Summer is officially here, which has us thinking a lot about our upcoming vacations in far-away lands. It also reminds us that Los Angeles is home to some of the most interesting travel and hospitality tech startups in the world.
The hospitality industry is just starting to open its arms to tech solutions, and companies like DTLA-based KEYPR are ready to pounce. The cloud-based guest experience platform offers hotels a way to manage their guests’ experience while also adding operational efficiencies to help boost revenue. Just in time for summer, the startup announced that they had closed a $12.8 million round of Series A funding, bringing the company's total amount raised to $19 million. Ahead of the news, the company revealed big product updates.
Airbnb completely flipped hospitality on its head when it launched in 2008. Nearly 10 years later, the platform is becoming more than just a way to find a place to stay for a few days. The Santa Monica-based data startup AirDNA uses data and analytics to help real estate investors, Airbnb hosts and vacation rental companies identify investment opportunities. The company’s data is also used by academic researchers and governmental entities to help study the impact of Airbnb on local economies.
A number of B2C sites are dedicated to helping customers book the best vacations possible, but garnering new and return business is only one problem hospitality companies face. Travel tech company ClickTripz develops software solutions to meet the needs of suppliers, publishers, advertisers and travelers. Their advertising platform helps businesses acquire qualified traffic while providing travelers with better deals than they could have gotten elsewhere.
Founded in San Diego but based in LA, digital media startup Porter24 marries its 55-inch display screen with an interactive digital concierge to help improve hotel guests’ stays. The company currently operates in LA, San Diego and San Francisco, and has signed deals with major hotel chains to bring their technology to the Midwest and East Coast.
Irvine-based BookingPal develops a global distribution system and booking platform for vacation rental properties and resorts. The SaaS platform allows owners and managers to increase their online presence, attract new business and manage their day-to-day bookings.
Images via social media and Shutterstock
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