Non, reservation centers are not dead … at least, those that have mutated with the advent of e-travel. This week, hundreds of millions of dollars have been injected into the central “new generation”…

You know the central reservation ? public (run by tourist offices or departmental committees) or private (managed by specialized real estate agents in vacation rentals) ? We thought this world “fucked” by the arrival of Internet and “disintermediation” and yet, worldwide, the “new plants” have lifted hundreds of millions of dollars this summer !

In the “world before”, they were called central reservation: you had an apartment in the sea or in the mountains and you did not want to charge you rent it yourself, place advertisements, maintain a website, manage the rental agreement, hand over the keys, etc ? So there's a good chance you have placed your property reservation center or with a real estate agent specializing in vacation rentals ! Against a commission on every booking (in general, from 5 à 15%), Central took care of everything and you transferred it your funds regularly.

In the years 80, central “public” flourished in many territories: financed by public money (halls or departments), their role was “dynamize” offers, “start”, etc … Fast enough, many plants have closed: competition from internet on one side and chronic failure of profitability are the main causes. Chronic depletion of their catalog (the best places are parties to sell themselves on the web) did the rest.

Realtors Side, they are currently under 1400 (a total of 34.000) stay still specialized in vacation rentals. There was no need for more, since then, for “condemn” this profession on the altar Internet. Faux !

This week, of the “new generation plants” have shown that this business had a future … provided to evolve with new market demands. Take the example of Evolve newly emerged 80 Millions $ (after a first round of 103 Millions $). This company offers owners to take care of everything for them : take photos of their property, create and publish “sheets” on their website and the websites of OTAs (AirBnB, HomeAway …), manage their ads and their reservations … all, to commission 10%.

Assuming that an owner “consumes” 9 hours a week caring for the rental of his property, Evolve has convinced some 9.000 whose owners will now occupy 300, a ratio of 30 properties by employees. They entrust all marketing aspects while they remain free to choose the local service provider to do the cleaning and maintenance of their property.

On the same model, of the “central 3.0” as Vacasa or TurnKey lifted respectively 103 And $ 1000 21 M $ on the same revenue model. HomeLike, specializing in the apartments intended for business travelers also just raised 14 Millions $. In France, a company like Homerez offers the same types of services against a fee of around 15% on each rental; charge it to distribute your property on a maximum of portals at once and “finalize” maximum rental contracts.

Finally, latest manifestation of these plants “new generation”, Special mention to Sonder squarely passes Stadium “rental manager” a holiday rental chain dimension ! This means that Sonder going to equip the leased assets of his own furniture to ensure design and “experience” specific brand.

To achieve its goals and expand its network of apartments around the world, Sonder just lifted 85 Millions $ (is, a plurality of 135 Millions $ to Date). The plant already carries 100 Millions $ with annual revenues 2.200 addresses in 11 towns and 4 pays. Sonder already employs 300 employees and its founder, Francis Davidson, n'a that 25 years …

Francis Davidson, the founder of Sonder, face the McGill University students in Canada.

Thomas D.

Source: https://blog.elloha.com/2018/08/25/les-nouvelles-centrales-de-reservation-levent-des-centaines-de-millions/