20 Alternative Accommodation Brands Challenging the Status Quo

As a standard, consumer demands and expectations are constantly evolving across industry verticals, but the pace of their evolution has been accelerating exponentially in travel, impacted by various major macro events in the world.

Serviced apartments, co-living, senior living, outdoor cabins/capsules, hybrid concepts, flexible living and camper vans. These are just some of the terminologies, which have been popping up and gaining traction in the last decade.

Whatever the concept, modern guests & staff now expect seamless digital experiences, which most traditional hotel brands have been struggling to deliver, hindered by legacy technology on the PMS front and a lack of internal technology-related skillsets.

The “new kids on the block”, which put technology and digital at the core of their business model have been quickly gaining market share by meeting guest and staff expectations, and this focus has even enabled some of them to outperform the market during the recent crisis.

Here are 20 of some of the most innovative fast-growing hospitality brands out there, to get inspired.

Europe

limehome

Website: limehome.com
N° of units: 3300+ units
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments
Company HQ: Munich, Germany
Year company was founded: 2018
Funding: Series B
Active countries: Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Hungary

limehome is one of Europe’s fastest-growing hospitality players, turning commercial spaces into stylish, tech-enabled, serviced apartments. The company, present across more than 90 cities, operates on a modern technology stack for business and leisure travellers providing them with full control over their stay from check-in to check-out.

Bob W.

Website: bobw.co
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments
N° of units: 100+ units
Company HQ: Helsinki, Finland
Year company was founded: 2018
Funding: Series A
Active countries: Finland, Estonia, UK, Spain

Bob W. is a technology-driven hospitality provider that provides an alternative to hotels and short-stay apartments. Its “exceptionally cool” apartments cater to the 21st-century traveller who wants it all: the consistent quality of a hotel and the authentic flair and affordability of a short-stay rental. It combines both worlds in sustainably operated way properties.

Raus

Website: raus.life
Primary inventory: Remote cabins
N° of units: 30+ units
Company HQ: Berlin, Germany
Year company was founded: 2021
Funding: Seed
Active countries: Germany

Raus is a platform for nature immersion. With its carefully designed, sustainable cabins, the Berlin-based company offers retreats at unique locations in the midst of nature. Thanks to a seamless, digital booking journey and keyless access, guests can take a spontaneous and uncomplicated break from the city and their hectic everyday lives. At the same time, Raus provides a range of extras around activities, culinary experiences and nature-themed knowledge transfer. The platform's offerings include alpaca hikes, farm visits, guided meditations or food packages from regional farm shops. Raus works closely with private landowners such as farmers and foresters in putting unused land to good use, offering their own services and generating significant additional income for their businesses.

Gogaille

Website: gogaille.fr
Primary inventory: Remote hotel rooms & suites
N° of units: 50+ units
Company HQ: Bordeaux, France
Year company was founded: 2020
Funding: Pre-Seed
Active countries: France

Gogaille’s mission is to reinvent hospitality and the art of tasting. Mixing accommodation and food or “Loges” and “Échoppes” as it calls it, the brand aims to revalue local French heritage in B & C-tier cities with strong tech-enabled operations.

Having launched its first location in Limoges in early 2022, and 3 more in the pipeline for 2022 and 2023, the group aims to own & operate 15 locations by 2025.

Libere Hospitality

Website: liberehospitality.com
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments, hostels, aparthotels
N° of units: 750+ units
Company HQ: Bilbao, Spain
Year company was founded: 2019
Funding: Unknown
Active countries: Spain

With 15 active properties, Líbere Hospitality is part of Spain’s disruptive All Iron Group and operates a mix of serviced apartments, aparthotels and hostels across Spain under two brands Libere & Naitly.

Their parent, All Iron Group, is a tech-forward company comprising a venture capital arm alongside an innovative real estate business which affords them a unique approach to the sector.

