2: Finding Affordable Accommodation

2.1 Types of Budget Accommodation

Explore a variety of budget options including hostels, motels, and guesthouses. Look into vacation rentals that can offer more space and amenities for families or groups.

2.2 Best Platforms for Booking

Platforms like Booking.com, Hostelworld, and Airbnb provide a range of options. Learn to navigate these sites effectively by using filters and sorting features to find the best deals.

2.3 Unique Stays on a Budget

Consider unique lodging options such as glamping sites, houseboats, or tiny homes. These can provide memorable experiences without a hefty price tag.

Section 3: Affordable Vacation Packages

3.1 Understanding Vacation Packages

Vacation packages often combine flights, hotels, and sometimes activities at a lower cost. Understand how these packages work to maximize your savings.

3.2 Where to Find Deals

Research travel agencies that specialize in budget trips, and don’t forget to check out last-minute deals on various travel websites.

3.3 Tips for Creating Your Own Package

Learn how to bundle flights and accommodations effectively. Use examples to demonstrate how to save by planning your own itineraries.

Section 4: Activities and Attractions on a Budget

4.1 Free and Low-Cost Activities

Highlight free activities available at your destination, such as hiking, city walking tours, and local markets.

4.2 Discounts and Passes

Promote the idea of city passes that offer discounts on attractions and public transport. Share tips on how to take advantage of student and senior discounts.

4.3 Making the Most of Your Destination

Encourage travelers to explore local cuisine through affordable street food options. Highlight the importance of connecting with locals for insider tips on budget-friendly activities.

Section 5: Travel Hacks for Saving Money

5.1 Transportation Tips

Provide tips for finding cheap flights, such as using budget airlines or flying during off-peak hours. Explain how to navigate public transportation in new cities.

5.2 Packing Smart

Offer advice on packing light to avoid baggage fees and the importance of bringing essential items like reusable water bottles and snacks.

5.3 Money-Saving Apps

List apps that help travelers save money, such as Skyscanner for flights, HotelTonight for last-minute hotel deals, and GasBuddy for road trips.

Section 6: Real-Life Success Stories

6.1 Case Studies of Affordable Trips

Share inspiring stories from travelers who managed to explore new destinations on a budget. Include their favorite tips and tricks.

go for more @towardsway.in

[techhy-simpson]

Smart Growth: Cost-Saving Expansion Tactics for Startups

For any growing startup, scaling up in a cost-effective way is a dream and a dilemma. These young businesses aim to boost their reach and operations. The big question is: Can they increase their team size without burning through their budget? This is where staff augmentation comes in. It's a practical, flexible method that lets startups grow without breaking the bank.

A Look at Startup Expansion Pitfalls

Take a fictional startup, ByteWave, as a case in point. Three university pals had a fantastic idea for a cloud-based service and ByteWave was born. After a year, their user base ballooned to 50,000. This explosive growth brought a heap of operational headaches. ByteWave's tiny 12-member team was swamped, battling to stay afloat amidst demands for customer support, software updates, and fresh feature rollouts.

Traditional hiring seemed the logical move. However, it's a costly option. The Society for Human Resource Management estimates the average cost of recruiting a new U.S. worker is $4,129, taking an average of 42 days. For a startup like ByteWave, this approach was simply out of reach in terms of time and budget.

The Benefits of Staff Augmentation

Staff augmentation is a far more efficient solution. It gives startups the flexibility to temporarily hire skilled personnel for key roles. ByteWave could quickly bring in specialist developers and customer service agents for specific projects. This gave the founders the ability to dynamically scale their team, tackling particular problems without the delays and costs of full-time recruitment.

A Smart Financial Move

Staff augmentation brings significant savings. Deloitte's research shows businesses can save as much as 30% in labor costs by adopting flexible staffing models. These cost cuts result from reduced essential overheads like benefits, office space, and training costs. Plus, it speeds up time-to-market. Deloitte's study also discovered projects are completed 20-25% quicker with staff augmentation, giving startups a crucial competitive edge.

Success Stories

Numerous real-world examples demonstrate how startups have used staff augmentation effectively:

Airbnb: To boost user appeal, Airbnb brought in freelance photographers to produce quality property listings, enhancing the platform's appeal without having to recruit full-time photographers.

Slack: During a critical period of rapid growth, Slack used remote contractors to provide 24/7 customer support, avoiding the costs of a large, permanent team.

Uber: Expanding into new locations, Uber used local contractors for tasks such as driver onboarding and market research, allowing fast growth without the long-term overheads of permanent local staffing.

Steps to Implement Staff Augmentation

If you're a startup considering staff augmentation, follow these practical steps:

Be Transparent: Define the needed skills and roles. This helps you find the right talent.

Choose Wisely: Partner with reliable staffing agencies or platforms that are familiar with your industry. They can quickly hook you up with vetted professionals.

Foster a Team Spirit: Treat augmented staff as integral team members. Make sure they attend meetings, have the necessary tools and keep communication lines open.

Be Clear: Set out the scope, deadlines, and deliverables for each project. This ensures all parties are on the same page and promotes effective collaboration.

