The partnership aims to help runners—particularly Gen Z—discover new rural routes
Strava and Airbnb have announced a new partnership to capitalize on the growing trend of holidays built around scenic runs.
The collaboration aims to help runners, particularly the booming Gen Z demographic, escape “city loop fatigue” and discover new rural running destinations across the UK.
The move is backed by new research from the two companies, which highlights the rise of fitness-inspired travel. According to their survey, nearly three-quarters (74%) of young runners (aged 18-29) have either planned or are considering a countryside ‘runcation’.
This comes as a majority (56%) admit to feeling bored or uninspired by their usual urban routes. However, a key barrier remains, with 64% of young runners stating they are unsure of where to start when it comes to finding good routes in new places.
To solve this, the partnership will spotlight trending rural destinations like the Forest of Dean and the South Downs National Park, curating recommended Airbnb stays alongside popular local routes found in the Strava app. To sweeten the deal, the companies are also partnering with local bakeries in these areas to offer free post-run treats to Strava and Airbnb users.
This collaboration is the latest in a series of moves from Strava to become a more comprehensive platform for athletes.
Following the redesign of its Apple Watch app (which finally lets users access Live Segments) and the recent launch of the Strava-owned Races by Runna discovery platform, this travel-focused partnership reveals a clear strategy to support every aspect of a runner’s journey, from finding a race to planning the trip to get there.
