@hotel

About @hotel

@hotel operates as a social travel agency, leveraging a massive social media presence to offer hotel bookings. The company was founded in 2015 by Konrad Waliszewski and Andy Acs, initially as a walking tour app named TripScout, with its headquarters in Washington D.C. . Waliszewski, the CEO, has a background in investment banking and was the COO of a venture-backed startup, Speek, which was later acquired. . His passion for travel, having visited nearly 100 countries, and his experience in tech startups shaped the company's direction. . Acs, the Chief Product Officer, has a history as an angel investor in several companies. .

The business pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic, building a large audience on Instagram with travel videos, which led to a rebranding from TripScout to @hotel in July 2022. . This transition followed a $2.3 million seed+ investment in March 2021 and a $10.25 million Series A round in June 2022. . @hotel's primary market is modern travelers who draw inspiration from social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. . The company has built a community of over 60 million users across more than 100 social media accounts. .

The core of @hotel's business model is to function as an online travel agency (OTA) with a social-first approach. . It generates revenue through a commission-based model. . The company negotiates commissions with hotels and passes a portion of these savings on to its users, offering discounted rates. . These deals are often provided privately through its social media channels, email, or to registered users, which allows them to bypass the public minimum price agreements common in the travel industry. . This strategy avoids heavy spending on traditional advertising, with the savings redirected to the customer. . Clients can book hotels directly through @hotel's social media accounts and its website, gaining access to rates that are not publicly advertised. . In addition to booking services, the company emphasizes customer care with a 24/7 support team available through various channels, including Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram. .