Share Knowledge: Ensure the knowledge and experience that the temporary staff bring is shared with your permanent team.

Challenge Navigation

Staff augmentation, while beneficial, is not without its obstacles. Here's how to address them:

Building the Team: Temporary staff might not naturally fit into your company culture. To bridge this gap, include them in team activities and clearly communicate your values and aims.

Maintaining Standards: Keep high-quality work by setting clear quality benchmarks, and conducting regular work reviews.

Data Protection: Safeguard critical information with strict NDAs and limit access to crucial systems.

Employee Relations: Permanent team members might feel uneasy about temporary staff. Be clear about the roles of augmented staff and stress that they are an additional resource, not a threat to the core team.

The Way Forward

The move towards flexible work arrangements is increasing. An Upwork study predicts that by 2028, 73% of all teams will include remote workers. This factors make staff augmentation an appealing option for startups. Tools for remote project management and communication like Trello, Asana, and Slack are helping facilitate this shift, allowing efficient collaboration regardless of location.

Conclusion

Staff augmentation can be a lifesaver for startups trying to expand while preserving their budgets. It permits them to bring in specialized skills as needed, accelerate growth, and compete effectively without long-term financial commitments.

[grantourtuga]

Tenerife II

We've been driving over the island for a bit, but campgrounds are mostly only at the southern coast or up in the mountains. The problem with the coast are the strong winds. It is not like tourtuga and the tent will flip over but sleeping is uneasy then.

Not flipped over, yet, but if it happens, it will look like this.

In the mountains the campgrounds are managed by the parks agency and they are quite remote. Meaning, there's no Wi-Fi, no shopping anywhere near, and last but not least, also no co-working spaces within walking distance.

So this is just a long way to say that we'll stay a bit more in Airbnbs for a change. The island is small enough to be discoverable either way and there's no need to stay at a new place every 2 nights. We'll check out the mountain campgrounds nevertheless, probably already by the end of the week.

[mariacallous]

A cute little beagle with big smiley eyes … how could you not fall in love with Watson? But the residents of my Parisian building were terrified when they saw him enter. Watson is not like any other dog. He’s trained to detect the tiny insects that have been all over the front pages of French newspapers for the past few weeks: bedbugs.

This fall, fear has become paranoia. Pictures of bedbugs in cinemas, metros, and trains have saturated social media. “I’ve been getting so many calls from worried people lately,” says Watson’s owner, Charlotte Ducomte, founder of the company WatsonDetect. For years now, she and Watson have been going through the city and its suburbs to detect bedbugs in private apartments and company offices. These past few weeks, she’s been inundated with calls from people who “wanted to have their apartment checked … just in case.” There is “ia bedbug panic in Paris” right now, she says.

Bedbug numbers in France have surged in 2023. There’s been a 65 percent increase in pest control visits for the insects across the country this year compared to last, says France’s Union Chamber of Insect Control.

This is partly due to the weather. According to Jean-Michel Bérenger, an entomologist who cofounded the National Institute for the Study and Fight Against Bedbugs in 2018, heat accelerates a bedbug’s life cycle, and September and October have been particularly hot in Paris—average temperatures have been 4.5 degrees Celsius above normal. “When the temperature inside your house is 25 to 26 degrees Celsius (77 to 78.8 Fahrenheit), it takes only five days for the bedbug eggs to hatch. In normal conditions, when the temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius, it takes 10 days,” he explains.

But the current plague of bedbugs is also part of a general rise in their numbers in recent years, says Bérenger. The modern world, filled with people constantly on the move, easily allows the insects to spread. Ducomte says numbers have been increasing in Paris since 2002 and attributes this to more visitors to the city, driven by cheap flights and the convenience of Airbnb. “People move a lot more than before … and thus, they are more likely to be infested,” she says.

When Watson moves through my apartment, he doesn’t stop anywhere. Lucky me. Pausing is his way of showing his owner that he can smell bedbugs, which in the early stages of an infestation can be hard to detect—the insects are quite shy, often hiding inside furniture frames or under floorboards during the day and coming out to feast at night. With few effective tools for detecting small numbers of bedbugs, dog-based services have become increasingly popular in the city, even if the limited research on them suggests their accuracy can be patchy.

And even if a dog can sniff the insects out, it can’t get rid of them. This has to be done by humans. Parisian pest control companies are doing a healthy trade too.

For Hygiène Premium, which specializes in insect and rat control, traditionally about 40 to 50 percent of people calling them have trouble with bedbugs. “Now, that’s eight people out of 10,” says Sacha Krief, its associate manager. Overall, his company has seen a 30 percent increase in the number of bedbug-treatment cases.

According to Anses, France’s national health security agency, the average cost to get rid of bedbugs is 890 euros ($937), and the price is often even higher in Paris. “It can go up to 1,000, 2,000, even 3,000 euros. Not many people can get this out of their bank accounts overnight,” says Antoine Demière, an advisor to Paris’ first deputy in charge of urban planning. Given the large amounts of money involved, a national registry of certified companies is in the works to prevent unscrupulous actors from scamming clients—40 cases of bedbug-related fraud have been reported to France’s directorate for consumer affairs over the past few months.

