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Comments (24)
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Save/ShareIn the future, you may be able to look up the names of most of the strangers in your hotel lobby, thanks to the Internet. Other hotel guests may be able to look up your name online, too, if you decide to let them. Is this a good thing?
Many people already have profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other networking sites, opting to allow total strangers see some information and photos about themselves—with more details available to an approved network of friends.
Add to that the craze for geo-location devices, like the iPhone, that pinpoint your location on a map, and "check-in" services, like FourSquare, that let you publicly post where you are right now—or where you plan to be soon.
Eventually, travelers may walk into a hotel lobby and choose to post online, via their portable Web-enabled device, who they are and where they are. They may also look to see information that other guests staying at the hotel have posted about themselves.
Using a Facebook-integrated app, you can learn the names and interests of many of those other people in advance of speaking with them. This information may make it easier for you to strike up conversations.
GoMio.com is aimed at the youth hostel market with its "Who Else Will Be There?" feature, which allows users to view the Facebook profiles of other users who will be at the same place at the same time.
Women walking into a hotel lounge, for instance, will be able to see photos and personal information about male users nearby, arranged by how physically close to those other users are.
(Don't want someone to see your Grindr profile? Push a button to block your details from appearing on that user's device.)
On the bright side, if you ever stayed in a hostel or hotel, you may recall feeling nervous when you walked into the common area and saw other guests who are roughly your own age. Which of them speak English? Where are they from? Do you have a mutual friend in common somewhere in the world?
But looked at another way, is it risky to share this much information to strangers? After all, most people traveling are relatively isolated (from family, friends, and co-workers) and somewhat vulnerable. Do you really want to advertise the details of how far you've traveled and how long you're going to be around to any stranger that's signed up for a service?
Let us know by posting a comment: Would you like to share your online profile with other guests at your hotel during a trip?
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I wonder how often I have been in the same place with someone I knew or had something in common with...and I never knew it. How often have you run into someone you knew halfway around the world? I have.
Posted By Patty on February 15, 2011, 6:45 AM
How cool to be able to know who's going to be staying at your hostel and connect before you even get there. A great way to make your travels less intimidating... especially if you're traveling alone.
Posted By Joanna on February 15, 2011, 9:25 AM
Yes, I would share my Facebook profile with other travelers. When I travel, and stay in hostels, my goal is to meet people. Meeting them in advance of my arrival would enhance my travel experience.
However, I am not sure that I would do this as I get older (I am 22 years old). Hostels and hotels are very different, and I can see it for hostels.
All in all, a cool innovative idea.
Posted By Jack on February 15, 2011, 2:38 PM
What a dreary idea to pre-screen the people staying in your hotel or hostel. Part of the joy of traveling is meeting new people in the age-old way, involving serendipity and even mystery. Who will come your way during your travels? And why?
Encountering others requires using your feelings and intuitions about people, in "real time." How depressing to think that a computer screen will invade even this timeless human function: meeting strangers on the road.
I've been a travel writer for 35 years, a fact that identifies me as beyond the Facebook generation. But I'd like to recommend not letting a computer come between you and the world.
Posted By Jerry Camarillo Dunn on February 17, 2011, 11:50 AM
Although on the surface it sounds good, it is the slippery slope of loss of personal privacy that bothers me most about social networking. I can see it being part of life for young folk who don't know better, but my generation (or at least me) prefer to not electronically meet someone with a false identity with bad intentions.
Posted By Ed, Vancouver - Canada on February 17, 2011, 12:12 PM
I would say "hell, no". It's one thing to meet people on the internet using the social apps, but when you're meeting in person, meet in person.
Posted By Amy on February 17, 2011, 12:30 PM
By allowing others to view your profile, you open yourself up to identity theft even more. Personally, I would block my info, but out of curiosity AND if I had time, I would look at the profiles of others. Just remember, people portray themselves any way they want online, truthfully or not. Would non-hotel guests be allowed to view the profiles? A nefarious person could look at the profiles and watch for the person to leave the room before committing some sort of criminal act. In that regard, I disagree with Joanna. As far as being a female solo traveler, I wouldn't advertise it, especially in foreign countries.
Posted By Destiny on February 17, 2011, 1:38 PM
This idea is the most incredible invasion of privacy that I have ever been aware of. What laws need to be passed to block this from happening!
Posted By Roger Schamp on February 17, 2011, 2:19 PM
I completely agree with the comment from Jerry Camarillo Dunn. It's exactly what I would have said here.
Part of the fun of hostel traveling is talking to people. I wouldn't want to isolate myself with only English speaking travelers.
