The rise of the unicorn by Osama Shawky
The Rise of estaie: A New Era in Hospitality Tech
Inspiration Behind estaie
The idea for estaie was born out of a fundamental problem in the hospitality industry. “It’s 2024, and there is no reason why booking extended stays should be hard, yet it is,” Osama explains. The process is often expensive, time-consuming, and painful. Traditional booking platforms have not addressed these issues effectively, leaving a significant gap in the market. estaie was created to solve these issues, providing a seamless, efficient, and cost-effective solution for long-term accommodation needs.
Osama’s personal experiences and extensive industry knowledge highlighted the inefficiencies and challenges within the existing systems. He recognized that travelers, whether for business or leisure, required a platform that could simplify the extended stay process, offer competitive pricing, and ensure a smooth booking experience. This realization fueled his determination to create estaie.
In the ever-evolving world of hospitality, one name is rapidly making waves—estaie. Spearheaded by visionary CEO and Founder Osama Shawky, estaie is redefining how we book extended stays, aiming to become a unicorn in the hospitality tech industry.
Key Milestones and Challenges
Developing estaie was no easy feat. Crafting the first flexible stay OTA came with its share of challenges. Here are some key milestones that mark estaie’s journey:
- Negotiated Rates: One of the significant achievements was securing the lowest rates for extended stays through specialized negotiated rates. This involved building strong relationships with various accommodation providers and demonstrating the value that estaie brings to the table.
- Single Invoice: To simplify the financial aspect of extended stays, estaie offers a single invoice that includes all costs, plus additional perks. This feature is particularly beneficial for corporate clients who need transparent and straightforward billing processes.
- Full Portfolio: Providing a comprehensive portfolio that includes hotels, apartments, and villas was crucial. estaie ensures that guests have access to a wide range of accommodation options, catering to different preferences and budgets.
- Flexible Payment: Flexibility in payment methods is another hallmark of estaie. Guests can choose to pay estaie or pay directly to the accommodation provider, whichever is more convenient for them.
- Book Online: Streamlining the booking process to make it timely and efficient was a top priority. estaie’s platform allows guests to book their stays online swiftly, ensuring a hassle-free experience.
- Accessibility: Ensuring the platform supports multiple languages and currencies was essential to cater to a global audience. estaie’s interface is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to people from different regions.
Technological Innovations
estaie stands out from other OTAs with its unique technological features that enhance the user experience and ensure security:
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Dynamic Pricing Algorithm: One of the standout features of estaie is its dynamic pricing algorithm. This revolutionary algorithm adjusts rates in real-time based on various factors such as demand, seasonality, local events, and market conditions. By continuously analyzing these variables, the algorithm ensures that pricing strategies are always optimized to maximize revenue and profitability. This not only benefits the accommodation providers but also ensures that guests get the best possible rates.
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Performance Benchmarking: estaie’s performance benchmarking tools offer precision benchmarking against industry standards and competitors. This allows partners to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as occupancy rates, Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR), and customer satisfaction scores. By providing these insights, estaie helps partners gain a competitive edge and drive continuous improvement.
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Blockchain-Enabled Data Security: In today’s digital age, data security is of paramount importance. estaie leverages blockchain technology to ensure the highest level of data security and transparency. The decentralized ledger system guarantees that all transactions and data exchanges are secure, immutable, and tamper-proof. This provides peace of mind for partners and customers, knowing that their data is protected by cutting-edge technology.
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Consumer Behavior Deep Learning: Understanding consumer behavior is key to providing personalized experiences that enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. estaie’s sophisticated algorithms delve into consumer behavior, analyzing preferences, booking patterns, and sentiment. These insights allow property managers to tailor their offerings to meet the specific needs of their guests, creating a more personalized and satisfying experience.
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Big Data Analytics: estaie’s platform processes vast amounts of data in real-time, extracting valuable insights from diverse data sources. By analyzing trends, patterns, and correlations, estaie empowers its partners with actionable intelligence that drives strategic decision-making and enhances market positioning.
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Operational Efficiency Optimization: Operational efficiency is crucial for maintaining profitability and providing a high level of service. estaie’s analytics tools identify inefficiencies and recommend optimizations across various aspects of operations. From workforce management to maintenance schedules, the tools help ensure that operations run seamlessly and cost-effectively.
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AI-Driven Predictive Analytics: Using advanced machine learning models, estaie provides predictive analytics that forecast future trends and outcomes with remarkable accuracy. These insights allow partners to anticipate occupancy rates, optimize pricing strategies, and predict demand shifts, helping them stay ahead in the competitive market landscape.
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Customizable Analytical Dashboards: Experience the power of customized analytics with estaie’s intuitive dashboards. The dashboards allow users to focus on the metrics that matter most to them, whether it’s real-time performance tracking, detailed financial reporting, or customer feedback analysis. This tailored view of their business provides a comprehensive understanding of their operations and performance.
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Seamless System Integration: estaie’s analytics suite integrates seamlessly with existing property management systems, CRM platforms, and other business applications. This ensures smooth data flow and enhanced operational efficiency across the organization. By integrating with these systems, estaie provides a comprehensive view of operations and performance, allowing partners to make informed decisions and optimize their operations.
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User-Friendly Interface: Designed with the user in mind, estaie’s platform offers an intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, regardless of technical expertise. Whether you are a data scientist or a property manager, the platform provides a seamless experience that makes it easy to access and analyze data.
