ABSTRACT
Sharing economy is a complex term that refers to the phenomenon of peer-to-peer (P2P) service markets that arose due to the innovative internet platforms whose market strategy is based on merging supply and demand. The emergence of the sharing economy revolutionized the tourism industry and profoundly changed the structure of accommodation and transportation supply.
Although diversity is one of the main characteristics of the sharing economy, in general P2P service providers supply a different product which is based not only on the traditional features but also on the personal traits of the hosts. The possibility of direct interaction with a member of the local community creates a completely different experience for tourists which is appealing, especially to leisure tourists in the city break segment. Moreover, similarly to OTAs and metasearch sites, sharing economy platforms provide an opportunity for tourists to share their experiences.
The aim of this chapter is to identify distinct characteristics of the sharing economy experience, present differences between the traditional and sharing economy and highlight the importance of sharing economy platforms in creating value for customers.
