• This new round will allow the by-the-hour hotel bookings company to continue to grow in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, as well as expand into the United States.
• The company, with headquarters in Barcelona and a new office in Mexico, offers microstays of 3, 6 and 12 hours in over 3,000 hotels in 600 international destinations

21 January 2020.- BYHOURS, the leading platform in booking hotel rooms by the hour, has closed a new international funding round at 8 million euros. The company, founded by Christian Rodríguez and Guillermo Gaspart, is the first and only platform that allows microstay bookings in more than 3,000 hotels around the world in packs of 3, 6 and 12 hours, where the user chooses the check-in and check-out time, 24 hours a day. With this new round, BYHOURS aims to consolidate its presence in Europe, Latin America and flight connection points in the Middle East, as well as to start operations in the United States.

Since its creation in 2012, the company has been supported by national and international investors with a total value of 18 million euros. New international investors have participated in this new funding round, including lead investors such as Angel Ventures and DILA Capital, both from Mexico, as well as current partners such as Howzat Partners. “Our goal for 2020 is, in addition to continuing to grow in our current markets and to start operations in the United States, to be able to develop the B2B market and improve our connectivity with other players in the tourism sector,” said Guillermo Gaspart, CEO and founder of BYHOURS.

BYHOURS is one of the most promising start-ups in the tourism sector in Spain and abroad, leading an innovative concept of microstay hotel bookings. “We bring flexibility to a sector that until now has been very limited to its traditional rules and operations and we provide additional income to the hotel sector,” explained Christian Rodriguez. “Frequent travellers, whether business or family, can stay for a few hours in hotels near airports, train stations, business areas or in the city centre. We also offer hotels near hospitals, football stadiums, theatres, leisure areas…”

The platform already has more than 250,000 users and has sold more than one million hotel hours, generating more than 20 million euros in turnover for the hotel industry. In line with its clear internationalisation strategy, last year the company opened a new office in Mexico with the aim of centralising operations and projects in Latin America, as well as managing the United States opening by attracting hotels in the country and developing business in the US market. In fact, by the end of 2019, 52% of the company’s total sales were international.

By 2020, the company expects to increase its turnover by more than 150% with the addition of more than 2,000 hotels to its portfolio. The platform also expects that next year 75% of its revenue will come from international bookings.

The platform already has a total of 62 employees, 48 in Barcelona and 14 in Mexico City.

About BYHOURS

BYHOURS is the first and only platform that allows microstay bookings in 3, 6 and 12 hour packs in more than 3,000 hotels around the world and where the user chooses the check-in and check-out time, 24 hours a day.

Founded in 2012, BYHOURS is one of the most promising start-ups in the tourism sector in Spain and abroad, leading an innovative concept of booking by the hour. Users can currently book in more than 20 countries and 600 destinations.

• BYHOURS, the app of microstays in packs of 3, 6 and 24 hours, has made a study to know the intentions of the Spanish, as for the tourism, once the confinement derived from the coronavirus is finished.
• Guillermo Gaspart, one of the CEOs of BYHOURS, considers that his business model will help the hotel sector to overcome the crisis left by the pandemic.
• In Spain, tourism contributes more than 14% of the GDP and is the second largest economic engine.

The coronavirus pandemic crisis has changed the way millions of people around the world work and interact. The virus has paralyzed Easter travel, among so many other celebrations that these weeks have been canceled, as well as all hotel reservations. There are countless events in Spain, with great tourist potential, which have meant great economic losses for the sector and the complete paralysis of its activity.

BYHOURS, the micro-stay hotel app with which the user decides the time of entry and exit of the room in packs per hour, has carried out a study to find out the intentions of the Spanish, in terms of tourism, once the total confinement is over.

According to the data obtained by the platform, which was born in 2012 to introduce the pay-per-use system in the hotel sector, 93.7% of those surveyed said that they would go on holiday this year, while only 6.3% would not be able to have a holiday. A figure that suggests a much faster recovery of the economy to return to normal. At least, in the minds of those polled.

The post-COVID-19 situation “is not going to be positive, but neither is it going to be a drama,” according to BYHOURS’ CEOs

The tourism sector has undoubtedly been one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus, but businessmen like Guillermo Gaspart and Christian Rodriguez, the CEOs of BYHOURS, are confident that they can survive this crisis. “We want to try not to be so penalized,” says Rodriguez, who hopes that the desire to go out that people now have confined to their homes will last so that they can return to normal activity. “After the quarantine, many people will be invaded by a breath of freedom, which will push them into tourist consumption, mainly from the local area, which will take advantage of the hotels,” he says.

“The micro-stay gives us a different opportunity. We are aware that a few months ago people were not considering an oasis of freedom and now it can be the best of all prizes to, for example, save a relationship after many weeks of confinement and with the chaos of children at home,” said Rodriguez, during an online conference organized a few days ago by Barcelona Tech City.

