He still remembers the time he exchanged his house with someone from Calpe (Alicante). It was late February and in northern France, where he came from, it was pouring rain, with a bone-chilling cold that goes right through you. But Spain welcomed him and his family with a very pleasant 15º. And yet, the owners of the Mediterranean coast house where they were going to spend a few days on vacation had left the heating on, just in case, apologizing in advance for the supposed low temperatures. "I found the gesture charming, but for someone from Brittany like me, where the weather is always bad, it was almost summer," says Charles-Édouard Girard, laughing, co-founder of the world's largest home exchange platform, HomeExchange, with around 200,000 members in 155 countries.
Of them, Spain ranks second —only behind France and ahead of the United States, Italy and Canada—, with more than 32,000 hosts. And growing, as in 2024 there was a 250% increase compared to the figures from five years ago. A tangible proof that more and more Spaniards are willing to let a stranger sleep between their sheets and watch TV on their couch. And vice versa, of course. The beauty of the concept is enjoying a super cool apartment in the center of Paris, London, or Berlin (or a villa in Bali, you name it...) while you lend yours in Madrid.
Like Ramón's industrial and minimalist apartment in the Delicias neighborhood —since he joined the platform three years ago, he has already made over 20 trips—, where this conversation with Girard took place during one of his recent visits to the capital.
Q. First of all, what does it take to become part of the HomeExchange community?
A. We have a unique business model where you have to pay 175 euros per year as a fixed fee (220 dollars in the United States), which gives you the right to unlimited exchanges that are not necessarily reciprocal. Meaning, guests can be hosted by the hosts and receive guestpoints as a token of gratitude for their hospitality, which they can then spend with other members or at another time.
Q. Have Spaniards had trouble understanding this concept? Because we are currently the second market internationally...
A. At first, they were hesitant to leave their homes. In fact, 58% of exchanges by Spaniards are domestic, within the country, with an average occupancy of 17 days per year. But it is such a wonderful place in every way (weather, gastronomy, architecture, leisure...), that it is also one of the most desired to visit. The sector has grown a lot here in contrast to other destinations like the United States, which used to be number one, as this accommodation modality originated there, but has been declining and political fluctuations have not helped much.
[The platform itself was born in the USA in the 90s, gaining fame after the successful release in 2006 of the comedy The Holiday, where the characters played by Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet exchanged their respective homes in California and London during Christmas. Well, years later, in 2017, the platform was acquired by Girard and his partner Emmanuel Arnaud, creators in 2011 of a website that followed the same philosophy, GuesttoGuest, which they renamed HomeExchange after acquiring other competitors in Europe and Canada and becoming global leaders].
Q. Regarding nationalities, what sets a Spanish host apart from a French or English one?
A. Spaniards are the best in the world; they make you feel at home; they always leave ham in the fridge, as well as wine, fruit, and oil. I always choose Spain because I love it. I have been to Calpe, as I mentioned, the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Malaga, Cadiz, Cordoba... I always come back.
Q. So, are you just another member of the network?
A. Of course, I can't see it any other way, but I never make the reservation in my name, but in my wife's name [laughs].
One of the villas from the platform in Bali.
Q. What would you say to skeptics who still don't see the idea of letting a stranger use their bed?
A. One of our key values is flexibility, by multiplying the opportunities to go on vacation, but above all trust and respect. The annual fee of 175 euros is to ensure your peace of mind, as if you have any issues before, during, or after, we take care of it, but I must say that in 2024, 99.7% of exchanges took place without any incidents. Additionally, we reward loyalty, so the most loyal and respectful members may end up paying only 125 euros per year.
Q. What are the advantages compared to other types of accommodations like hotels or platforms like Airbnb?
A. The cost, without a doubt, and the flexibility, by multiplying the opportunities to go on vacation. Furthermore, our method allows you to travel without gentrifying neighborhoods, as the people with us are not there to make money. The housing prices won't increase because they are not tourist apartments. We are not in favor of displacing neighbors from their neighborhoods.
Q. In conclusion, what future challenges do you face?
A. We currently have 250,000 members and we aim to double that to 500,000 by 2028.