What product or service does Hotel+ offer?
Hotel+ is a membership that offers users discounts on “dayuse” passes, food and beverage, and other hotel amenities. Members book a dayuse pass via the app for select hotels, and benefit from the hotels’ amenities at a steep discount. Hotel+ is targeted at travelers on same day trips that stay at airports and coffee shops for hours at a time. Travelers can use hotels to catch up on work, eat at their favorite restaurant, swim in the pool, or workout in the gym.
How did you come up with the idea for this business?
I used to travel back and forth a lot for business. Grabbed the first flight, had meetings mid-morning, ate, and grabbed the last flight back home. I used to eat whatever and stay at the airport for long periods of time. Staying at a hotel during the day would solve all my problems.
Why did you decide to participate in the HI Hub Incubator program?
It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. World-class mentors and an opportunity to pitch to investors is something that I look forward to.
What do you enjoy most about creating your own startup business?
Having the responsibility and satisfaction to see my idea come to life.
What advice would you give to someone contemplating founding a startup?
Don’t be attached to 100% of the business model. The model will probably change, and you must be open to it.
What is something you learned through this process that you wish you’d known before you created your startup?
Something you thought was right for a long period of time could be wrong or must change for the startup to succeed.
What does the future of your startup look like in an ideal world?
In an ideal world, the future would be for Hotel+ to have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers next year.
Have you worked with any alumni or mentors on this project? If so, who and what was that experience like?
Mentors have really surprised me with their insights. Different points of view bring a lot of value into the business.