Servas International
| |
Motto | Open Doors for Peace and Friendship |
---|---|
Founded | July 1949Denmark | in
Founder | Bob Luitweiler |
Type | Non-governmental organization |
Location |
|
Area served | Global |
Products | Homestay |
Services |
Hospitality service Social networking service |
Members | 15,000 in over 100 countries[1] |
Website |
www |
Servas International is a hospitality service and social networking service. It provides a platform for members to arrange homestays, offer hospitality, meet other members, and join events. The platform is a gift economy; hosts are not allowed to charge for lodging. However, members must pay an annual membership fee to the organization.
In Esperanto, Servas means "we serve (peace)".
Servas is an accredited Non-governmental organization and has been affiliated with the United Nations since 1973.[2]
Servas was founded in 1948, in the aftermath of World War II, by Bob Luitweiler and other Danish students as a peace movement.[3][4]
How it works
Unlike most hospitality services whereby users can join in a few minutes by registering online, members of Servas almost always must go through an interview process and submit letters of recommendation before they are admitted. Travelers write a self-introduction on a special form valid for one year, that is shown to hosts upon arrival. Although hosts do not charge for lodging, travelers must pay an annual fee to the organization, which varies according to region.[5][2]
Local chapters of the organization elect representatives to handle interviews and determine membership fees.
References
- ↑ "Servas International".
- 1 2 Fardelmann, Charlotte (September 22, 1980). "Servas -- a letter of introduction to another culture". The Christian Science Monitor.
- ↑ Glusac, Elaine (March 13, 2017). "The Other Airbnbs: Alternative Home-Sharing Rentals". The New York Times. (subscription required)
- ↑ Glusac, Elaine (March 24, 2017). "Competition for Airbnb as other home-sharing sites target niche audiences". The Irish Times.
- ↑ Hull, Dana (July 14, 1996). "SERVAS WITH A SMILE". The Washington Post.
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