For social tenants, there’s protection against these high prices, thanks to a 2020 agreement signed between the town hall and social housing groups. Each household pays an additional 4 euros per year on their rent, and, in cases of a bedbug infestation, the city will take care of it for free. “Our top priority is to protect lower-income Parisians,” explains Demière. “We don’t help the poorer population because they’re more likely to get bedbugs, but because they’re less likely to be able to pay thousands of euros to have their home disinfected.”

However, it can take up to several weeks before the social housing groups hire private pest control companies to take care of the problem—way too long to contain the crisis, says Ducomte.

These companies have traditionally used chemicals to get rid of bedbugs, but they are using them less and less, says Bérenger: “The European Union now prohibits the use of some, and people are less and less eager to have chemical products all over their house.” Plus, bedbugs are getting resistant, he says. “They won’t die, they’ll just move on to another apartment, especially when the protocol is not professionally executed.” For these reasons, French companies are now prioritizing “mechanical solutions.” The main three are steam treatment, cryogenic technologies, and heat guns—the goal being to kill bedbugs and their eggs using either very high or very low temperatures. These processes are more expensive than chemical ones because they require more people, but they also save a lot of time.

“When you use chemicals, the house or the hotel room must be emptied for two to three weeks,” says Bérenger. “But one morning can be enough to treat an entire school with dog detection and a mix of the mechanical solutions.” The entomologist has already treated schools in this manner in Marseille; Demière confirms that schools have also been disinfected with mechanical solutions in Paris.  But even with these measures, Bérenger thinks overall numbers are unlikely to decline, given recent trends. Instead, “the number of bedbugs will probably continue to increase until it reaches a plateau,” he estimates. For him, the current media hype is useful. More people are now aware of the problem and know how to recognize bedbugs—thus, the problem of an infestation can be addressed earlier in many instances.

Yet public awareness brings a new problem: misinformation. “Everybody now thinks they know everything about bedbugs,” says Krief. “But people tend to forget that pest control is a real job. You can’t get rid of bedbugs with chamomile oil.”  The national government’s response to the problem this autumn has been slow—something that Demière, of the Parisian government, ascribes to “the French administration mille-feuilles.” To him, the little layered cake is a good illustration of French bureaucracy, with the different parts of the system not joined up and working together. As of now, there are no national rules or regulations on bedbugs. This makes it difficult to establish efficient ways to contain the pests—but there are some proposals on the table.

For instance, in France it’s mandatory for home owners and tenants to have home insurance. Paris officials are pushing for the addition of a bedbug clause in this insurance—but without increasing premiums too much: “The idea would be to add a few euros a year to the mandatory insurance,” says Demière. “We all have to be insured against fire, even though, luckily, very few people will have a fire in their home. Why couldn’t it be the same with bedbugs?” This might not stop the insects from spreading, but it would at least help people avoid getting hit with huge bills. The availability of insurance might also convince people to treat infestations as a priority, which could lower the rate at which the bugs spread. The mayor of Paris is involved in talks with the government and is also in touch with members of parliament, who have recently brought the subject to the National Assembly: On October 3, left-wing MP Mathilde Panot brought a bedbug (in a test tube) into parliament to force the government to take action to contain the crisis. A ministerial meeting took place on October 6, but so far, nothing has been announced. But with on nine months until the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will bring in hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, time is running out for France to get on top of the problem.

[newstfionline]

Friday, May 26, 2023

Expect big crowds for the summer travel season—and big prices, too (AP) The unofficial start of the summer travel season is here. The number of people going through U.S. airports hit pandemic-era highs last weekend, and those records are almost certain to be broken over the Memorial Day holiday. AAA predicts that 37 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home this weekend, an increase of more than 2 million from Memorial Day last year. With more travel comes more expense. The average rate for a U.S. hotel room last week was $157 a night, up from $150 in the same week last year, according to hotel data provider STR. And the average daily rate for other short-term rentals such as Airbnb and Vrbo rose to $316 last month, up 1.4% from a year ago, according to AirDNA, which tracks the industry.

DeSantis Declares (1440) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) made his long-anticipated jump into the 2024 presidential race yesterday, making the announcement in a livestreamed conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. DeSantis has positioned his campaign as focused on conservative populism with an emphasis on effective governing and joins a field of seven other candidates seeking the Republican nomination.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI calls for AI regulation, warning of ‘existential risk’ (Washington Post) The leaders of OpenAI, the creator of viral chatbot ChatGPT, are calling for the regulation of “superintelligence” and artificial intelligence systems, suggesting an equivalent to the world’s nuclear watchdog would help reduce the “existential risk” posed by the technology. In a statement published on the company website this week, co-founders Greg Brockman and Ilya Sutskever, as well as CEO Sam Altman, argued that an international regulator would eventually become necessary to “inspect systems, require audits, test for compliance with safety standards, (and) place restrictions on degrees of deployment and levels of security.” They made a comparison with nuclear energy as another example of a technology with the “possibility of existential risk,” raising the need for an authority similar in nature to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world’s nuclear watchdog. The OpenAI team wrote, “In terms of both potential upsides and downsides, superintelligence will be more powerful than other technologies humanity has had to contend with in the past. We can have a dramatically more prosperous future; but we have to manage risk to get there.”

