Why SplitStay Might Just Become the Next Big Thing in TravelTech

 

When Bold Ideas Meet Real-World Travel Problems

One of my favorite parts of working in HospitalityTech & TravelTech is meeting founders who challenge the status quo.

Earlier this year, I connected with Ruben Vanhees, the founder of SplitStay. At the time, he was testing assumptions, gathering feedback, and exploring how to make travel more affordable and social.

His concept sounded simple yet revolutionary:

“What if you could share your stay like you share a ride?”

Just as BlaBlaCar transformed fragmented car journeys into connected, affordable experiences, SplitStay aims to do the same for accommodation, helping travelers match, connect, and share rooms, apartments, or villas with others heading to the same destination or event.

The Pivot: From hotels to events (and why that changes everything)

Initially, SplitStay targeted hotels, promoting the idea of enabling guests to split rooms with other travelers. While some hoteliers found the idea intriguing, the real “aha moment” came when Ruben discovered where the true demand lay: not with hotels, but with event travelers.

Think about it:

• 🎶 Music festivals, where nearby stays become unaffordable overnight.
• 💼 Industry conferences, where attendees want to save money and meet others in their field.
• 🏃 Sporting events, such as city marathons, triathlons, and Ironman competitions, where thousands of athletes and supporters gather for just a few days.
• 🌍 Global summits, where connection, sustainability, and community matter just as much as comfort. 

 

That’s where SplitStay shines, turning shared accommodation into an experience, not a compromise. Travelers attending the same event can match through the platform, share the cost, and often walk away with new friendships or partnerships.

“The problem wasn’t for hotels or OTAs,” Ruben explains. “It was for travelers seeking connection, affordability, and shared experience. That’s where the real opportunity lay.”

Why SplitStay Matters for the Industry

For years, TravelTech innovation has focused on automation, distribution, and analytics. SplitStay reintroduces something more human: shared experience.

It bridges the gap between affordability, community, and sustainability; three forces that define the next generation of travel. By making shared stays simple, safe, and social, SplitStay creates value for both travelers and hosts from hotels and apartments to villas and vacation rentals.

In doing so, it unlocks a whole new way for the industry to drive connection, accessibility, and real-world impact.

The Next Step: SplitStay’s Beta Phase

As SplitStay moves toward its Beta launch, Ruben is inviting early collaborators; especially event organizers, event management solution providers, and ticketing platforms to join the movement and help bring shared travel to life.

Imagine ITB 2026: 100 SplitStay testers, all attending the same event, sharing stays, reducing costs, and proving that innovation isn’t just about technology, it’s about rethinking how we connect and travel.

Why join?

• 💡 Be part of a TravelTech innovation redefining how people stay.
• 🌱 Support sustainability by making better use of existing accommodation.
• 🚀 Help shape a movement that puts people and connection back at the heart of travel.

If that sounds like your kind of mission, send Ruben or I a DM to stay in the loop or help connect SplitStay with relevant partners in the events ecosystem.

Final Thought

SplitStay isn’t just a startup; it’s a movement toward connected, affordable, and meaningful travel.

If you believe the future of travel lies in collaboration, not isolation, then this is one venture to keep an eye on.