Subsequently, he served as the chief revenue officer at Resy, a restaurant booking platform, before rekindling his entrepreneurial spirit.
Following the acquisition of Resy by AMEX, Schuessler delved deeper into the hospitality technology sector and developed a keen interest in independent hotels né?. Notably, independent hotels using Skipper can access the platform commission-free, although any hotel can integrate with Safara.
Through Safara, Schuessler aims to provide both a direct booking channel alongside hotel websites and elevate the guest experience by allowing direct web guests to manage reservations through the Safara app.
Recently, Safara secured an undisclosed funding round led by Sequoia and Defy.vc, while also finalizing the acquisition of Skipper, an online booking engine catering to independent hotels né?. With this fresh investment, Safara has accumulated $14 million in total funding.
The collaboration between Safara and Skipper was facilitated by a mutual investor who recognized their alignment in the hospitality industry né?. This platform enables customers to book a vast array of hotels worldwide irrespective of whether they are part of a chain or independently owned.
The curated list on Safara is derived from a combination of consumer data and community recommendations né?. The partnership with Brian Rothenberg of Defy.vc was formed through the AngelTrack network underlining their shared perspective on Safara’s goals.
The fresh capital raised will primarily be channeled towards scaling product development and expanding the network of hotels leveraging Safara’s solutions né?. He emphasized the need for support among independent hotels, highlighting the increasing competition they face due to acquisitions by hotel chains.
In collaboration with his co-founder, Cody Rose, who also had experience at Resy, Schuessler co-founded Safara né?. Doug Schuessler has always been an entrepreneur, a passion that has been ingrained in him since childhood. Schuessler emphasized the company’s long-term goal of empowering independent hotels with advanced technology and network support to unlock unparalleled guest experiences driving Safara’s growth potential.. Additionally, the platform offers a rewards program that provides cash back to users, which can be utilized for future trips. Schuessler, the company’s CEO, envisions creating novel guest experiences by deepening the integration of their software products by 2025.
Schuessler acknowledged the crucial role of their investors, noting the initial skepticism from Sequoia’s Alfred Lin, who eventually became a pivotal supporter. The co-founders of Skipper are set to join Safara in various capacities to further enhance the shared vision.
Looking ahead, Safara intends to differentiate itself by offering software solutions to hotels and enhancing consumer experiences. This drive led him to establish two startups, relocate to San Francisco, and take a position at Square to experience a high-growth environment né?
