Guestara, a startup focused on transforming guest service and engagement in hospitality, has announced the successful raising of $500,000 in pre-seed funding. Industry veteran Sanjay Ghare and a group of experienced travel and hospitality tech entrepreneurs led the round.
The company plans to use the funds to develop advanced AI-driven solutions designed to optimize operations, enhance guest satisfaction, and unlock new revenue opportunities for hotels worldwide.
Guestara, founded by CEO Akshay Dekate and three other co-founders, provides an AI-powered guest management platform that centralizes and automates essential hospitality functions. The startup’s solutions include Unified Inbox, Contactless Mobile Check-In, Omnichannel Guest Engagement, Personalized Upselling, and Smart Checkout, all designed to integrate smoothly with top Property Management Systems (PMS).
By streamlining guest management into an intelligent, centralized workflow, Guestara helps hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals focus on what truly matters—creating memorable experiences for their guests.
“Hospitality is more than a service—it’s an experience,” said Akshay. “Guestara harnesses AI to help hotels elevate that experience, boosting operational efficiency and enhancing guest loyalty. Our goal is to onboard 2 million rooms globally and transform the sector into a data-driven, people-focused industry.”
Guestara reports that it has onboarded hotels and short-term rentals as beta clients, collectively managing over 2,000 rooms, including three global hotel chains. These clients have seen a 20% improvement in operational efficiency, a 35% increase in guest satisfaction, and a 57% rise in incremental revenue.
The platform enables hoteliers to focus on building stronger relationships with their guests by offering real-time insights and eliminating many manual tasks that overwhelm staff.
“We see Guestara as a game-changer,” said Sanjay Ghare, Co-founder and CEO of Vervotech. “Their AI-first approach brings immediate economic and experiential benefits to our industry. We’re thrilled to support them as they redefine hospitality for the modern era.”
With this funding, Guestara plans to speed up product development and broaden its reach, aiming to partner with various hotels, from boutique independents to large multinational chains.
