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Online Travel

Couchsurfing nearly doubles its community but risks losing loyal users in rebranding

Samantha Shankman

Photo Credit: Couchsurfing's new website features a cleaner design with a white background. CouchSurfing.Org

Skift Take

Couchsurfing offers travelers somethingnone of its competitors can match: free housing abroad. The organization will have to be careful not to ostracize loyal users on its journey for a fresh look.

Couchsurfing began with a start as humble as many of its members' piggy banks. The website connecting travelers with local couches around the world grew a tight-knit community through word-of-mouth recommendations. The organization is now undergoing a major revamp fueled by a new CEO and its most recent $15 million round of funding led by General Catalyst Partners. The site's community has almost doubled since its first round of funding in August 2011 from 3,075,160 members to 5,454,970 members

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