Airbnb introduces 50+ product upgrades and innovations to support Live Anywhere travel revolution

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• YouGov polling by Airbnb reveals that 9 out of 10 Filipinos polled would work, live or travel differently, if they had more flexibility at work
• Over 70% say that home-sharing accommodation provides amenities that make it easier to integrate living with travel, as well as more unique, one-of-a-kind travel experiences
  

Manila, Philippines, 10 November 2021 - In May, Airbnb introduced the Airbnb 2021 Release, with over 100 upgrades to improve every aspect of the Airbnb service. Today, the company announces an additional 50+ upgrades that make it easier to host and support the changing needs of travelers.

From March 2020 to September 2021*, new Airbnb Hosts in the Philippines who started hosting post-pandemic collectively earned over PHP207.5 million from welcoming guests on Airbnb. The world is undergoing a revolution in how we live and work. Technologies like Zoom make it possible to work from home, and Airbnb makes it possible to work from any home. This newfound flexibility is bringing about a revolution in how Filipinos travel. In a new YouGov poll commissioned by Airbnb**, over 70% of Filipinos polled said that staying in home-sharing type accommodation provides them with amenities that make it easier to integrate living with travel, and allows them to experience more unique, one-of-a-kind travel in local communities.

The survey also revealed:

• 9 out of 10 Filipino respondents would like to work, live or travel differently if they had more flexibility at work.
• A third of Filipino respondents see travel as a way of life and want to integrate it into their lifestyle.
• 77% of Filipino respondents view post-pandemic ‘business travel’ as a way to combine leisure travel and remote work.
• 45% of Filipino respondents would rent out their homes and travel.

Airbnb is constantly improving its service to meet these new travel trends, and the new waves of guests they will bring. Today, Airbnb is introducing:

• I’m (even more) Flexible - Search for more unique homes up to 12 months in advance.
• Verified Wifi - Our new speed test tool verifies the speed of the wifi in a listing.
• Translation Engine - The most advanced translation technology ever offered to our community.
• Accessibility Review - Every accessibility feature is reviewed for 100% accuracy.
• Smarter Trips Tab - A redesigned Trips tab with all your must-have travel details.
• AirCover - Top-to-bottom protection. Free for every Host. Only on Airbnb.
• Ask a Superhost Expansion - Connects new Hosts to a Superhost in their area for 1:1 help.
  ...and 46 more upgrades.

“For Airbnb, 2021 has been a year of relentless innovation to refine our core service,” said Brian Chesky, CEO and Co-Founder of Airbnb. “This year, we’ve delivered more than 150 upgrades and innovations. Our design-driven approach means that we’re constantly improving our service to adapt to this changing world. For the first time ever, millions of people can now travel anytime, anywhere, for any length, and even live anywhere on Airbnb. This is a travel revolution.”

Making Travel even more Flexible

 Flexibility is one of the most important considerations for Filipinos when it comes to travel planning. Based on Airbnb’s YouGov polling, over a third of all Filipinos polled want to have flexibility in when, how and where they go as travel rebounds.

More are opting to go on flexible trips, including long weekend trips, off-peak travel and vacations closer to home. Notably, the most appealing destinations for respondents’ first trips are 1) a local beach destination within the Philippines, followed by 2) a destination within Asia and 3) a local city destination.

Earlier this year, Airbnb introduced I’m Flexible, a whole new way to search on Airbnb when guests are flexible about where or when they are traveling. Since then, guests have used I’m Flexible more than 500 million times. Due to the popularity of this feature, today Airbnb is making it even more flexible by expanding the date range guests can search to 12 months out (from six).

With workstations on the rise, fast and reliable wifi has also been more critical than ever before. In fact, this year guests on Airbnb have used the wifi filter more than 288 million times. Hosts can now test their listing’s internet connection from the Airbnb app and have their wifi speed verified. With this upgrade, guests can be confident that they won’t miss a Zoom or a favorite streaming show from their Airbnbs.

Improved Translations across 60 Languages 

Globally, Airbnb has seen cross-border travel increasing steadily through the year, from 20% of gross nights booked in the first quarter to 27% in the second and 33% in the third***. As cross-border travel returns, Airbnb’s new Translation Engine will provide a seamless experience for Hosts and guests in over 60 languages. Translation Engine removes the need for click-to-translate buttons by automatically translating listing descriptions and reviews. Based on results from a study across our top ten languages we commissioned by a top machine translation evaluation company, Translation Engine improves the quality of more than 99% of Airbnb listings.

