Type Private Founded 2011 Website alterkeys.com | Industry Travel Headquarters Madrid, Spain | |
Alterkeys is an online marketplace where accommodation in Europe can be listed and booked for short term lettings. Based on the peer-to-peer property rental model, the platform allows individuals and property managers to list their unoccupied accommodation space and connect with travellers looking for short term accommodation to rent. By June 2013, over 50,000 properties across Europe were listed on the platform. The accommodation options listed on Alterkeys include apartments, castles and villas. In June 2014, the company reached 100,000 properties all around Europe.
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History
Alterkeys was founded by Chema Gonzalez, Joan Muni and Patricia Gonzalez in November 2011. Through 2012 and 2013 the company received investment from private investors in the UK and Spain. In June 2013, Alterkeys was announced as the winner of the Lanzadera Acceleration Programme, a prize applied for by over 4,200 business projects around the world. The program gave the company the opportunity to grow their business with the help of development specialists and private capital. Alterkeys has offices in Madrid, Seville and London.
Product
Alterkeys uses a collaborative model, as it allows property owners and travelers to connect, share and rent out their properties. It also accepts the listing of a range of unique accommodation types including castles, houseboats, tree houses and mobile homes. It does not charge a booking fee to guests. Commission is only taken from the payment received by hosts from successful bookings; however it is entirely free for hosts to list their properties on the platform. The service is used by thousands of individuals and companies like Huawei.
Security
Alterkeys is partnered with one of the biggest insurance companies to provide an insurance cover against accidents and theft of up to €500,000 on every property booked through the platform.
The payment is held by Alterkeys and transferred to the property host 24 hours after the guest has successfully checked in to the property. The payment will not be transferred if the property is not as it was described online.
Hosts have the right to accept or decline booking requests and so have full control over who stays in their property. Users can message one another through the platform, read reviews from past bookings and check the level of their social network connection before deciding to book, accept or decline a reservation.