Fuel shortages slam Cuba’s countryside (AP) Rosa López, a 59-year-old housewife, lit a charcoal stove to boil sweet potatoes and prepare scrambled eggs for her grandchildren. The gas cylinders she normally uses to cook her meals have not been available for almost two months in Mariel, a port town west of Havana. Not far from there, on the highway to Pinar del Río and under a scorching sun, Ramón Victores spent one week waiting in line at a gas station, hoping to fuel up the 1952 red Chevrolet he uses for work, moving produce from one town to another. Cuba’s most recent fuel shortage has crippled an already fragile economy, but it is hitting rural villages particularly hard, with residents resorting to coal fires to cook their food, scrambling to find transport to take them to work and spending days—and nights—at the gas station waiting to fuel up. With food and medications already in short supply amid an economy that was severely hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, the end of the country’s two-currency system and a tightening of U.S. sanctions, the lack of fuel and cooking gas is perceived by many Cubans in the island’s countryside as the last straw.

As Protesters Die, a Nation’s Security Forces Face Little Scrutiny (NYT) In the adobe house she built with her husband in a small village in Peru, Antonia Huillca pulled out a stack of documents that once represented a glimmer of hope. They were part of an investigation into the death of her husband, Quintino Cereceda, who left one morning in 2016 to join a protest against a new copper mine and never returned. Ms. Huillca can’t read, but she can identify a photo of her husband’s body, a bullet wound to his forehead; the question-and-answer format in which police officers describe firing live ammunition as protesters threw rocks; the logo of the mining company sending convoys of trucks over unpaved roads, sparking protests among villagers fed up with the dust. But today, the investigation has gone cold. “All these years and no justice,” Ms. Huillca, a 51-year-old Quechua farmer, said. “It’s as if we don’t exist.” For years, scores of similar cases in Peru have met a familiar fate: Investigations into the killing of unarmed civilians at protests where security forces were deployed, most of them in poor Indigenous and rural areas, are opened when they attract headlines, only to be closed quietly later, with officials often citing a lack of evidence. Now, the unusually high death toll during antigovernment demonstrations after the removal of the country’s president last year has put accusations of abuse by security officials in the global spotlight, raising questions about why so many previous killings remain unsolved.

Immigration to Britain reaches record high in 2022 (AP) The number of people moving to Britain reached a record high of more than 600,000 in 2022, government figures showed Thursday. The statistics office said the record level was due to a “series of unprecedented world events throughout 2022 and the lifting of restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic.” As well as people coming to Britain to work, the figure includes tens of thousands of international students and almost 200,000 people who have arrived under special programs for people fleeing war in Ukraine and China’s clampdown in Hong Kong. The high figure will renew debate about Britain’s departure from the European Union, which was motivated in part by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of people from across Europe in the years before the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Europe Faces a Food Shock (WSJ) Fresh out of an energy crisis, Europeans are facing a food-price explosion that is changing diets and forcing consumers across the region to tighten their belts—literally. This is happening even though inflation as a whole is falling thanks to lower energy prices. New data on Wednesday showed inflation in the U.K. fell sharply in April as energy prices cooled, following a similar pattern around Europe and in the U.S. But food prices were 19.3% higher than a year earlier. The continued surge in food prices has caught central bankers off guard and pressured governments to come to the rescue.

Prigozhin’s warning (Washington Post) Fresh off his claim of victory in capturing the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, Russian mercenary boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin warned that Moscow’s brutal war could plunge Russia into turmoil similar to the 1917 revolution unless its detached, wealthy elite become more directly committed to the conflict. In a lengthy interview with Konstantin Dolgov, a political operative and pro-war blogger, Prigozhin, the founder and leader of the Wagner mercenary group, also asserted that the war had backfired spectacularly by failing to “demilitarize” Ukraine, one of President Vladimir Putin’s stated aims of the invasion. He also called for totalitarian policies. “We are in a situation where we can simply lose Russia,” Prigozhin said, using an expletive to hammer his point. “We must introduce martial law. We unfortunately … must announce new waves of mobilization; we must put everyone who is capable to work on increasing the production of ammunition,” he said. “Russia needs to live like North Korea for a few years, so to say, close the borders … and work hard.” Instead of demilitarization, he said, the invasion turned “Ukraine’s army into one of the most powerful in the world” and Ukrainians into “a nation known to the entire world.”

