COCOTEL

Cocotel International, established in 2019 by Rafael Jouwena, is a hospitality technology company targeting the prevalent issue of low online visibility for independent hotels and resorts in the Philippines and, more broadly, Southeast Asia. The company operates as a hotel and property management firm, aiming to digitize and enhance the booking experience for getaway destinations. Jouwena, with a background in digital marketing and e-commerce from his time at companies like Lazada and Zalora, identified a gap in the market where smaller, independent hotels lacked the technological infrastructure and expertise to compete with larger chains online. This insight, coupled with his experience as a managing partner at a digital marketing agency, directly informed Cocotel's mission to empower these properties.

The business model centers on partnering with these independent hotels and resorts, acting as an aggregator and brand consolidator. Cocotel implements a comprehensive technology suite for its partners, which includes property management systems, online travel agency (OTA) channel management, and dynamic pricing strategies. This approach allows partner hotels to optimize their room rates and manage inventory efficiently across various online booking platforms, thereby increasing their occupancy rates and revenue. The company generates income through a revenue-sharing model with its partner hotels, taking a commission from the bookings generated through its system. This aligns Cocotel's success directly with the performance of the properties it manages.

For travelers, Cocotel presents a curated collection of accommodations in popular leisure spots, accessible through its online booking platform. The service provides a standardized booking process and quality assurance for properties that might otherwise be difficult to find or book online. By focusing on vacation destinations outside of major urban centers, Cocotel has carved out a specific niche within the competitive online travel market. The company has secured seed funding from investors including Medipeace, Inc. and the Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) Nigeria, which has supported its expansion efforts. Initially focused on the Philippines, Cocotel has since expanded its operations to Indonesia with ambitions for further growth across Southeast Asia. Its value proposition lies in equipping traditional, often family-owned, resorts with the digital tools necessary to thrive in the modern travel industry.

Keywords: hospitality technology, property management, hotel aggregation, online travel agency, revenue management, Southeast Asia travel, resort booking, digital marketing, travel tech, hotel franchising