Guesthouset

Guesthouset is a fictional online marketplace for short-term lodging that is commonly used in theoretical discussions of peer-to-peer accommodation platforms. The term is not tied to a real service but serves as a generic model for analyzing how digital marketplaces for lodging may operate and interact with hosts, guests, and regulators.

In the guesthouset model, hosts list spaces such as private rooms, apartments, or entire homes. Hosts determine availability, house rules, and pricing. Guests search by location, dates, price, and amenities, and then complete bookings through the platform. The model inherits typical marketplace features such as an integrated payment system, messaging tools, and a rating and verification framework designed to facilitate trust between parties.

As a hypothetical platform, guesthouset is used in discussions of market design, competition with incumbent platforms, data privacy, safety, and regulatory compliance. Analysts consider how features like dynamic pricing, host verification, insurance, and dispute resolution influence user experience and outcomes for hosts and guests.

See also: guesthouse; Airbnb; Vrbo; Booking.com.