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Give the gift of Texas-made olive oils and more.

Book a Venue by the Hour Online?

Welcome to Peerspace.com.

BY BELINDA LICHTY CLARKE

Event space rental has entered a new era. Spurred by the incredible success of Airbnb as a unique and affordable housing option for travelers, new options for renting affordable meeting and event space have been created. Peerspace is one example of a company making finding affordable space easier than ever. Similar to Airbnb, private owners list their spaces online for rent by the hour, day or event night, if the space is a private home.

Launched in 2014, Peerspace has more than 10,000 listings nationwide and aims to connect professionals and businesses to great spaces.

Currently, Peerspace offers rental options in Austin with plans for Dallas and Houston in the future. Austin resident Mary Negus uses Peerspace to rent her large, modern home for meetings and events. Negus’ house, “The Crown Jewel” as it’s cleverly named, offers nearly 1,700 square feet of space for $75 an hour, and has been rented for everything from product focus groups to team meetings.

Negus adds that Peerspace is an effective way to help meeting planners find more affordable space for their gatherings. “Many groups that come to meet and work at The Crown Jewel are small groups that can’t afford a commercial space,” Negus says. “I am an international meeting planner, and I know how quickly the costs can rise. I also know what is desired when hosting a meeting: office supplies; extra HDMI cables, complimentary coffee and snacks, and hospitable support that is readily available.”

Julia Menegay, COO of the Texas Nurses Association, booked Negus’ house for her next meeting. “We didn’t want a traditional conference room, and one of my colleagues mentioned Peerspace,” Menegay says. “It was so easy to use and I was able to narrow the search to the area and size that we need and see the cost without submitting a request. Mary responded quickly and I was able to arrange a visit before we finalized everything. The space will be perfect for our casual meeting.”

Courtney Landers is the director of events for another Peerspace venue, the Mercury Hall Wedding and Event space, just minutes from downtown Austin. The venue includes lush gardens and a terrace in addition to 2,237 square feet of event space inside.

“Our venue is a historical building, so it has lots of character,” Landers explains. For meeting planners, party planners, and anyone hosting an event, Peerspace offers a diverse mix of alternative—and affordable—venues for any event.

J WELCH FARMS is a family-owned and -operated farm located just outside of Victoria. The Welch family planted a 120-acre olive orchard at their corn and cotton farm four years ago, and recently began producing cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and other products. The company offers eight unique flavors of olive oil, three balsamic vinegars and a dipping spice. The locally harvested and bottled products can be purchased as individual gifts or J Welch Farms offers an assortment of gift set options to fit a variety of tastes. Flavors include Basil, Garlic, Rosemary, Mesquite, Jalepeño, Caliente Jalepeño, Lemon and Lime. The products are now available in gallon jugs and as a bag-in-abox, ideal for company cafeterias and kitchens. Additionally, J Welch Farms will provide private labeling for any gift products. jwelchfarms.com