Airbnb targets Malaysian bookworms with 'Once Upon a Sleepover' contest

Airbnb has partnered with Malaysian bookstore BookXcess to transform its new outlet at Tamarind Square, Cyberjaya, into an exclusive bedroom for a sleepover from 29 to 30 September 2018.The "Once Upon a Sleepover" contest aims to encourage a love of reading and the idea that books enable people to travel to a different world. One lucky winner and a guest will chosen for the sleepover and the pair will gain an "immersive experience" in bookstore management and be their own boss for a day. Activities include working the register, learning how to pick books for the store and interacting with consumers.There will also be a "Grab and Go" session for the winners to take home as many books as they can within two minutes. Before bedtime, winners will be part of a late-night book club, hosted by BFM89.9's Umapagan Ampikaipakan, to discuss books that inspire travel the most. Following their overnight stay, winners will be the author of their own adventures where they write about the special hyper local Airbnb Experience they are going on.Encouraging travellers to connect with local Airbnb hosts’ and their bookshelves further promotes a connective and sustainable way of travelling, the press statement said. The campaign also aims to empower local communities and businesses. Beyond BookXcess, guests can feel at home with local artisans building out the space - Kedai Bikin, Real.m, Tish Lifestyle, Hive Remedies and Roots Remedies.A+M has reached out to Airbnb for additional details.[gallery link="file" ids="235754,235755,235756"]Siew Kum Hong, regional director of Airbnb, Asia Pacific, said beyond just booking a home with a conducive reading space such as a living room, Airbnb enables travellers to pack light and borrow a book from their hosts’ bookshelves.“With more than five million homes, travellers not only have a global library at their fingertips, but can also gain invaluable insights from connecting with their Airbnb hosts who can recommend local books and bookstores to explore," Siew said.“We are excited to partner with Airbnb on this exciting project. We always believe that reading can create an opportunity to inspire people to dream bigger and to travel through the books,” Andrew Yap, founder of BookXcess, said.“Just like travelling, reading also takes people on a journey as the plot thickens. This event with Airbnb further strengthens the possibility for bibliophiles to live in their dream bookstores and libraries. We’re humbled to be the chosen store in Malaysia to give this unique experience to the lucky winner,” he added.