Gaspart told Business Insider Spain that the company has no plans to change its value proposition once the lockdown is over. “Local tourism and proximity tourism, as well as the concept of micro tourism (enjoying a hotel in your own city for a few hours), will be highly benefited due to the new circumstances and there Byhours will be able to play an important role”.

In addition, he believes that this disruptive model in the sector, already present in more than 600 destinations, benefits and offers the hotelier a new option to fill their establishments and thus overcome the crisis left by the pandemic.

BYHOURS believes that the post-COVID-19 situation will be the time when the sector will do less experimentation. “You’re going to do what you know works. On the first day we will go out with the lineup with which Barça would go out in the Champions. It will be difficult for us to experiment,” they explain. And they add that, “if the big ones of the sector could do a Black Friday in June, they would do it”.

“If something is going to need these hotels will be to sell more and we want to give them those tools,” says Rodriguez, who maintains that, although the situation will not be positive, nor will be “a drama”.

In his opinion, society tends to think that when we get out of confinement, absolutely everything will change. Meanwhile, he believes that “the same thing will happen as when we came out of the 2008 crisis: we will be more selective.

Last January, Byhours closed an 8 million euro financing round led by Angel Ventures or DILA Capital -both from Mexico- and in which investors already present in its capital as Howzat Partners also participated. The objective was to use these funds to continue growing in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, and to make the leap to the United States. Since its creation, it has attracted 12 million and, until January, had sold more than one million hotel hours and had more than 250,000 users.

Interview by: Andrea Gómez Bobillo (BUSINESS INSIDER)

We are now living new and unusual routines and the near future won’t be any different. We all know that already. We always took care of your time and this time we’ll do the same: BYHOURS supports you in carrying out your new routine and in finding safe spaces for your work or leisure time.

This summer it won’t be possible to take long trips and trips abroad, especially as some countries still have closed borders or very strict quarantine periods. This means that these countries may ask to respect those moving to and from abroad.

People will prefer nearby destinations and tourism sector will be promoting local tourism, both to discover our own country and because long trips will be difficult to organize.

Now is the time for local tourism, to go out to the city and enjoy without having to travel to the other side of the world. We will encourage tourism that we have not allowed ourselves until now because we are ‘tourists’. In fact, as never before, this year we will discover the beauties around us, explore our own cities, and even take a bike ride on local roads we didn’t know about!

BYHOURS promotes local tourism through microholidays in the best metropolitan hotels. Enjoy the best rooms, terraces, pools, spa centers and other luxuries. Plus, to relax by the pool, enjoy a romantic dinner, or just wake up with breakfast served in your room, you don’t need to be on vacation. Treat yourself with 3, 6 or 12 hours of pure relax in the best hotels on any day of the week, at any time and one step from your home or office.

Here you can find your new paradise in the city. BYHOURS is around the world!

Not only tourism, but also work has been turned upside down by the Covid emergency. Some things can still be handled in smart working, but there are meetings, events and appointments that cannot be organized remotely. A problem for those who work as a team but also for those who work independently.

In a hotel associated with BYHOURS you can find the best spaces to organize meetings, interviews, corporate events or videoconferences. Hotels in your city become the most equipped and safest office.

You know, whatever you do during the week, BYHOURS is around the world and helps you meet your needs. It doesn’t matter if it’s for business or for leisure, we always accompany you.

Welcome to BYHOURS. You have come this far and we want you to know that we are very happy to see you and welcome you to our great community. We are the first international platform and app that offers hotel microstays in 24 countries around the world and in more than 3.000 hotels. Cool, isn’t it?

But what we like most is to meet you and for you to be able to live the experience of a microstay, wherever and whenever you want. That’s why, when you download our app you will get a 10% discount when you register, so that you can enjoy even more when you make your first reservation. You can book from our website or the app. Because the flexibility you are looking for, you will find it in the palm of your hand while you browse through the BYHOURS app. How cool!

And if that’s not enough, having you with us is more than just a joy. And we won’t stop celebrating with you. How? Very easy, subscribe to our newsletter and receive the best hotel and travel information, offers and activities that we offer from BYHOURS.  If so, nobody will be able to tell you that it is not nice to relax in a hotel paying only for the time you need. You choose between 3, 6 or 12 hours. Rest is assured.

What’s behind BYHOURS?

BYHOURS was born in 2012 to provide the flexibility and customization you were looking for when booking hotels. That’s why we launched the first platform that allows you to book hotel hours at an international level. Now you can choose the time of arrival, how long to stay and pay only for the time you need.

