Home Exchange Platforms Surge as Travel Costs Rise

Home exchange platforms like HomeExchange and Kindred are gaining popularity as hotel and Airbnb prices increase. HomeExchange, founded in the mid-1990s, gained fame after appearing in the 2006 film "The Holiday." In Italy, membership reached 12,000 in 2026, with nearly 40,000 exchanges in 2025. The platform now uses a non-reciprocal GuestPoints system, with an annual subscription of €175. Kindred, founded in 2021, had about 250,000 members by 2025, with most joining that year. It selects only half of applicants and provides cleaning services and linens. A week in Manhattan on Kindred costs around $500, versus over $1,000 on Airbnb. Exclusive platforms like HomeExchange Collection (€1,275/year) and ThirdHome cater to wealthy users, offering luxury properties. ThirdHome, founded in 2010 by Wade Shealy, had 11,000 properties across 95 countries as of 2020, facilitating 600-700 stays monthly.