Within a few years, Wimdu has become the number 2 in seasonal apartment rentals. Created by the Samwer brothers, known in the e-business world for having made a fortune by drawing inspiration from American sites and adapting them with a German twist (Alando.de in 1999 and Citydeal in 2010, which became Groupon). Interview with Alexandre Prot, General Manager of Wimdu France.
Nice Premium: Where does the name “Wimdu” come from?
Alexandre Prot: Wimdu is a playful name. We were looking for a fun name that sounds good in all languages… That’s how “Wimdu” was born!
NP: How do you differentiate yourselves from your competitors, especially Airbnb?
AP: We place a lot of importance on having Wimdu teams on the ground in as many cities as possible, and we have been implementing this since the site’s creation. Our teams are accessible worldwide, which gives us the advantage of creating a genuine community of hosts with a close relationship with our managers in each country. This is essential to building a true bond of trust with our hosts and the travelers they will welcome.
NP: Is France well-positioned in Wimdu’s global revenue share?
AP: It holds one of the top spots! France is the world’s leading tourist destination, and this is absolutely reflected in Wimdu’s numbers. Paris is the most booked city on the site today, but several other French cities or regions, particularly PACA, are experiencing strong growth. We have around 6,000 rental offers throughout France, and numerous travelers come from all over the world throughout the year.
NP: Are you planning any projects this year to increase your visibility?
AP: We are in a growth phase and always have many projects to expand Wimdu’s visibility. These are very diverse: enriching the housing offer with the opening of new cities, specific actions with unusual accommodations, continuing to improve the site, and developing a mobile application.
NP: How do you envision “Wimdu” in the coming years?
AP: Wimdu will be the reference in Europe in the short-term apartment rental sector, and will have a large community of hosts and travelers who will continue to revolutionize travel with us. Social travel, that is, staying with locals rather than at a hotel, is already booming and the trend is here to stay!
NP: Finally, a last word for our readers?
AP: Do you prefer to have authentic experiences during your travels? Is staying in a hotel boring for you? Then join the Wimdu community and discover a new way of traveling that will make your desires more accessible… Travel like a local!