Numa

Website: numastays.com
N° of units: 1500+ units
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments/hotel
Company HQ: Berlin, Germany
Year company was founded: 2019
Funding: Series Unknown (post-Series A)
Active countries: Germany, Austria, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy, Belgium

numa is one of Europe’s leading digital hotel operators and technology developers. The company provides disruptive design hotels for modern travellers. NUMA uses proprietary technology-based operating solutions that largely automate operations, increase cost efficiencies and revenues, and provides a self-service guest journey.

Ukio

Website: ukio.com
N° of units: 450+ units
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments
Company HQ: Barcelona, Spain
Year company was founded: 2020
Funding: Seed, Debt Financing
Active countries: Germany, Spain, Portugal

Ukio is a young Spanish startup offeringfurnished apartments for mid-term stays in Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon. The properties have a unique, modern design and come with weekly cleaning and concierge services.

Riding the “work from home” wave, Ukio is responding to the demand for flexible rentals that serve as living spaces and home offices at the same time.

STAYERY

Website: stayery.com
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments
N° of units: 600+ units
Company HQ: Berlin, Germany
Year company was founded: 2016
Funding: Series Unknown
Active countries: Germany

Berlin-based STAYERY transfers the serviced apartment into a new generation by combining the comfort of an apartment, the service of a hotel and the community of a members club in one place. As such STAYERY offers modern travellers authentic stays in urban areas that are enabled by a fully digitized guest journey. No matter whether for one night or six months. Currently only active in Germany the European Expansion has recently started.

Edgar Suites

Website: edgarsuites.com
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments
N° of units: 300+ units
Company HQ: Paris, France
Year company was founded: 2016
Funding: Series C
Active countries: Bordeaux, Paris

Edgar Suites is a key player in the French furnished serviced apartments market. For homeowners, Edgar Suites offers a turnkey solution for a 100% regulatory investment in commercial real estate and guarantees high returns on a growing segment of homestay.

For travellers, Edgar Suites offers a new "diffuse hotel" experience, between the apartment and the hotel, combining refined design and calibrated services for an ever more demanding clientele. All of this, with a strong digital focus.

Rioca by iLive

Website: rioca.eu/
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments
N° of units: 1000+ units
Company HQ: Aalen, Germany
Year company was founded: 2020
Funding: Unknown
Active countries: Germany, Austria

Part of German-based iLive Gruppe, Rioca, offers a tech-enabled community in A-locations with Brazilian flair in addition to cosy, fully equipped flats for one night, one month or longer and want a limited, yet guest-oriented service.

The brand offers the benefits of a hotel with the necessary self-catering facilities that are common in an apartment and the technology that is demanded by the modern traveller.

Hiisi Homes & Hotels

Website: hiisihomes.fi
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments
N° of units: 350+ units
Company HQ: Nummela, Finland
Year company was founded: 2018
Funding: Unknown
Active countries: Finland

Hiisi Homes & Hotels have developed unique proprietary technology on Apaleo APIs and operates fully-furnished and well-equipped smart hotels and serviced apartments in local neighbourhoods across Finland. The brand plans to expand abroad in the coming years.

Americas

Placemakr

Website: placemakr.com
Primary inventory: Hotel rooms
N° of units: 2000+ units
Company HQ: Washington DC, USA
Year company was founded: 2017
Funding: Series Unknown (post-Series B)
Active countries: USA

Placemakr (formerly Whyhotel) is an alternative lodging service company that operates pop-up hotels in newly built, luxury apartment buildings.

The hotels offer fully furnished apartments that combine the comforts of home, the services of a hotel and the amenities of newly built, luxury apartment buildings.

Minthouse

Website: minthouse.com
Primary inventory: Aparthotels
N° of units: 300+ units
Company HQ: New York City, USA
Year company was founded: 2017
Funding: Series B
Active countries: USA

Mint House is a hospitality start-up that disrupts the traditional hotel model. Currently operating more than 20 properties, the company offers rentals with spacious units with full-service kitchens, pre-arrival fridge stocking, and no-hassle keyless entry, among other features, enabling business travellers to book affordable homes in prime locations.

It provides a unique experience that offers the feel of a high-end hotel, with all the comforts and conveniences of a home, all packaged and delivered via technology.