Turkish voters weigh final decision on next president (AP) Two opposing visions for Turkey’s future are on the ballot when voters return to the polls Sunday for a runoff presidential election that will decide between an increasingly authoritarian incumbent and a challenger who has pledged to restore democracy. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a populist and polarizing leader who has ruled Turkey for 20 years, is well positioned to win after falling just short of victory in the first round of balloting on May 14. He was the top finisher even as the country reels from sky-high inflation and the effects of a devastating earthquake in February. Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey’s pro-secular main opposition party and a six-party alliance, has campaigned on a promise to undo Erdogan’s authoritarian tilt. The 74-year-old former bureaucrat has described the runoff as a referendum on the direction of the strategically located NATO country, which is at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and has a key say over the alliance’s expansion. “This is an existential struggle. Turkey will either be dragged into darkness or light,” Kilicdaroglu said. “This is more than an election. It has turned into a referendum.”

Beijing can’t take a joke (Foreign Policy) A Chinese comedian’s mild joke about the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) last week led to a $1.9 million fine for his entertainment company. Li Haoshi, a stand-up comedian known as “House” onstage, joked that watching his dogs chase a squirrel reminded him of the PLA slogan “Fight to win!” Beijing authorities intervened after audio was shared on social media, fining the company that represents Li and confiscating the profits of weekend shows. Li is now under investigation for insulting the PLA and causing “bad social impact.” Around the same time, China suspended the Weibo and Bilibili accounts of a popular British Malaysian comedian after he made a joke about Chinese surveillance. One of the reasons that Chinese censorship has become so petty is that years of crackdowns under Xi quashed most dissident content years ago. The authorities must now go after the inconsequential to justify their own existence.

South Korea, US troops to hold massive live-fire drills near border with North Korea (AP) The South Korean and U.S. militaries were set to begin massive live-fire drills near the border with North Korea on Thursday, despite the North’s warning that it won’t tolerate what it calls such a hostile invasion rehearsal on its doorstep. Thursday’s drills, the first of the allies’ five rounds of firing exercises until mid-June, mark 70 years since the establishment of the military alliance between Seoul and Washington. North Korea has typically reacted to such major South Korean-U.S. exercises with missile and other weapons tests. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-launched more than 100 missiles but none since it fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile in mid-April. North Korea has argued its torrid pace of tests was meant to respond to the expanded military drills between the U.S. and South Korea, but observers say the North aims to advance its weapons development then wrest greater concessions from its rivals in eventual diplomacy.

What about those who can’t flee fighting in Sudan? (AP) Mahmoud almost never leaves his small apartment in east Khartoum. Electricity has been out for most of the past month, so he swelters in the summer heat. When he does venture out to find food, he leaves his mobile phone behind because of looters in the street. Otherwise, he hunkers down in fear, worried that an artillery shell could burst into his home. Since the conflict broke out last month, more than 1.3 million people have fled their homes to escape Sudan’s fighting, going elsewhere in the country or across the borders. But Mahmoud and millions of others remain trapped in Khartoum and its sister cities of Bahri and Omdurman, unable to leave the central battleground between Sudan’s military and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary. For them, every day is a struggle to find food, get water and charge their phones when electricity is cut off. All the while, they must avoid the fighters and criminals in the streets who rob and brutalize pedestrians, loot shops and storm into homes to steal whatever of value they can find.

Paralysis Breakthrough (1440) Swiss neuroscientists have successfully utilized a brain-spine interface to enable a paralyzed man to walk using his thoughts, according to a study released yesterday. The breakthrough development expands on recent innovations using spinal implants to generate movement in patients with immobilizing spinal injuries. Gert-Jan Oskam, a Dutch 40-year-old who was paralyzed 12 years ago, received two brain implants and one on his spine, creating a so-called “digital bridge” across the injured nerves. A portable computer decodes his brain’s electrical signals and relays them to a spinal pulse generator, resulting in the perception that his lower body movements are voluntary. Combined with regular therapy, the procedure allows Oskam to walk and climb stairs with a natural gait aided by a walker, at times without the digital bridge activated. The procedure further opens the possibility for victims of paralysis to regain control of their legs, with researchers hoping to reduce the size and invasiveness of the implants.

[airbricksproperty]

Airbricks provides expert Airbnb property maintenance to keep your rental clean, functional, and guest-ready, ensuring a seamless hosting experience.

[hollymbryan]

Blog Tour + #Review: DELICIOUS MONSTERS by Liselle Sambury!

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the Turn the Page Tours blog tour for Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury! This YA horror was one of my most-anticipated reads for 2023, and boy did it deliver! I’m so excited to tell you all about the book and my review, so let’s go!

About the Book

title: Delicious Monsters author: Liselle Sambury publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books release date: 28 February 2023

The Haunting of Hill House meets Sadie in this evocative and mind-bending psychological thriller following two teen girls navigating the treacherous past of a mysterious mansion ten years apart.

Daisy sees dead people—something impossible to forget in bustling, ghost-packed Toronto. She usually manages to deal with her unwanted ability, but she’s completely unprepared to be dumped by her boyfriend. So when her mother inherits a secluded mansion in northern Ontario where she spent her childhood summers, Daisy jumps at the chance to escape. But the house is nothing like Daisy expects, and she begins to realize that her experience with the supernatural might be no match for her mother’s secrets, nor what lurks within these walls…

A decade later, Brittney is desperate to get out from under the thumb of her abusive mother, a bestselling author who claims her stay at “Miracle Mansion” allowed her to see the error of her ways. But Brittney knows that’s nothing but a sham. She decides the new season of her popular Haunted web series will uncover what happened to a young Black girl in the mansion ten years prior and finally expose her mother’s lies. But as she gets more wrapped up in the investigation, she’ll have to decide: if she can only bring one story to light, which one matters most—Daisy’s or her own?