Posted By Cfc on February 17, 2011, 2:54 PM
AUUGHHHH, I cherish my anonymity and if a meeting is to happen let it happen naturally. Plus, to quote George Clooney "I'd rather have a rectal examination on live TV by a fellow with cold hands than have a Facebook page!"
Posted By jboy on February 17, 2011, 4:11 PM
No. It is not a good idea and it is very creepy...
stalking-like that people could identify you while staying at a hotel. Many people get-away to "get-a-way" and be comfortable and free of day to day intrusiveness. This would be so intrusive and privacy compromising that many with good sense would choose to not even go to hotels any longer.
We live in America which currently has drug sniffing dogs present at elementary schools. Where is the good sense now? Someone please tell me, but please don't invade my privacy while I'm touring. Jk
Posted By Jk on February 17, 2011, 4:48 PM
This does not seem any different to me than looking at my college facebook. My friends and I looked at it to identify people we wanted to meet.
The key is that I want a choice to do it or not. As long as I have a choice, then I am okay with it.
It is an invasion of privacy if I choose to it!
Posted By PD on February 17, 2011, 7:41 PM
It's worse than you think. Imagine a stranger taking a picture of you in a public place with their smart phone and then using a face recognition app to upload the pic to a server that searches for a match on a social networking site so they can identify you on the spot without you ever knowing.
Another reason for not sharing yourself online.
Posted By gp on February 17, 2011, 8:52 PM
I agree with Cfc and Jerry Camarillo Dunn.
Posted By Sarah on February 17, 2011, 10:40 PM
Ok, let me get this straight; it is not ok to find out who is on a flight but it is ok to locate someone at a hotel? Who is the brainchild who thinks these up?
Posted By Viktoria on February 18, 2011, 5:41 AM
My three cents:
1) this is for hostels and not hotels. There is a big difference in the experience and type of travelers.
2) how can it be an invasion of privacy if you opt in? No one is going show your profile if you don't allow it.
3) stealing your identify by showing other people you will be there? That seems like an Oliver stone statement.
Bottom line - don't opt in if you do not want people to know. I think that it is cool.
Posted By Mike on February 18, 2011, 1:33 PM
Sure. One of the reasons I travel is to experience other cultures. How can I best do this? By meeting locals, or other travellers who can help.
Posted By Jim Michalek on February 18, 2011, 8:42 PM
WAKEUP! This is a perfect app for stalkers, serial killers and hookers. When are you people going to wake up about privacy? All this stuff is going to end up VERY badly.
Posted By Lance on February 24, 2011, 6:50 PM
WAKEUP! This is a perfect app for stalkers, serial killers and hookers. When are you people going to wake up about privacy? All this stuff is going to end up VERY badly.
Posted By Lance on February 24, 2011, 6:51 PM
Another comment. Didn't any of you hear about the Craigslist Killer? Lack of privacy and social media is an invitation to bad things, perhaps identity theft, exploitation or worse things like rape and death. Unbelieable naivete.
Posted By Lance on February 24, 2011, 6:59 PM
I lead tour groups world-wide, often tours for women. I think this is a dangerous procedure; the one thing most women want in a hotel is security and safety. I even recommend that my fellow tour leaders NOT post notices in the lobby or elevator advising where and when the group is going; this alerts thieves as to when their rooms are unattended and ripe for the picking.
Marty
Posted By Marty Sarbey de Souto, CTC on February 24, 2011, 11:54 PM
marty,
As a female, I think that your posting is chauvinistic and alarmist. Showing your profile is a personal choice as a way to meet people, and I do not have to be afraid because I am a woman.
Also I looked at the Gomio website and it is voluntary. Also to be able to view the other hostel guests you have to be a confirmed guest. There is no public viewing.
Jenny
Posted By Jenny on February 25, 2011, 10:36 AM
I travel to meet NEW People. Not find the friends I already know or worse, people I don't want to know.
I agree with Viktoria. There is a reason the airlines do not reveal their passenger manifest and it should be the same for hotels. Perhaps even more so, if someone is there with another person that they don't want everyone to know about.
Privacy issues on the Internet are getting out of control. There must be choices to participate in such a scheme. Everything on the Internet should be opt in.
Posted By Sonja Holverson on March 6, 2011, 3:16 AM
Hi Everyone,
As the person who thought of the idea, I can tell you that it is an opt-in feature only. We do not show who will be staying at a hostel to the general public (you must have a confirmed reservation and you must opt-in). We recognize that the lack of privacy on the internet can be truly scary, but also understand that people staying at hostels do so for the social interaction. This is one of several tools designed to connect people through GoMio. Please feel free to e-mail if you would like to exchange ideas on it - Info@Gomio.com.
Thanks,
Michael
Posted By Michael on March 10, 2011, 3:16 PM