Supporting more Accessible and Organised Travel

With Accessibility Review, Airbnb has developed an industry-leading approach to review the accuracy of features that make Airbnb homes more accessible for the disability community. Hosts simply submit photos of their accessibility features, which are then manually reviewed by a specialized team of Airbnb agents. To date, Airbnb agents have reviewed and confirmed the accuracy of 100,000 accessibility features in 25,000 homes around the world.

We’ve also redesigned the Trips tab to house all your must-have travel info in one convenient place. The smarter, more intuitive tab now features a handy countdown to your arrival, check-in details, current and upcoming reservations, and personalized Experiences suggestions.

Empowering Hosts more than Ever

More guests than ever before are choosing to stay in an Airbnb, which is leading to more people wanting to host to take advantage of this growing opportunity. To offer even more reassurance to our existing four million Hosts, and make it even easier for new Hosts to take that first big step, today we are introducing AirCover. Only Airbnb gives you AirCover, which provides top-to-bottom protection for every Airbnb Host with US$1 million in damage protection and US$1 million in liability coverage. AirCover also includes income loss protection, pet damage protection, deep cleaning protection, and more.

For prospective Hosts, Airbnb’s Ask a Superhost matches anyone interested in hosting with one of our most experienced Hosts for one-on-one helpSince launch, more than 60,000 prospective Hosts have used Ask a Superhost. Today, we’re expanding Ask a Superhost to over 30 languages in 196 countries, including the Philippines. Prospective Hosts can now be paired with Superhosts based on their location, language, and listing. As an added benefit, Superhosts can provide tips for completing a listing page and are there for you through your first booking.

AirCover, Accessibility Review, Verified Wifi, I’m (even more) Flexible, and Ask a Superhost Expansion are all available to everyone today. Translation Engine and Smarter Trips Tab will launch before the end of this year.

*Airbnb internal data from March 12, 2020 to September 30, 2021

**Findings from a YouGov survey of APAC Travel Trends surveying 1038 Filipinos, commissioned by Airbnb, from October 14 to 18, 2021.

***Airbnb internal data as of September 30, 2021.

 

All data in this release is for Q3 2021, and all comparisons are to Q3 2019, unless otherwise specified.

Join LG On Lazada This 11/11 For the Biggest One Day Sale

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Single’s Day is upon us once more and you know what that means! It’s the biggest shopping day of the year and LG teamed up with Lazada to bring a special promotion right straight to the comfort of your home.

For this year’s 11/11 sale edition, most LG products will have special discounts. This is the perfect time to shop for gifts for the holidays, whether it’s for your loved ones or for yourself.

LG will be offering discounts up to 50% off, special bundles and vouchers up to Php 1,000 including FREE shipping.

Its Home Appliance line-up will have a discount of 10%, Home Entertainment up to 20% off, AV up to 50% and Air Solution and Monitor products at 10% discount as well.

Select Monitor models will come with LG’s wireless Tone Free FN4 Earbuds for FREE, valued at Php 5,490.

Join the biggest one day sale of the year with Lazada and LG. Add to cart today on LG’s Official Flagship Store in Lazada and check out on 11/11.

Sore throat, now the #2 major symptom of COVID-19

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Sore throat is one of the major symptoms experienced by people with Covid-19. Strepsils lozenges provide symptomatic relief of sore throat: they provide 2-in-1 defense by killing viruses and germs in as fast as 60 seconds, and provide deep down relief unlike gargles.

With the continued spread of COVID-19 that has sickened more than two million Filipinos, many fear that their dry coughs and sore throats may be a symptom of the dreaded disease. And it is a cause for concern as these two are some of the most common symptoms of COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.

While there are no cures for COVID-19 currently, it is important to address symptoms as they come in order to recover faster. For sore throat, that means taking Strepsils lozenges at the first signs of throat discomfort.

Lozenges offer considerable advantage over a gargle

Results of a clinical study* suggested that among sore throat product formats, “lozenges offer considerable advantages over a gargle,” noting that lozenges offer faster, effective and longer relief for throat pain.

