Sofa Swap - The Couch Surfing Project (GALLERY)


Trends Newsletter Trend Report Presentations Tools Community / Join Add a Trend About

Ben Preiss

By: Ben Preiss
/Ben Preiss
580 Trends
66 Comments

Sofa Swap - The Couch Surfing Project (GALLERY)

Using a FaceBook-like model and a concept that goes beyond “your couch is my couch,” the Couch Surfing Project, at couchsurfing.com, encourages members, both guests and hosts, to use their couch time to develop a friendship and share a cultural experiences. It’s like a house-swap, but on a smaller scale—during your stay in the city, you get to sleep on a stranger’s couch. In exchange, they’ll sleep on yours when they come to your town. The phenomenon is catching on, with over 300,000 members already from over 31,000 places. The group’s philosophy is also its method, which might be summed up this way: I will offer you my couch free, along with the company of my friends and a tour of my favorite spots in my city. In return, you will give of yourself, and not just slink into my home at 3 a.m. after you’ve done your own tour of my city. In this way, we will be friends, if only for a day or two. “It’s a lifestyle and a commitment,” Mr. Medel said. He and his fellow New York hosts meet at least one night a week at a bar in Union Square, new surfers in tow. They throw birthday parties for one another and mount what they call invasions of other cities, as 30 or so New York surfers did last summer in Boston, strewing themselves on the couches of 30 or so Bostonians for three days. (nytimes)
Click any photo for a larger image:

Read More: couchsurfing Via: nytimes Posted: Sep 20, 07
Like it? Send this trend to a friend OR subscribe to our RSS feed.

Add this to Your
Trend Portfolio

Collect Favorites, Add Comments,
Submit Trends and Earn Money

Comments:

Couch surfing is indeed a great new trend and this seems a particularly fun way to travel and meet new people when you're young. Once past your prime (and when you have a home of your own), hopefully you will also think about home swapping. Home exchange is not really a new trend but it has seemed that way as more people have discovered it recently (some through the not particularly good movie, 'The Holiday'). Hope you will visit my blog if you're interested in finding out more about home exchange: http://homeexchangetravel.blogs.com

By: Lois Sealey on Sep 21, 07 | 0 Trends | 1 Comments

HOT

RANDOM

TOP LISTS

Today This Week Month Quarter

1. Pocket-Size Scooters - Patinette Butterfly (GALLERY)

2. Intelligent Whiteboards - Microsoft TouchWall (VIDEO)

3. 33 lb Gowns - Blake Lively in Christian Dior

4. Recreating Magazine Covers - Esquire's Most Iconic Issues Madeover (GALLERY)

5. Top 12 Designs From Recycled Car Parts (SUPER GALLERY)

6. Air Quality Detecting Fashion - EPA Dress

7. Top 15 Google Earth Innovations and Games (SUPER GALLERY)

8. PC Integrated Desks - Sync (GALLERY)

9. Evil Celebrity Clowns - Nightmarish Art for Worth1000 (GALLERY)

10. Odd Google Earth Sightings - Giant Makeup Compact?

MORE POPULAR

RELATED CATEGORIES

• Bizarre Global Trends
• Cool Websites and Internet Culture
• Global Trends, Hip Travel and News
• Pop Culture, People and Internet Trends

	Read Latest Trends Live Feed* Galleries Videos Net Buzz Random Popular Trends Read Offline RSS Feed Category Feeds Newsletter Mobile	Trend Database Archives Tag Cloud Unpublished* Advanced Search* Comments* Presentations Trend Report Unlocking Cool Speaking Engagements	Tools FREE Toolbar Facebook App Interviews Top Sites Innovation Frameworks For My Blog Widgets Promote Site Submit Site*	Join Submit Trends* Add Cravings* Build Portfolio* Suggest Ideas Rate Trends Tell a Friend Scoreboard	My Portfolio My Portfolio* My Trends* My Cravings* My Galleries* My RSS Feed* My Bio* My Forums* Settings* Customize* Earn Money*	About Us About Us News Our Team Jeremy Gutsche Speaking Engagements How to Innovate FAQ Advertise Privacy Policy Contact Us
	* Requires FREE membership

TREND HUNTER is the world's largest trend spotting and cool hunting community. It is an explosion of cool, fueled by a global network of trend spotters and cool hunters. Innovation and strategic advantage hinge on the ability to anticipate the latest trends and identify the next big thing, like this trend, couch surfing. By tracking the evolution of cool, Trend Hunters generate ideas, stimulate creativity, and ultimately unlock cool. Our trends inspire social leaders, industry professionals, and relentlessly creative individuals. Do you crave cool? Is your curiosity insatiable? Submit a trend or comment on 'couch surfing'. Discover New Trends. Contribute. Get Inspired.