The ALR market is booming, representing a major boost to Monaker Group, Inc. (OTCQB: MKGI) and its successful integration of ALR booking with the traditional travel market. ALR (alternative lodging rental) is the industry moniker used to describe the practice of travelers and vacationers renting homes from private owners rather than utilizing traditional lodging such as hotels. Various forms of this simple practice of linking private homeowners with travelers to secure accommodations has been in practice for centuries. Throughout history, it was common for homeowners to rent space in their homes to weary travelers. Most of the time, private homes were the only accommodations available, and word of mouth identified homeowners willing to rent. Some homes ultimately morphed into full-time hotels, and a delineation occurred between public and private accommodations. Over time, renting directly from homeowners waned as travelers relied on traditional hotels for lodging. It all changed again with the advent of the internet and the ingenious creation of global platforms to link homeowners with those seeking lodging. The ALR market has since exploded, and the number of users just keeps growing. Homeowners and travelers both benefit, while the platform providers generate enormous revenues.

Numerous competitors have sprung up since the inception of alternative lodging rental platforms. Airbnb, HomeAway, Priceline, VRBO and FlipKey are some of the more recognizable names, with multitudes of others vying for the travel dollars. In the U.S. alone, private accommodation rentals totaled about $32 billion in 2016, and that figure is projected to grow to $37 billion by 2018. The revenues and valuations in this sector are enormous. Airbnb is now valued at over $31 billion, and online travel giant Expedia purchased HomeAway for $3.9 billion.

This contemporary peer-to-peer rental of apartments, homes, and spare bedrooms has generated a lot of demand and is hugely profitable for the platform providers that connect these parties. However, even with all the noise and competition, the consumer is still left wanting. Unlike hotel booking, which provides instant confirmation and easy travel planning, all of the current ALR companies still rely on convoluted confirmation systems, typically relying on the homeowner to provide the confirmation. This process has been known to take days or even weeks, leaving the traveler in travel planning limbo. There’s also no way a traveler can book ALR lodging through the convenience of a travel agent. Travelers are forced to utilize multiple sites to book flights, cars, services or entertainment and lack a cohesive one-stop shop to book a vacation. It just didn’t exist in the ALR market, until now.

Technology-driven Monaker Group, Inc. is set to disrupt the status quo in ALR and deliver what the customers want. Monaker has more than 60 years of operational experience serving the tourism industry and has pioneered a proprietary system to provide instant confirmation for bookings. The company has also established an extensive network of travel agents to offer ALR options, an alternative never before provided to travelers. Monaker already has a competitive ALR inventory compared to the largest players in the sector, and, given the disruptive changes Monaker is bringing to the vast ALR market, the company should garner lots of attention from investors looking to profit from the alternative lodging rental industry.

For more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com