As Brittney investigates the mansion in the present, Daisy’s story runs parallel in the past, both timelines propelling the girls to face the most dangerous monsters of all: those that hide in plain sight.

Add to Goodreads Purchase the Book

About the Author

Liselle Sambury is the Trinidadian-Canadian author of the Governor General’s Literary Awards Finalist, Blood Like Magic. Her work spans multiple genres, from fantasy to sci-fi, horror, and more. In her free time, she shares helpful tips for upcoming writers and details of her publishing journey through a YouTube channel dedicated to demystifying the sometimes complicated business of being an author. She’s represented by Kristy Hunter at The Knight Agency.

Connect with Liselle: Website | Goodreads | Instagram

My 5-Star Review

Delicious Monsters was one of my most-anticipated reads of 2023, and boy did it deliver! I was so ready for a creepy, horror-filled tale, and that’s exactly what I got -- whether it’s body horror or birds (oh how I hate birds, and this book did not help!), it’s all in here. We’ve got the tale of a mansion we keep hearing is “dangerous,” told from the POV of two teen Black girls a decade apart: Daisy, in the past, and Brittney, in the present. Daisy and her mom inherit the cursed mansion and move up to live on the grounds and turn the house into an Airbnb. Brittney, who grew up with an awful, abusive mother who has since become famous for “turning her life around” after a stay at the mansion, is a YouTube documentarian. She and her partner are working on their show, “Haunted,” with a season she wants to be about forgotten Black girls. Slowly, slowly, the story unravels before us, alternating timelines and POVs, and I swear you will be unable to look away from the horror that you know is around the corner.

This story is creeptastic and spooky and just fabulously horrific, and I mean that in the best way. We need more YA horror like this! Also, I have to mention *that cover*, which I’m declaring now as my favorite cover of the year. I can’t imagine *anything* coming along that will beat the creepy beauty of this one!

Rating: 5 stars!

Side note: Delicious Monsters will be our April pick for #getthrilledbuddyreads on Insta, so be sure and follow me if you’d like to join!

Check out the Bookstagram tour too! You can find my post here!

[elegantlivingnow]

The Ultimate Guide to Short-Term Rentals and Management

What Are Short-Term Rentals?

Short-term rentals refer to fully furnished apartments, houses, or vacation homes that are rented out for a short period, typically ranging from a few days to several months. These rentals are popular among business travelers, tourists, and individuals relocating for work or personal reasons.

Short-Term Apartments for Rent

Short-term apartment rentals offer the convenience and comfort of a home while providing flexibility that traditional leases do not. Many travelers and professionals prefer short-term rentals over hotels due to:

Cost-effectiveness – More affordable than extended hotel stays.

Home-like environment – Fully furnished units with kitchens, living spaces, and amenities.

Flexibility – Lease terms can range from a few weeks to several months.

Prime locations – Available in urban centers, business districts, and tourist hubs.

Short-Term Rental Companies

Many companies specialize in short-term rentals, providing fully managed properties that cater to business travelers, vacationers, and remote workers. Some of the best-known short-term rental companies include:

Airbnb – A global leader offering a mix of budget-friendly and luxury stays.

VRBO – Focuses on entire home rentals, great for families and groups.

Blueground – Offers stylish, longer-term stays with premium furnishings.

Sonder – Provides hotel-like services in fully furnished apartments.

ElegantLivingNow.com – A luxury-focused platform offering high-end short-term rentals with premium amenities and personalized experiences.

Short-Term Apartment Rental Agencies

Short-term apartment rental agencies act as intermediaries between property owners and renters, ensuring a seamless rental experience. These agencies offer:

Property Listings – Showcasing high-quality rentals with photos and descriptions.

Lease Negotiation – Helping tenants find flexible leasing options.

Concierge Services – Assisting with move-in, cleaning, and other necessities.

Short-Term Rental Management

Managing short-term rentals effectively requires a strategic approach to attract guests and ensure a smooth rental process. Key aspects of short-term rental management include:

1. Property Maintenance & Upkeep

Regular cleaning and inspections

Prompt repairs and maintenance

2. Marketing & Advertising

High-quality photography and virtual tours

Listings on platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and ElegantLivingNow.com

SEO optimization and social media marketing

3. Guest Experience & Hospitality

Quick response to inquiries

Providing amenities like WiFi, toiletries, and kitchen essentials

Offering personalized local recommendations

4. Pricing & Revenue Management

Dynamic pricing based on seasonality and demand

Special discounts for extended stays

Competitive analysis to optimize rental rates

Short-Term House Rentals

Short-term house rentals are ideal for travelers seeking more space, privacy, and comfort than traditional apartments or hotels. These properties are often fully furnished and include:

Private outdoor areas (gardens, patios, or pools)

Multiple bedrooms and bathrooms for families or groups

Fully equipped kitchens for home-cooked meals

Exclusive amenities like gyms, home theaters, and concierge services

Final Thoughts

Short-term rentals have revolutionized the hospitality industry by offering versatile, cost-effective, and personalized accommodation solutions. Whether you are a traveler searching for a comfortable stay or a property owner looking to maximize rental income, choosing the right platform and management strategy is key.