Behind all this is a young, innovative and international team with a strong desire to revolutionize the hotel industry. Our offices are located in Barcelona and in 2019 we are celebrating the opening of our office in Mexico, from where we manage and centralize operations and projects for Latin America and the United States.

We have more than 3.000 4* and 5* hotels, which provide comfort, safety and wellbeing to our clients. We provide the opportunity for the client to own their time and make the most of it. A few hours of rest before the flight, prepare a meeting without noise or discomfort, clean up before an event, enjoy with your partner… An endless number of moments that deserve special dedication.

We often live longing for everything we want to do and we can not for lack of time. We think about those great things that make us dream, leaving aside everything we have around us, making it small and insignificant. Until one day reality shakes us and everything stops. We begin to see how a mid-morning coffee, a kiss when we get up, a hug when we say goodbye, or a simple dinner with friends in the living room, are much larger than we previously believed.

Often, reality comes and reminds us that we need to look ahead, realize who we are next to, and value more those little things that give us great happiness on a daily basis.

On world happiness day, from BYHOURS, we can’t think of a better idea than to pay tribute to all those plans that we can now make from home, and that are going to get us more than a smile. Moments that will bring us moments of happiness.

· A peaceful breakfast. How many times have we left the house without having more than a coffee in a hurry because we didn’t arrive. Or how many times have we longed to have that delicious toast with eggs that we like so much while the warm sun rays come out the window. Routines that make us miss very important moments of the day and that now, at home and with time, we can incorporate. Eating breakfast with yours while you start the day with energy is a great plan.

· Look again at family photo albums. Just like before, it seemed like a matter of grandmothers to look over and over photos of past years. But have you noticed the power of a snapshot? Remembering, reliving special moments, surfacing hidden feelings… A photo of paper or digital transports us to that place, to those people, to that memory… Beware that more than one will thrille.

· Plan a getaway in your own city. Okay, now we can’t leave the house, but who said that we won’t do it anymore? Treat yourself and start now to think about all those plans that your beautiful city offers you. A visit to a monument, go to the cinema, a meal with friends in the restaurant you like the most, a leisurely stroll through the center, a BYHOURS micro-stay in that top hotel… You won’t stop!

· Spend time and take care on yourself. It is time to stop and make up for lost time. A little meditation, reading, exercise… everything that relaxes and cultivates us, now more than ever, has a place in our routine. And when everything happens… Don’t forget to keep pampering yourself!

· Watch a movie without ads and with the phone turned off. The overexposure of information and daily inputs that we have is stressful. It can overwhelm us and not let us focus on what really matters. Turn off all those devices that are not necessary and choose your favorite movie. It’s time to enjoy between popcorn and sofa.

· Search for new destinations to discover. Internet will be our great ally. And BYHOURS will help you find the best hotel to spend a luxurious day thanks to the 3, 6 and 12 hour microstay. What do you prefer? Choose your plan, look for the activities to do and the place where you can relax. Easy, fast and cheap; after all the effort, you deserve it.

Remember, when you stop you discover that happiness is that. And that until now you had not become aware of it. Breathe, thank and think of all the good that is to come. Whether at home or on the street, World Happiness Day can be celebrated.

Intercultural, dynamic, young, talented, multidisciplinary; are some of the adjectives that characterize the BYHOURS team.

Headed by Guillermo Gaspart and Cristian Rodríguez, the staff of the pioneering startup in microstays reaches 53 people. At BYHOURS offices, both in the Barcelona headwuarters and in Mexico, it is possible to enter a great melting pot of cultures and languages, ranging from English, Italian, Russian, French, among many others.

The team, which was considered in 2018 as the best tourism ‘startup’ by Deloitte, brings together professionals in all areas and from four different continents.

In addition to having great professionals in the tourism sector, BYHOURS work together: designers, engineers in different areas, specialists in marketing and administration, among many others. They all work hand in hand and offering the maximum of their knowledge for the company. And how well they do it!

Raquel Durán, head of human resources at the startup, defines her workforce as “a team that wants to revolutionize the hotel industry.” A goal with which all those who belong to this young company with one of the fastest growths in the sector are identified and committed.

BYHOURS is a horizontal team, where each member is a fundamental part of the company’s progress and objectives. All of them are constantly working to provide hundreds of thousands of users with the best experience in more than 3.000 hotels around the world without neglecting goals and personal development.

Dispersion and disconnection is also an important part of this development. Events such as field trips, sporting events, or office games are often organized. Endless afterwork activities that help keep the team together and build trust among its workers. Summer beach volleyball games are great!

Many BYHOURS workers have made a career within the same company or in others; Since BYHOURS is also considered a hotbed of talent, where professionals from different areas are trained and practiced. The professional projection in this company is very high and one more incentive to want to be part of a team full of good vibes, laughter, effort and ingenuity.

…Orange talent for the world!