Networking and Bed Sharing

You may be wondering what bed sharing has to do with networking. Well, I recently came across a review of a new service in Milan, Italy called the "Bed Sharing Project". I found this review on Springwise.com.  Below is the review, which can also be found at Networking and Bed Sharing.  I believe that this concept is a bit of a stretch for building relationships, but it is another way to meet people.  You can make your own interpretation.

While home stays might have fuddy-duddy connotations of boy scout troops or travelling bible groups, the Salone del Mobile in Milan—the annual international furniture fair that ends today—would have a hard time doing anything that isn’t cool. Which includes a Bed Sharing programme that kicked off this year.

The Bed Sharing project aims to show the host city's most hospitable side, and actively involves Milan residents by inviting them to open up their homes to (young) conference attendees who haven't been able to find or can't afford regular accommodation in hotels. Shared bedrooms needn’t be palatial: "2 square meters are enough to put up a designer."

It's a simple way to add a personal touch and human scale to massive conferences and events, while helping local professionals expand their networks by meeting colleagues from abroad. One to set up for every major conference? Since almost everything can be arranged online, coordination costs aren't high. And given most events’ very specific target audiences, sponsors should be easy to find. (Bed Sharing’s main partners were easyJet, Samsung and Italian mattress manufacturer Ennerev.) A related organisation is SpaceShare, which we'll feature soon.

Website: www.bedsharing.org
Contact: info@bedsharing.org

Comments

[holly]

There is another site that was (is) quite popular called Couch Surfing:

http://www.couchsurfing.com/

...but it seems to cater more towards the traveler than the conference attender ;), but I'm assuming when you need a place to stay, it's all the same ;)

[Mike Maddaloni]

There is a huge demand for such a service. Last year a friend stayed with me when he went to the SES conference. We went out for expensive dinners just about every night, and each time he picked up the tab he said that in total it would still be cheaper than getting a hotel, which in Chicago can go for $400/night.

Unfortunately, I could see the politicians and officials balking at this - recall recently the closing of a "dorm" by O'Hare used by pilots to nap for a few hours between flights?

It could definitely work, and introduce people with like interests for such an event.

mp/m

[Jason Jacobsohn]

Thanks Holly for sharing information about another service. I had no idea that this was already a somewhat market. I definitely see the need Mike. It will be interesting to see what happens over time if this model can work.

[Prospectpush]

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