Airbnb to boost beds for Island Games

Sunday 23 February 2020

As the organising committee continues planning the events for the 2021 Natwest International Island Games, VisitGuernsey is looking forward to welcoming the many guests it will bring to the Bailiwick.

The hotels in the island will be playing a huge part in hosting the teams, their supporters and the many officials who will have to come to Guernsey from each competing island.

Campsites will also be utilised, but a new industry has evolved since the last time the island hosted the Games: Airbnb.

Speaking to Express after launching the next stage of a plan of action for tourism, Mike Hopkins said there are now around 90 Airbnb hosts in the island.

The Director of Marketing and Tourism for VisitGuernsey said there are absolutely no concerns about the island having enough beds available for everyone.

"There's a lot of work that's taking place, and they would not have asked for the games to be staged here if there wasn't confidence in having those rooms.

"It will be a mix of all the accommodation providers, that will help accommodate the teams as well as the spectators during that time and we're really looking forward to it."

Pictured (l-r): Mike Hopkins and Deputy Joe Mooney. 

The Games will be staged in Guernsey during the summer of 2021, having previously been held here twice.

Last week saw the '500 days to go' landmark passed, with more volunteers being recruited to ensure everything goes smoothly before and during the week long celebration of sporting achievement. 

Deputy Joe Mooney sits on the Committee for Economic Development, which oversees tourism.

He is also confident in the island's ability to find beds for everyone likely to come over for the Games. Also speaking to Express after the recent release of the tourism action plan, he said there are plenty of positive conversations happening in the hospitality industry. 

"Some (hotels) are trying to leave the industry, some are trying to re-invest and there are a number of private ones that are very keen to re-invest in what they have and extend what they have, but there's one particularly, shall we say it is a bespoke hotel, it's quite interesting, around 40 bedrooms, but that's not going to happen in relation to shall we say the Island Games, but it's one of those things...What I wouldn't want to do is drive away our regular market because we're having the Island Games.

"So for the hotels, there's a bit of planning there for how the hotels actually work it out themselves. But that's operational, and there's lots of things for them to sort out."

Pictured: Last week marked '500 days to go'. 

Mr Hopkins said that planning will definitely include Airbnb and similar businesses.

"There's a lot more flexible accommodation that's available now (compared to the last time Guernsey hosted the Games), and we've got about 90 or so Airbnb type properties on the island, and using the other sharing online facilities and so on, that will help provide flexibility to increase the number of beds available during peak season."