Market escape through exchange: home swap as a form of non-commercial hospitality

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine home swap - a form of non-commercial hospitality that has witnessed a great expansion in the last decade. In conjunction with prior writings on various subjects related to home swap, this study can be utilized in compiling a preliminary conceptualization of home swapping, as a form of non-commercial hospitality, with its own characteristics. In particular this study identifies six dimensions of home swap, namely (a) escape of the market; (b) asymmetric exchanges (c) need for trustiness; (d) use of a hospitality exchange network; (e) demand for domesticity and (f) quest to experience local authenticity. The results of this study are being utilized to construct a preliminary conceptualization of home swapping as a distinct vacation alternative building on old virtues and using new technology.