Traveling Women and the Use of the Digital Hosting Platform Sisterwave:

Where do Hostesses and Guests Meet?

Abstract

From the first records of travelers and expeditionaries from the 19th century, to virtual reports of their journeys in contemporaneity, women have increasingly shown an interest in facing challenges to experience and write their own travel stories. Due to this demand, nowadays, there is a growth in use of digital technologies targeted to the female public in tourism. This work analyzes the motivations, perceptions, desires and fears of contemporary female travelers, based on the case of the Sisterwave digital hosting platform. Based on a qualitative research, the netnography instrument was used, which allowed, in addition to bibliographic surveys, observations in online groups about women's trips, and interviews with Sisterwave users. The main results achieved showed the wishes and fears of traveling and hosts women registered at Sisterwave’s network, in addition to the perceptions regarding the experience and the relevance of the above-mentioned digital platform in travel decisions.