Hotel rooms

European hospitality startup uses tiny mobile homes as hotel rooms

July 3, 2022July 3, 2022 Gary D. Avera Comments Off

If you’ve been wondering since the summer travel boom began, you’re not alone.

Noel Richter

In October 2021, German hospitality startup Raus began renting cabins in remote locations near Belin, giving city dwellers a respite nearby.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields at night.

Raus hasn’t been in business for a year yet, but the company is already seeing high demand and thousands of people on its waiting list, Raus co-founder Julian Trautwein told Insider.

Stairs to a black Raus cabin.

Operating tiny homes in off-grid locations is not a new concept in hospitality.

A bed and a dining table next to a large window showing the view of nature

In the US, companies like Getaway House and Moliving are doing just that, appealing to travelers who are tired of standard hotels and want to get away from the cities.

A Moliving unit sits on top of a hill. — A mobile unit.

And like other successful startups in the tiny hotel-turned-boutique space, Raus is enjoying great success in Germany.

A bed, a kitchen, a table with chairs and windows showing the nature outside

The increase in local yet isolated unique stays is the result of three emerging travel trends: the desire for off-the-grid, sustainable and nearby vacations, according to Trautwein.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by tall trees and open fields.

During COVID-19, more and more travelers have started looking for remote vacations to recharge and disconnect from crowded cities.

A glowing Raus cabin with the lights on at night

At the same time, eco-friendly vacations have steadily grown in popularity amid our current climate crisis.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by tall trees.

Source: Travel pulse

And let’s not forget everyone’s favorite topic: money.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Inflation and rising airfare and gas costs have recently prompted more travelers to consider nearby destinations.

A close up of a Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

It is therefore not surprising that the 10 locations in Raus have enjoyed resounding success and almost uninterrupted activity.

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed, dining table, kitchen, windows with a view of nature.

The first cabin was designed in-house and put in place in October 2021.

An aerial view of a Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Soon after, Raus was “overwhelmed” by public interest, Trautwein said.

A Raus hut in nature surrounded by dense and high.

All of its units have achieved over 95% occupancy since the deployment of the first Raus cabin.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

When the company opened reservations through October for one of its newest builds, travelers booked the cabin within 48 hours.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

And Raus now has a waiting list of nearly 2,600 people, Trautwein said. Insider checked the waitlist.

Sun shining through the window in a Raus cabin with a daybed, bed.

To generate all this hype, the brand relies on two cabin models.

A bed, kitchen, daybed with windows showing nature outside

Noel Richter

The first can accommodate up to two people, while the second, designed with an architectural firm, can accommodate up to four people.

The view from a Raus hut near the trees.

No matter the model, all of Raus’ tiny houses are based on wheels…

A bed, kitchen, daybed with windows showing nature outside

… which reduces the impact of the units on the environment and allows the cabins to be moved according to the needs of the company.

A Raus cabin outdoors in nature surrounded by trees

Raus knows that many of his customers are looking to disconnect from major cities, so his locations are listed by level of remoteness and “on-grid” versus “off-grid” on his website.

A Raus hut in nature surrounded by trees and a house nearby

Source: Raus

“We wanted to create spaces for people to take time out and take care of themselves,” Trautwein said.

A close up of a Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

The cabins, which are each sustainably built in six weeks, have been designed to feel like a boutique hotel room so that the stay “feels like an experience”, he said.

A bed, kitchen, daybed with windows showing nature outside

Cabins start at €160 (about $167) per night with a minimum stay of two nights.

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed, dining table, kitchen, windows with a view of nature.

Inside, there are amenities like a queen bed…

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed by the windows.

… large bay windows for a view of nature …

Windows that show the outside trees and fields from inside the Raus kitchen

… and bathroom with shower and dry toilets.

A black minimalist shower inside a Raus cabin.

Gary D. Avera

https://1stparishotels.com