Brazilian hotel technology startup Neotrip has successfully secured R$ 2.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by hospitality investment firm HotelInvest. The company aims to transform the hotel booking process by leveraging artificial intelligence to boost direct reservations for hotels. Founded by industry veterans Gustavo Meira and Pedro Henrique Santos, Neotrip is developing an infrastructure to reduce reliance on costly third-party intermediaries.
Addressing a Core Industry Challenge
Neotrip's strategy targets a long-standing issue within the hospitality sector: the difficulty hotels face in converting direct bookings. Many establishments depend heavily on online travel agencies, which can charge commissions ranging from 15% to over 20% per reservation. This financial pressure is compounded by the often inefficient and outdated user experience on hotels' own websites, further hindering their profitability.
An AI-Powered Infrastructure
The company's solution is an advanced AI-based infrastructure designed to streamline the entire booking journey. It integrates conversational chatbots, robust booking engines, and intelligent marketing tools to create a frictionless experience for travelers. These AI agents are meticulously trained on the unique rules and characteristics of each partner hotel, from corporate chains to luxury resorts.
Rather than just providing a simple software tool, Neotrip is building a comprehensive intelligence layer for the industry. The platform utilizes leading third-party language models like Claude and Gemini as a conversational base while developing its own proprietary tools. This approach ensures that hotels retain ownership of critical customer interaction data, empowering them with insights previously held by intermediaries.
Strategic Allocation of Capital
The newly acquired R$ 2.5 million will be primarily allocated to technological development and team expansion. Neotrip plans to more than double its current team of 12 employees to at least 25 by the end of the year. The recruitment drive will focus on strengthening its technology, product, and commercial departments to accelerate platform enhancements.
A key area of investment will be data infrastructure and security, which are critical for delivering personalized guest experiences. By enabling hotels to securely manage their own guest data, Neotrip aims to facilitate deeper customer relationships. This will allow hotels to recognize returning guests and anticipate their needs, creating a more tailored and welcoming stay from the moment of check-in.
Future Roadmap and Expansion
Following its recent launch, Neotrip is actively conducting pilot programs with undisclosed hotel chains and is set to open a new office in São Paulo. The company has set an ambitious goal to onboard over 100 hotels onto its platform by the close of the year. These initial steps are focused on gaining traction and validating its value proposition within the competitive Brazilian market.
Looking ahead, Neotrip is preparing to enter the consumer market with a dedicated travel planning application scheduled for release in the second half of the year. The company's long-term vision includes a strategic expansion into Latin America, supported by a subsequent funding round planned for 2027. This phased approach prioritizes building a strong B2B foundation before scaling to a wider consumer audience.
This pre-seed investment marks a significant milestone for Neotrip, positioning the startup to tackle deep-rooted inefficiencies in the hospitality industry. By equipping hotels with sophisticated AI-driven tools, the company is not only aiming to improve direct booking rates but also to fundamentally reshape the digital experience for travelers. The funding provides a solid foundation for Neotrip to execute its vision and drive meaningful change in the sector.