LGBTQ-based travel platform misterb&b prides itself with the protection of travelers

Francois de Landes, the Co-Founder of misterb&b, a travel marketplace focused on the LGBTQ community, talks about how the company is using machine learning and algorithms to make payouts faster and more secure.

Homesharing has been a part of the gig and sharing economies for nearly a decade, and consumers and homeowners alike are now asking such platforms for personalized support. Some consumers may wish to travel with their pets or book a room that accommodates their disabilities, for example, while others may want to ensure that the homeshares they are renting are LGBTQ-friendly before finalizing their itineraries.

It is critical for platforms that serve niche groups to be able to engineer trust, according to Francois de Landes, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer for LGBTQ-focused global travel marketplace misterb&b. The platform presently lists approximately one million properties for rent and serves about 100,000 travelers each year.

Developing trust between renters and hosts means successfully overcoming familiar challenges. Fast payments, reliable identification, security and seamless booking remain key ways that such homesharing sites can maximize growth.

“Trust is key in our business, and payments [are] key because [they are] linked to trust,” de Landes said in a recent interview. “[Especially] for new, first-time users, who are key for growth, we really want to get the customers’ trust with us, so that’s why we have built a very strong infrastructure for [payments].”

Enabling prospective travelers to book and pay quickly and hosts to receive their money just as fast is a familiar goal of all platforms in the space, but speed is becoming more important as homesharing goes global. Security is also integral to growth, de Landes continued, but person-to-person (P2P) platforms must also be sure that any identification and safety measures they implement do not encourage parties to abandon transactions.

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