Newsletter

BeWelcome Newsletter June 2026

Hello anonymous, 

 

Suffering from Wanderlust?  Itching to get out there and hike a mountain?  Or taste some unique foods … drink something you have never tried before?  Meet new friends you just never met before?

Yeah, we feel you there too. 

 

As a member of BeWelcome, if you are not traveling at the moment, perhaps you can by hosting travelers in your home.  We know times are not always easy.  But the BeWelcome community has maintained its values in the past 20 years.  It is vibrant and diverse and stands for free and open hospitality, equality, and respect.

 

Our second newsletter in 2026 shares stories and tips for successfully using BeWelcome and creating your own unique experiences.

 

Happy Hosting, Traveling & Reading 

 

Table of Contents:

 

  • Inemine’s First BeWelcome Guest
  • BeWelcome Gets a New Design
  • Virtual Online Café
  • Tips and Tricks for a Better BeWelcome Experience
  • Gift Your Time – or a Financial Gift 

 

Inemine Received Her First BeWelcome Guest

  

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“I am registered at BeWelcome for about two years and had a couple of requests which I unfortunately had to refuse.  Now I finally hosted my first guest”, says BeWelcome member Inemine from Germany.  Her first guest was Václav, a student from the Czech Republic.  He traveled around Germany for a week and also used BeWelcome for the first time for his trip.  “He was a perfect first guest: Friendly, open-minded and very interested in Germany.  He is also fluent in German which he studies.  And I also learned a lot about the school system and traditions in the Czech Republic.  I am looking forward to my next guest.  It’s a great opportunity to meet people and learn about other cultures and perspectives and get to try new chocolate.”

 

 

BeWelcome Has a New Design

 

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We are proud to announce that BeWelcome is getting a new design!  The logout landing page now features an updated, mobile‑ready look that makes the platform easier to use on all devices. 

 

Along with this, both the ‘Header Menu’ and the ‘Footer Menu’ have been redesigned.  Icons give BeWelcome a fresher and modern feel.

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This redesign was made possible by volunteers – and it is only the beginning…  More design changes are on the way.  The next updates will focus on the ‘Profile Page’ and the ‘Conversation Page’, continuing our efforts to create a more intuitive and visually consistent experience for everyone.

 

 

Virtual Online “Café”

 

During the 2020/2021 pandemic, when the world couldn’t travel, we were reminded of something essential: meeting each other matters.  It helps us understand one another, build friendships, and feel part of a living community.  Back then, we hosted weekly online meetings.  Of course, nothing replaces real‑world encounters, but online meetings help bridge distances, connect like‑minded people, and often become the first step toward real‑life stays.

To keep this spirit alive, we’re bringing back the Virtual BeWelcome Online Café.  It’s a place to meet fellow travelers, experienced hosts, and volunteers – a friendly space to talk, share, and stay connected.

 

Save the Dates and join in:

  • Every 2nd Sunday of the month at 21:00 CEST / 15:00 EDT / 4:00 JST 
  • Every 4th Saturday of the month at 9:00 CEST / 3:00 EDT / 15:00 JST 

Ready to join?  Find all upcoming links and details here:

We can’t wait to meet you online!

 

 

Tips and Tricks for a Better Experience

 

  • Hospitality is a gift that you grant voluntarily.  It is never an obligation.
     
  • It’s always good to have a backup solution.  If you have any doubt or a bad gut feeling, then don’t host or stay with this person, or end the hosting experience.
     
  • Keep your profile updated.  A clear photo and an individual description help others write or accept requests.  Check your profile and see if anything needs to be updated.  Maybe something has changed over time…
     
  • No pressure to accept requests, even last minute ones.  You can always ask for more information before making your decision.
     
  • We do encourage you to respond to all legitimate requests, even if you just use the “decline” button.  If you consider the message inappropriate, please report it instead.
     
  • Comments are the essential safety feature.  Read them, because they say a lot about the experience with a host or guest.  Of course, everybody has to start at one point.  Get your first comment by receiving your first guest, meet others in Activities or Trips, or show a traveller around.
     
  • You are allowed to ask to see an ID document of your guest.  If this gives you a strange feeling – make a game out of this: “Happy ID checking” – by showing your own ID first and laugh together about funny photos.  You may add it as a requirement to the hosting part of your profile.
     
  • Beware of people who immediately ask you to communicate outside of BeWelcome.  To do so is unsafe and therefore against our Terms of Use.  Keeping your conversation on the BeWelcome messaging system helps our Safety Team to warn you in case we become aware of a problem with that member. 
     
  • If you leave the house, you can ask your guest to leave too and either arrange a time to meet up, or let them know what time they can return.  You should never feel obliged to give a key or to let guests stay in your home alone.
     
  • Report problems quickly to the Safety Team or write a profile comment.

 

Gift Your Time – or a Financial Gift 

 

Thank you to all our donors, supporters, and do-ers, and also for your financial gifts this year.  We cannot do it without everyone’s support.  Let’s have a great “experiences” season and come together, have fun, and connect with each other – because we can, anytime, and most anywhere with our BeWelcome community of travelers, seekers and fun filled humans. 

  

 

We wish you Happy Travels 

and Enriching Encounters!

 

Your BeWelcome Communications Team