The same study found that lozenges were more advantageous than gargles and the benefits were seen in terms of proportion of medicine delivered to and cleared from the mouth and throat combined.

Lozenges offer faster, effective, and longer relief for throat pain vs gargles

Unlike gargles which are expelled from the mouth, lozenges were kept in the mouth longer, providing a steadier supply of medicine to the throat. This results in greater activity in both the mouth and the throat for up to 20 minutes even after the lozenge is completely dissolved. Thus, the study conducted that lozenges provide fast, effective, and prolonged delivery of active ingredients beneficial for sore throat relief.

2-in-1 defense against symptoms of sore throat

Sore throats are a common symptom experienced by people with COVID-19. Strepsils, the tried-and-tested lozenge brand for almost 50 years, has been indicated for the symptomatic relief of sore throat including those caused by COVID-19. It provides 2-in-1 defense by killing viruses and germs in as fast as 60 seconds and provides deep down long-lasting relief that last two hours, unlike gargles.

Get 2-in-1 defense at the first signs of sore throat with Strepsils

So if you’re looking for immediate and longer relief for sore throat pain, take Strepsils to get symptomatic relief to help you feel better from the sore throat. Always follow the health protocols including wearing face masks, face shields, social distancing and hand washing, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If symptoms persist, consult your healthcare professional.

Strepsils offer a wide range of products for different sore throat needs

• For mild sore and itchy throat – Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol + Amylmetacresol (Strepsils® Cool Sensation) Also available in other flavors Honey & Lemon, Orange, Sugar-Free, Extra Strong.

• For moderate pain and irritated throat – Hexylresorcinol (Strepsils® Max)

• For severe, inflamed sore throat – Flurbiprofen (Strepsils® MaxPro)

Strepsils is available in all leading drugstores nationwide, Lazada and Shopee. For more information, visit Strepsils Philippines Official Website.

Source:

Limb M, et al. Int J Clin Pract 2009;63:606-12

Make your tech wishes come true this 11.11 with up to 58% OFF on realme products

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Get the realme gadgets you’ve always wished for in time for the gift-giving season

during realme’s 11.11 sale on Shopee and Lazada!

The biggest sales on Lazada and Shopee are coming this 11.11, and there’s no better time to make tech wishes come true in time for the holidays. That’s because realme—the Philippines’ number-one smartphone, watch, True Wireless Stereo (TWS) brand for Q2 2021—has great deals in store for the squad this November 11 in a one-day “salebration”! The brand is offering deals of up to 58% OFF—their biggest ever discount—via the realme Official Store on Lazada and Shopee.

Here we list down some of the realme must-haves you can get for less this 11.11!

narzo 50A (11.11 Price: P6,990)

Unveiled earlier this month, the narzo 50A is the brand’s latest smartphone offering, ideal for gaming enthusiasts! With a MediaTek Helio G85 gaming processor, a powerful 6000mAh battery, and a 50MP AI Triple Camera, among many other features, the narzo 50A packs a punch when it comes to gaming, content creation, and overall day-to-day use, all while staying at an affordable price. Coming in the 4GB+64GB variant and in Oxygen Blue and Oxygen Green colors, the narzo 50A will be available first exclusively on Lazada this 11.11 for an early-bird price of P6,990 (P1,000 OFF SRP).

realme GT Master Edition (11.11 Price: P17,690)

If you are on the lookout for a stylish and premium flagship-level smartphone to cater to your digital lifestyle, then good news: the realme GT Master Edition will also be on sale on 11.11! The realme GT Master Edition is truly a breakthrough in product design with its vegan leather-designed Voyager Grey, and holographic dawn-inspired Daybreak Blue colors. The realme GT Master Edition runs on the industry-leading Snapdragon 778G 5G Processor and also has a rich Super AMOLED display, 65W SuperDart Charge technology, a 64MP main rear camera, all within a slim and lightweight package. Add to cart now and get the 8GB+128GB variant for only P17,690 this 11.11 on Lazada.

realme Pad (11.11 Price: P8,990)

If you’re on the lookout for a tablet for all your entertainment needs, then realme’s first -ever tablet is perfect for you! The realme Pad is designed to be a portable entertainment powerhouse with

its 10-inch high-resolution screen, crystal-clear Dolby Atmos quad speakers in each corner, a 7100mAh mega battery for all-day use, and a slim and lightweight body. Get it exclusively on Shopee for as low as P8,990 (P2,000 OFF SRP) for the 3 GB+ 32GB variant.