For luxury short-term rentals, check out ElegantLivingNow.com for a selection of high-end apartments, houses, and vacation homes tailored for comfort and elegance.

[yuvidoc]

Travel App Development Guide: Types, Cost, Process, and More

Why Travel Apps Matter Today

Travel apps have redefined convenience for users across the globe. According to Statista, mobile travel bookings accounted for over 60% of all online travel bookings in 2023, and this trend is only expected to grow. With just a few taps, users can search for destinations, compare flight prices, book accommodations, and even create itineraries. For businesses, travel apps open up opportunities for customer engagement, revenue growth, and standing out in a competitive market.

Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or an established travel agency looking to digitize your services, creating a travel app is a must to stay relevant in this digital age.

Types of Travel Apps

Travel apps come in many shapes and forms, catering to different user needs. Understanding the type of app you want to build is the first step in the development process. Here are the most common categories:

Booking Apps

These apps help users book flights, hotels, and car rentals with ease.

Example: Booking.com and Expedia.

Itinerary Management Apps

These apps organize travel plans, including flights, hotel bookings, and activities, in one place.

Example: TripIt and Google Trips.

Navigation and Transportation Apps

Apps like Google Maps and Uber assist travelers in navigating new cities or finding local transport options.

Travel Guide Apps

These offer destination recommendations, reviews, and curated experiences.

Example: TripAdvisor.

Expense Management Apps

Useful for business travelers to track expenses and manage budgets.

Example: Splitwise.

Steps to Develop a Travel App

Developing a travel app requires a clear strategy, thoughtful design, and robust development. Let’s break down the process:

1. Market Research and Ideation

Understand the audience: Define your target users. Are you targeting solo travelers, families, or corporate clients?

Competitor analysis: Study successful travel apps like Airbnb and Hopper. Identify gaps that your app can fill.

2. Define Your Travel App Description

Write a clear and concise travel app description outlining its unique value proposition. For example, “Our app simplifies trip planning by combining booking and itinerary management in one intuitive platform.”

3. Design and Prototyping

Leverage tools like Figma and Tetris to create wireframes and interactive prototypes of your app.

Focus on user experience (UX). The interface should be intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to navigate.

4. Choose the Right Technology Stack

Decide whether you’ll build a native app (iOS/Android) or a cross-platform app using frameworks like React Native or Flutter.

For front-end development, you can convert Figma HTML designs into responsive code for a seamless look and feel.

5. Development

Partner with an experienced travel app development company to bring your vision to life.

Ensure the app has essential features like search filters, secure payment gateways, GPS integration, and push notifications.

6. Testing and QA

Conduct rigorous testing to identify bugs and ensure the app works flawlessly across all devices.

Test scenarios like booking processes, map navigation, and real-time updates.

7. Launch and Marketing

Once your app is ready, deploy it on app stores.

Invest in marketing strategies like social media campaigns, influencer partnerships, and app store optimization (ASO).

How Much Does It Cost to Develop a Travel App?

The cost of travel app development depends on factors like features, app complexity, design requirements, and team size. On average:

A basic travel app costs between $20,000–$50,000.

A mid-complexity app ranges from $50,000–$100,000.

A high-end app with advanced features can exceed $100,000.

To manage costs, you can:

Begin with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) to test the market.

Use pre-built design systems like Tetrisly to save time and resources.

Common Misconceptions About Travel App Development

“You need a huge budget to start.”

Not necessarily! Starting with an MVP is a cost-effective approach.

“All travel apps are the same.”

In reality, apps can cater to specific niches, such as solo travelers or luxury vacations.

“Once launched, the app doesn’t need updates.”

Regular updates are essential to fix bugs, add features, and stay competitive.

Actionable Tips for Success

Personalization is key: Use AI and machine learning to provide tailored recommendations for users.

Focus on user engagement: Integrate gamification elements or loyalty programs to keep users coming back.

Ensure scalability: Build an app that can handle increasing users as your business grows.

Prioritize security: Protect user data with encryption and secure payment methods.

Conclusion

Developing a travel app is an exciting yet complex journey. By understanding the market, defining your app’s purpose, and working with the right tools and partners, you can create an app that delights users and drives business growth. Whether you’re a startup or an established travel company, investing in a well-designed and feature-rich app can set you apart in the competitive travel industry.

Ready to turn your travel app project into reality? Partner with a reputable travel app development company and start building the future of travel today!

By following this guide, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the app development process, make informed decisions, and create an app that stands out in the market. Happy coding and safe travels!