Leadership and Team
Osama Shawky’s leadership style is collaborative and inclusive. “We talk, discuss, and share all ideas, building our service blueprint together from three different lenses,” Osama says. His extensive experience in digital and startups spans over 22 years, with three successful exits and $200 million raised across his career. His approach to leadership is rooted in open communication, mutual respect, and a shared vision.
Osama’s leadership is complemented by a strong team:
- Mark Reed: COO and Co-Founder with over 30 years of experience in hospitality and travel. Mark brings a vast network and extensive industry knowledge, having closed 35,000+ room nights in just 15 months and accessing over 200,000 hotel rooms via his network.
- Pavel Kuzmin: CTO and Co-Founder, responsible for developing everything in-house. Pavel’s expertise spans over 15 years in tech and product development, with a track record of launching 20+ high-tech products in 21 countries and 11 languages. He has managed large tech teams and successfully exited multiple ventures.
Market Impact and Partnerships
estaie has already made a significant impact in the hospitality industry, trusted by over 100 top-tier brands and accessing 200,000 rooms. The platform’s innovative approach and technological advancements have attracted numerous partners and clients. Some notable partnerships include:
- Holiday Swap: estaie has elevated the overall performance of Holiday Swap, a platform with 120,000+ global properties. The collaboration has enhanced service delivery and guest satisfaction.
- Rotana Group: estaie has partnered with Rotana Group, which manages 30,000+ rooms in the MENA region. This collaboration has strengthened estaie’s presence in the Middle East, providing guests with a wide range of premium accommodation options.
- Millennium Hotels: estaie is the preferred partner for Millennium Hotels, which operates 15,000+ rooms across 50 locations in the MENA region. This partnership has facilitated seamless bookings and enhanced guest experiences.
Feedback from Users and Partners
estaie’s unique value proposition is affirmed by positive feedback from users and partners:
- Guests: “Great service, love the apartment we have rented… Highly recommended” – Matt, first-time customer.
- Partners: “Working with estaie really allowed Holiday Swap to elevate its overall performance…” – COO, Holiday Swap.
- Repeat Customers: “Everything from the outset to the check-in was impeccably arranged…excellent service they offer” – Ivan, repeat customer.
- Corporate Partners: “TRUST, Results, a Proactive approach, Convenient setup, and Collaboration with highly experienced professionals…” – Director of Sales, Rotana Group.
Future Vision
Looking ahead, estaie aims to dominate the extended stay, long stay, and flexible stay market. The growth plan includes expanding to new regions and enhancing the platform with innovative features. Some of the strategic goals for the future include:
- Global Expansion: estaie plans to expand its operations to new regions, starting with the Middle East and gradually moving to APAC, Europe, Turkey, and the USA. The goal is to create an extensive ecosystem that caters to a global audience.
- Enhancing Technology: Continuous innovation is at the core of estaie’s vision. The platform will incorporate advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and blockchain to enhance user experience, security, and operational efficiency.
- User-Centric Features: Future updates will focus on introducing features that further simplify the booking process and enhance guest satisfaction. This includes advanced search filters, personalized recommendations, and flexible payment options.
- Sustainability Initiatives: As part of its commitment to sustainability, estaie will implement eco-friendly practices and promote green accommodations. The goal is to contribute to environmental conservation while providing premium hospitality services.
Personal Insights and Advice for Entrepreneurs
As a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits, Osama has learned valuable lessons that he has applied to estaie. “Failures are the learning experience and not the exits,” he says. His advice for aspiring entrepreneurs includes:
- Study the Market Well: Understanding the market dynamics and identifying gaps is crucial. Thorough market research helps in developing a product that meets the needs of the target audience.
- Think Logically and Plan Meticulously: A well-thought-out plan is essential for success. Entrepreneurs should set realistic goals, develop a clear roadmap, and anticipate potential challenges.
- Set Realistic Expectations: It’s important to set achievable expectations and not overpromise. Managing expectations helps in maintaining credibility and building trust with stakeholders.
- Work Hard and Smart: Success doesn’t come easily. It requires hard work, smart strategies, and perseverance. “If you work hard and smart, you will reach your goals,” Osama emphasizes.
Maintaining Motivation
Osama maintains his motivation and drive by working closely with his team and prioritizing family. “Work inside your company like today is the last day, stay close to all company members, and remember, family always comes first,” he emphasizes. His approach to leadership is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and a shared vision.
Growth Plan
estaie has a clear product and business development path, moving through phases from the UAE to Saudi Arabia, parts of APAC, Europe, Turkey, and finally the USA, aiming to create an extensive ecosystem. The phased approach ensures systematic growth and scalability.
- Phase 1: Launch in the UAE with 500+ partners, achieving $25k MRR and 1,733 bookings.
- Phase 2: Expand to Saudi Arabia and parts of APAC, with 1,000+ partners, reaching $165k MRR and 11,677 bookings.
- Phase 3: Further expansion into Europe and Turkey, securing 1,500+ partners, $280k MRR, and 19,965 bookings.
- Phase 4: Establish a presence in the USA with 2,000+ partners, achieving $450k MRR and 31,828 bookings.
Competitive Edge
estaie’s unique positioning and competitive edge include specialized negotiated extended stay rates, a focus on flexible stays from 15-365 nights, and offering a diverse range of accommodations including hotel rooms, hotel apartments, and AirBnB apartments without booking fees.
estaie is setting new standards in the hospitality industry, making extended stays accessible, affordable, and hassle-free. Join us on this exciting journey and be part of the future of hospitality tech.
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Aleksei Dolgikh
This is brilliant plan, I personally think your team will do much more than 1 million USD in firs year even!
Together we can!
Osama Shawky
Thanks Aleksei
Nothing can happen without your continuous support