realme Watch 2 (11.11 Price: P1,790)

Due to the pandemic, it has been our top priority to stay healthy and well. During these times, a health and wellness companion is perfect to have. Equipped with a 1.4'' Large Color Touchscreen, the realme Watch 2 is a great companion as it monitors heart rate and blood oxygen levels, supports up to 90 sports modes, and provides a broad range of other health functions like sleep monitoring and hydration reminders. Lucky you because you can cop the realme Watch 2 on 11.11 for only P1,790 on Shopee and Lazada.

realme Buds Q2 (11.11 Price: P840)

Do you love listening to music or podcasts while doing other activities? If yes, then realme's best-selling True Wireless Stereo (TWS) product, the realme Buds Q2, is perfectly made for you! With its 10mm Dynamic Bass Boost Driver, you can enjoy listening to high-quality audio anytime and anywhere you wish. It is also aesthetically designed into the cobble-shaped earbuds that come in two stylish colors: sleek Black and a modern pastel Blue. Grab your own realme Buds Q2 on 11.11 for only P840 on Shopee and Lazada.

realme Smart TV (11.11 Price: starts at P8,990)

If you love spending your leisure time watching TV and binge-watching movies or series, you should definitely check out the realme Smart TV! With its Chroma Boost Picture Engine, you can enjoy your favorite TV shows and movies with enhanced overall picture quality and clear and stunning visuals. It is also equipped with 24W Quad Stereo Speakers with Dolby Audio for better sound quality to elevate your viewing experience. For only P8,990 (32") or P14,490 (43") on Shopee and Lazada, you can now have exceptional experiences during your spare time.

realme TechLife Air Purifier (11.11 Price: P4,590)

Breathing healthy air in your homes is within your reach with the realme TechLife Air Purifier. With its high-level purification capacity of 330m³/h CADR, you can ensure that you can keep your family away from air-quality problems and provide them with a healthy breathing environment to live in. To live better, we must breathe better. On 11.11, a better quality of life is more affordable than ever since you can get the realme TechLife Air Purifier for only P4,590 on Shopee and Lazada.

Indeed, we should highly anticipate November 11th of this year as huge deals and discounts on realme’s Smartphones and TechLife products await together with FREE SHIPPING vouchers. Now instead of just wishing, dare to make your holiday tech wishes come true on 11.11 with realme. Go ahead and list down all your tech wishes and prepare yourselves for a thrilling wish granting SALEbration this 11.11 on Lazada and Shopee.

To know more about the complete line-up of deals and discounts, be sure to follow realme on Facebook at facebook.com/realmePhilippines or visit www.realme.com.ph.

Kim Lato and her 15-year e-commerce journey with Kimstore

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The struggles, the success secrets, and next steps into the future

More than a decade ago, then-sophomore student Kim Lato's pursuit of an e-commerce business was unheard of, especially because she could expect a comfortable “career” in her dad’s own textile business. What set her on an irresistible entrepreneurial path in 2006 were her love for photography, a blogging hobby, and a challenging online experience. Over the years it would be further redefined by a vision to “build the Amazon of the Philippines.”

Interestingly enough, that Amazon-fueled goal was set off by her own experience with the online global marketplace giant. Lato recalls, "I was looking for a particular lens in Amazon. The thought came to mind: ‘Can I do this but with gadgets available here in the country?” This eureka moment that recognized a potential customer need was her first step in building Kimstore, which specializes in on-demand delivery of smartphones, laptops, cameras, other gadgets, and their accessories.

Kim Lato, Founder of Kimstore

Building the brand

During its early inception, Kimstore began at the now-defunct social networking site, Multiply, which was the Facebook of its time. Lato recounts her first struggles: "There were a lot of inquiries online. I also received support from my professors and classmates. However, there were no sales."

It was the very first sale bought by her orgmate, Zyla Quiambao who Lato remembers fondly to this day that became her working proof of concept. Lato wanted to prove that online selling of gadgets was possible, and that her platform worked. Her sale of one product per week turned into 10. Lato soon adjusted everything in her schedule to keep on doing the business. She says, “Morning, I take all the classes, but in the afternoon, I was a business owner.”