[nimbusconsultancy]

Most Successful Small Business Ideas in Saudi Arabia 

Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing economy has created an excellent environment for small businesses to flourish. With a strong focus on economic diversification, the Kingdom is investing heavily in different sectors, making it a lucrative destination for new business ventures. 

If you're considering starting a small business in Saudi Arabia, this post enlists some of the most profitable business ideas that have the potential to thrive in the Kingdom. 

TOP SMALL BUSINESS IDEAS FOR SAUDI ARABIA 

- eCommerce & Online Retail 

Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce industry is booming, fuelled by high internet penetration, smartphone usage, and a preference for online shopping. Start small with a niche product, then expand based on market demand. 

Profitable Niches in eCommerce: 

Fashion & Apparel: Saudi consumers love high-end and trendy fashion. 

Electronics & Gadgets: With tech-savvy customers, there is always demand for smart gadgets. 

Home & Kitchen Products: Online home decor and appliances are popular among urban consumers. 

- Tourism & Travel Services 

With Vision 2030 opening up Saudi Arabia to international tourists, the travel and hospitality industry is booming. The demand for niche tourism experiences is on the rise. 

Profitable Ideas in Tourism: 

Desert Safari & Adventure Tourism: Offer dune bashing, camping, and cultural experiences. 

Local Tour Guides: English-speaking and multilingual guides are in demand. 

- Food & Beverage (F&B) Business 

The Saudi food industry is one of the most lucrative sectors, with opportunities in restaurants, food delivery, and packaged food products. 

Profitable Niches in F&B: 

Specialty Coffee Shops & Cafés: The coffee culture is growing rapidly, especially among young Saudis. 

Healthy & Organic Foods: Growing awareness of wellness is driving demand for organic and fitness-based food products. 

Food Trucks: A cost-effective way to enter the restaurant business. 

- Digital Marketing & Social Media Services 

With businesses increasingly shifting online, digital marketing services are in high demand. Entrepreneurs skilled in SEO, social media management, and content creation can build successful businesses. 

Profitable Digital Marketing Services: 

Social Media Management for small businesses. 

SEO & Website Optimization for brands wanting better online visibility. 

Influencer Marketing Agency to connect brands with local influencers. 

- Fitness & Wellness Business 

Saudi Arabia is experiencing a fitness revolution, with increasing awareness of health, wellness, and self-care. 

Profitable Ideas in Fitness & Wellness: 

Boutique Gyms & Yoga Studios: Women-only fitness centers are in high demand. 

Home-Based Personal Training: Virtual and in-person fitness coaching. 

Health & Nutrition Consultancy: Advising on diet plans and healthy lifestyles. 

- IT & Tech Startup 

Saudi Arabia is rapidly transforming into a technology-driven economy. Businesses that provide innovative tech solutions can thrive, especially in AI & automation solutions as these technologies are gaining significant traction in Saudi Arabia. 

Profitable IT Business Ideas: 

Cybersecurity Consulting: Helping businesses secure their digital operations. 

App Development & SaaS Solutions: Targeting sectors like education, healthcare, and e-commerce. 

Cloud Computing & IT Services: Supporting businesses in digital transformation. 

- Real Estate & Property Management 

The real estate sector is booming, with demand for short-term rentals, property management, and smart home solutions. 

Profitable Real Estate Business Ideas: 

Vacation Rentals & Airbnb Management. 

Real Estate Photography & Virtual Tours for luxury properties. 

Smart Home & Security Installations. 

Property Investment Consulting. 

- Renewable Energy & Sustainability 

Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in renewable energy and sustainability, creating massive opportunities for small businesses in solar energy, recycling, and eco-friendly products. 

Profitable Green Business Ideas: 

Solar Panel Installation & Maintenance. 

Eco-Friendly Packaging & Products. 

Recycling & Waste Management Services. 

Sustainable Agriculture. 

Preliminary Tips on Starting a Business in Saudi Arabia  

Starting a small business in Saudi Arabia requires careful planning and adherence to local regulations. Here are some essential tips. 

Understand the Market: Conduct thorough research to identify demand, competition, and market gaps.   

Comply with Regulations: Register your business with the Ministry of Investment, ensure compliance with Saudi labor laws, and obtain necessary licenses.  

Create a Business Plan: Outline your objectives, target audience, and financial projections.  

Leverage Government Support: Take advantage of initiatives like the Monsha’at program, which supports SMEs with funding, training, and advisory services.  

Build a Network: Join local business communities and trade associations to connect with potential partners and clients.  

How Can Nimbus Consultancy Help?  

Starting a business can feel overwhelming, especially in a place like Saudi Arabia which demands a proper comprehension of its regulatory environment. That’s where Nimbus Consultancy comes in. Here’s how we can help. 

Business Setup: We guide you through the entire process, from choosing the right legal structure to obtaining licenses.  

Financial Planning: We assist with funding options, budgeting, and financial forecasting.  

Strategy Development: From branding to marketing, we help position your business for success.  

Compliance Support: We ensure that your business adheres to all local laws and regulations.  

With Nimbus Consultancy by your side, you can focus on growing your business while we handle the complexities.