AUSTRALIA’s first online platform connecting cyclists with bike-friendly accommodation, services and experiences has been launched in a major boon to the billion-dollar bike industry.
Following the hugely successful European bike hotels model, Bike Hotels is answering the call for more accessible cycling getaways through their new online platform, encouraging people to holiday with their bikes in Australia. By connecting cyclists with accommodation partners that offer cyclists bike-friendly facilities and services, bike travel is made easy, comfortable and more accessible.
The start-up is the brainchild of former professional road cyclist and six-time Tour de France competitor, Matteo Bono, whose passion for the sport is matched by his love of the Australian landscape.
With international travel unlikely for the foreseeable future and domestic travel booming, Australians are increasingly focusing on active holidays over traditional getaways. In Victoria alone, cycling tourism is worth more than $360 million a year according to Tourism Victoria.
The same report found the key barrier to cycling tourism engagement related to a lack of information about planning a cycling trip, with over half of all respondents believing it is difficult and time-consuming planning a cycling holiday and sourcing information, accommodation and services that are guaranteed to cater for cyclists.
Hotel partners are selected based on their commitment to providing minimum guaranteed services for cyclists, including:
- Bike storage options
- Bike wash options
- Laundry services
- Breakfast options
“This beautiful country has so much to offer cyclists,” explained Bono “but there just wasn’t enough information to connect cyclists with bike-friendly businesses to make their travels easy, so we created Bike Hotels to do just this and support their needs.
“Bike Hotels exists to encourage people to ride more often, explore further and stay longer by offering accommodation options that make bike travel simple”.
The new platform and cycling tourism more broadly, boosts business for hotel partners and the economies of their local communities, particularly in regional parts of Australia.
Cycling tourism has been identified globally by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation as a major future growth activity. Cycling tourists spend more and engage in a broader range of experiences than the average tourist, with an average stay of 16 nights for cycling tourists compared to 4.5 nights for the average visitor.
The platform is underscored by the implementation of numerous cycling growth strategies nationally, focusing on growing cycling infrastructure and highlighting the environmental, physical, financial and social benefits of increased cycling participation for their communities.