Her sales soon skyrocketed, leading her to literally showing her products to her customers while having snacks in the McDonald’s beside De La Salle University on Taft Avenue, Manila. “A lot of people were seeing the stock right there, and they were buying as they see the stock,” says Lato. She sat down with the customers, explained the products’ benefits, and closed the deals on the spot. Not surprisingly, other young student entrepreneurs followed her business model. However, while they regarded it as more of a side hustle, Kim saw it as her future.

Transitions, challenges, and transformation

Because at that time, physical stores were still the primary places where people bought their gadgets, Lato made customer service her differentiator. With a goal of making Kimstore closer to every household, she gave the necessary information when it comes to buying or purchasing gadgets. To compete with Lazada, which was also starting out, she offered money-back guarantees and personal consultations in meet-ups.

It was not a walk in the park either – some meet-ups and their risks were nerve-wracking. With their main office in Tondo back in the day, her team would frequently carry almost PHP50,000 cash around town. There was also a time that they were not allowed inside malls to do the meet-ups, which created uncertainty among the customers. “Sinisita ng security yung team namin noon,” says Lato.

Her unique solution: the establishment of the different pick-up points which now number 15 different locations around Metro Manila.

Kim and the early beginnings of Kimstore

One of Kim’s strong entrepreneurial beliefs is that you should not put all your eggs in one basket. This became truer when Multiply closed down in 2013. It was a major but ultimately beneficial change. “A lot of friends in the industry helped especially in building my website, and I transitioned over to Facebook,” Lato said. Throughout the shift, she contacted her database of the customers at the time. “I texted them one by one. I informed them that we shifted over to Facebook.”

By 2015, people outside Metro Manila were already inquiring about how to buy products from Lato. To meet the demand, she partnered with a courier that provided a COD (cash on delivery) service, a true gamechanger in the e-commerce space.

From that point on, she trained her employees in providing excellent customer service as one of their foundations. Lato still wants to focus on creating a customer-centric culture for her team, crediting her success to holding very personalized experiences for her clients.

Then, despite doing the business for 15 years, Lato was able to have still another breakthrough in 2020, the height of the pandemic. Even more people who could not leave their homes because of the lockdown looked to Kimstore for delivery of their precious gadgets.

A woman in the tech space

This just strengthened her resolve to become one of the biggest and strongest electronics business in the Philippines. Her success earned her praise for being one of the few women who could break through in a frequently-male-dominated tech space.

Initially, Lato encountered a few customers who had to adjust their expectations early in the business. She says, “When they see the brand ‘Kimstore,’ their first thought is that a Korean owns the business. or the owner is a man. But when they see me, it’s like they think, ‘Oh, it’s a woman.”

More important, it is her continuing growth as a woman and a business owner that Lato really treasures. She values all the private messages that she receives and the people she inspires. Asked to name her reason for success, she first names her passion. Then there is one habit she asks others to emulate: “I was able to conquer my self-limiting beliefs – the thought of failing, I was able to overcome those negative connotations,” says Lato.

Career breakthroughs and industry learnings 

That courage showed when Kim decided to pursue Kimstore fulltime around 2008, right at the peak of the financial crisis. The solution for survival was to scale the business. “It was how to make it big,” she reiterates: “the vision to become the Amazon of the Philippines.”

She has carved a leadership niche in the on-demand online gadgetry space as she champions different e-commerce verticals and has certainly reached something similar to that goal, with her accomplishments recognized by awards from leading business organizations like Go Negosyo and PLDT.

Despite the achievements she had throughout the years, she is still hungry for growth. She sees that the post-pandemic consumer behavior really dictates the demand and the direction of the market. For people starting out in their e-commerce business, Lato says “growing and going aggressive in different platforms such as Shopee and Lazada” is a good move. Establishing a digital business also means investments in digital tools such as CRM, accounting software, analytics, web infrastructure, as well as a good logistics partner.

Kim Lato after 15 years since the establishment of Kimstore

From pioneer and trailblazer to industry leader, the next step for Lato is to give back. By focusing on her passion – entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and empowering women --- she wants to go back to her roots by holding masterclasses and other engagements for women startup owners and newbie business executives, enabling a stronger community for her professional peers and siblings in the e-commerce space in the future. “I really want to take this opportunity to share my knowledge, time, blessings, and really help the e-commerce community and empower women.” according to Lato.