This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
When it comes to booking a place to stay, the lack of a trusted guide is a major issue. Unlike the Michelin Guide, which sets the standard for restaurants, there is no equivalent for home rentals. This was the realization of Doron Meyassed, founder of The Plum Guide, a London-based home stay platform that is trying to change this.
Launched in 2015 in London, The Plum Guide has since expanded to five cities - New York, Rome, Milan, Paris, and LA - and now has over 3,200 global homes in its collection and 1.3 million global users. However, the company plans to keep its standards high, with a rigorous vetting process that includes a visit from a 'home critic' and a test involving 150 different criteria.
According to Iona Carter, Head of Brand for The Plum Guide, the idea for the company was inspired by an amazing Airbnb stay - and the realization that not all stays are created equal. 'Doron said: 'Why can't every stay be like this? Why is it that as a user, it's so hit and miss?'
The Plum Guide's vetting process is designed to weed out properties that don't meet its high standards. The company uses an algorithm to 'basically scrape all of the other booking sites that list short term rental properties,' seeking out only those that are in a 'Plum neighborhood' - in London, for example, Kensington is the best-selling neighborhood on the platform.
Only 1 out of every 100 properties in each city is invited to join the Plum Guide Collection, according to the company. When the home critic visits a property, the process is incredibly thorough, with a mock check-in, a detailed home manual, and a thorough inspection of the home's amenities.
