Austin, Texas-based software as a service company Virdee has closed a $2 million seed round financing led by a group of investors including former La Quinta president Rajiv Trivedi.
Virdee Concierge automates front-of-house workflow, with beta tests suggesting average customer check-in times were reduced from more than three minutes to less than 20 seconds. Whether using a smartphone or in-lobby device, guests can access a property once they verify their identity and provide a form of payment (either on a self-serve basis or by video chat with a remote agent).
Virdee’s software also is meant to catch and prevent fraud and other chargebacks. At the same time, the company’s room upgrade engine has shown a meaningful increase in average daily rate, according to the company.
“High operational costs continue to compress margins and erode profitability for owners of hotels and other real estate assets–meanwhile their customers increasingly want contactless modes of interaction,” said Trivedi, chairman of the Virdee board. “This is the moment for hotels, apartments and other buildings to embrace—and lead—the move toward tech-first interactions. Virdee’s break-through product delivers on a seamless and fully integrated guest experience, and I am excited by the feedback I have received from leading hotel brands and owner/operators.”
“By focusing first and foremost on the guest journey, we have built a product that is adaptable to a wide range of guest preferences and technical ability,” said Nadav Cornberg, Virdee founder and chief technologist. “The seed round enables us to invest in continued product differentiation and to meaningfully expand our sales and marketing efforts.”