©AB Electrical & Communications Ltd Belgian traveltech start-up SplitStay, supported by Start it @KBC, has launched a platform that enables travellers to share hotel rooms, apartments or villas with compatible guests, cutting costs, reducing waste, and fostering social connections during trips to events and conferences.
“We’re used to sharing car rides, but sharing where we sleep is still largely untapped,” says founder Ruben Vanhees. The idea for SplitStay emerged after a last-minute Couchsurfing cancellation left him alone in a hotel room, with half the space unused.
Soaring accommodation prices around major events are pushing many out of reach. “We’ve seen increases up to 1,000%. For many people, that’s simply unaffordable,” says Vanhees. At the same time, he points to growing interest in lower-carbon, experience-led travel. “People want to spend less on empty beds and more on meaningful moments.”
Rather than replacing booking platforms, SplitStay adds a matchmaking layer on top of them. Guests continue to book through Airbnb, Booking, or directly with hotels, while SplitStay connects them with potential co-guests based on shared destination, timing and preferences.
The start-up is targeting the MICE sector for early adoption, highlighting the potential for informal networking. “Some of the best conversations don’t happen in the conference hall, but back at the accommodation,” says Vanhees, reflecting on a pilot during Travel Massive Vietnam, where shared lodging deepened connections.