Airbnb and VRBO were once upon a time considered the alternative segment of the lodging industry. Today, new concepts are gradually replacing these soon to be old alternatives.
One such concept is The Guild, which provides primarily business travelers with the opportunity to stay in Airbnb-like accommodations. They combine the services of a hotel with the facilities and décor of a home.
The real estate they pursue are entire floors in an apartment or office building that they convert into mini-boutique hotels. Currently, The Guild has locations in Austin, Dallas, Nashville, Denver, Miami and Cincinnati with Boston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia on the way.
Recently, the company announced it had raised an additional $25 million, which will go towards its planned expansion.
Investor Chip Conley states, “Great hospitality brands are defined by the quality of their guest experience and loyalty of their guests, rather than the number of locations,” further adding “Relative to other startups in this emerging category, many of whom prioritize growth above all else, The Guild has an intimate understanding of its guests and is obsessed with all those personalized details that make the experience delightful.”
The two founders of the company provided their thoughts as well, “As recovering road warriors who used to stay in chain hotels over 50 nights per year, we’ve experienced firsthand how business travel can deplete the soul,” continuing with “We started The Guild so that travelers could maintain the cherished routines of home while immersing themselves in the surrounding local community. These new funds will enable us to extend The Guild experience to a broader community of business travelers in search of a better life on the road.”