Blueground

Website: theblueground.com
Primary inventory: Aparthotels & multi-family buildings
N° of units: 9500+ units
Company HQ: New York City, USA
Year company was founded: 2017
Funding: Series C, Debt Financing
Active countries: USA, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, France, Germany, Denmark Turkey, Portugal, Austria, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, UK

Blueground is a global PropTech scaleup which operates a curated network of quality, turnkey homes in “high-demand” neighbourhoods across the planet, making them available for stays of a month or longer.

The company’s tech-enabled platform provides a fully digitized experience; from viewing and booking apartments within minutes to managing the entire stay through its proprietary Guest App.

Getaway

Website: getaway.house
Primary inventory: Tiny cabins
N° of units: 1000+ units
Company HQ: Brooklyn, Germany
Year company was founded: 2015
Funding: Series C
Active countries: USA

Getaway is a wellness hospitality company that offers beautiful tiny houses or cabins nestled in natural landscapes to disconnect and live in the present moment.

Today, the company provides more than 25 outposts located within about a two-hour drive of major metro cities.

Kasa Living

Website: https://kasa.com/
Primary inventory: Aparthotels & multi-family buildings
N° of units: 9500+ units
Company HQ: New York City, USA
Year company was founded: 2017
Funding: Series B
Active countries: USA, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, France, Germany, Denmark Turkey, Portugal, Austria, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, United Kingdom

Kasa Living is a real estate company that focuses on building a global accommodations brand. The company partners with owners of multifamily and boutique hospitality properties, transforming underutilized real estate into professionally managed units that cater to business and leisure travellers.

Cabana

Website: cabana.life
Primary inventory: Remote camper vans
N° of units: 250+ units
Company HQ: Seattle, USA
Year company was founded: 2019
Funding: Series A
Active countries: USA

Cabana has built out a fleet of upscale custom-made mobile hotel rooms, using 2019 Ford Transit vans, to give travellers the freedom to travel and sleep where they want and when they want. Every element, from the bed to the storage, to the bathroom to the internet, is designed from the ground up for a tailored and premium experience.

Enabled through tech, the company brings digital convenience and peace of mind to travellers through contact-free experiences. The app lets travellers reserve, check-in, pick up, and check-out of their mobile hotel room without having to make a pit stop to the front desk.

Casai

Website: casai.com
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments
N° of units: 3000+ units
Company HQ: Mexico City, Mexico
Year company was founded: 2019
Funding: Series A
Active countries: Brazil, Mexico.

Casai combines brings together modern technology, and premium accommodation designed for the comfort of a boutique hotel and equipped with the technology of a San Francisco home, all of this to cater to the nomadic generation.

Casai recently acquired the Brazilian operations of Danish company QApartments and merged with Nomah bringing its total inventory to 3000+ apartments.

Sonder

Website: sonder.com
Primary inventory: Serviced apartments & hotel rooms
N° of units: 6000+ units
Company HQ:San Francisco, USA
Year company was founded: 2014
Funding: Post-IPO Equity
Active countries: USA, Canada, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, Italy, France.

Sonder is one of the world’s fastest-growing short-term rental property management companies. It offers various sizes of rooms and apartments for rent across the US as well as some of Europe’s most vibrant cities. The company has also recently expanded in UAE.

With technology at the forefront, Sonder’s spaces are modern and efficient while providing a personalized and self-service guest experience.

Selina

Website: selina.com
Primary inventory: Rooms & beds
N° of units: 40,000+ beds
Company HQ: London, United Kingdom
Year company was founded: 2012
Financial background: Post-IPO Equity
Active countries: USA, Mexico, Argentina, Costa Rica, Austria, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Equator, Greece, Guatemala, Israel, Morocco, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Portugal, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Thailand.

Selina is one of the world’s fastest-growing hospitality companies, combining beautifully-designed accommodations with coworking spaces, wellness, recreational offerings and local experiences.

With a design-centric, technology-first and socially-minded approach to travel, the company currently operates urban, beach, jungle and mountain-side locations across the USA and Mexico with plans to expand globally.

20 innovative accommodation brands challenging the status quo