Startup TripResale has made its debut in the travel industry with a unique proposition in Spain: a platform that allows travelers to resell their non-refundable hotel stays if they are unable to use them. Launched this week and presented to hoteliers and industry professionals, TripResale has earned the nickname “the Wallapop of hotel stays” by offering flexibility never before seen in the market for non-refundable bookings, which until now were a rigid option for customers. TripResale’s proposal, created as part of the Emprenbit program, introduces the so-called Revendible Non-Refundable Rate, a modality that turns prepaid, non-cancellable bookings into a new opportunity. The platform allows customers to list their bookings on TripResale.com and, if they manage to resell them, get the original payment back. “With digitalization we have found an opportunity that will benefit both travelers and hoteliers, especially in the management of ‘no-shows’ and customer satisfaction,” noted Eduardo Martinez, CEO of TripResale.
Advantage for hotels
For hotels, this rate offers the advantage of advancing customer collections and ensuring occupancy, while giving them the option to repurchase these reservations during times of high demand and resell them at a higher price. In addition, the maximum resale price is limited to the original price, ensuring that there is no speculation in the market. TripResale comes with the intention of adding a differential value to hotels, which can adopt this resellable rate on their websites, thus gaining in competitiveness against online travel agencies and other distributors. The platform also supports cancellation insurance and certain date changes, offering the client a more flexible and exclusive policy that boosts direct sales.