Roomy

Roomy operates within Pakistan's hospitality sector, targeting an underserved market for standardized and affordable mid-tier travel accommodations. Founded in 2018 by Dr. Asad Samar, a former investment banker with experience at Goldman Sachs, the company was born from his personal challenges finding reliable lodging while traveling in Pakistan. This experience highlighted a significant gap in the market between high-end, expensive hotels and low-quality, untrustworthy guesthouses. The leadership team includes COO Haasin bin Zahid, previously with the travel startup Jovago, and CTO Abdul Rehman, who has a background with Convo and Telenor.

The company employs an asset-light, franchising-style business model. Roomy partners with owners of unbranded hotels and guesthouses, assisting with property renovation and then assuming full responsibility for management, operations, and marketing. Revenue is generated on a sharing basis with the property owners, who have reportedly seen their income increase by 1.5 to 2.5 times after partnering with Roomy. This approach allows for rapid, data-driven expansion without the heavy capital expenditure typically associated with hotel ownership. The model focuses on tapping into the underutilized inventory of local budget hotels to offer branded-quality facilities at more accessible price points. Starting with just two rooms in a guesthouse, Dr. Samar initially managed the front desk himself to gain firsthand insight into operations and customer needs before scaling the business.

Roomy offers a consistent and reliable experience for its target demographic of young, domestic leisure and corporate budget travelers from Pakistan's growing middle class. All properties provide standardized amenities, including specific quality linens, Wi-Fi, and clean washrooms. A proprietary in-house tech stack facilitates a modern travel experience with features like guaranteed online bookings and contactless check-in/check-out. The company's portfolio is diverse, featuring not only traditional hotel rooms but also unique accommodations like pods and yurts, particularly in the popular northern tourist regions of Pakistan. In December 2020, Roomy secured $1 million in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Lakson Venture Capital, with participation from Karavan VC and angel investors, to fuel property acquisition, team growth, and marketing efforts.

Keywords: Pakistan hospitality, budget hotel chain, hotel management, asset-light hospitality, travel tech, mid-tier accommodation, domestic tourism Pakistan, standardized hotels, hotel franchising, Lakson VC, Asad Samar, Haasin bin Zahid, Abdul Rehman, Northern Areas tourism, online hotel booking, contactless check-in, hospitality investment, hotel operations, yurts Pakistan, guest house network