New Funding Will Help Colombian Hotel Chain Ayenda Push Into Peru
Skift Take
Ayenda's Series A is notable for being led by Kaszek, a giant among Latin American venture firms. The industry will be watching to see if Ayenda can apply Oyo's model of bringing brand standards to budget hotels without running up Oyo's large losses.
The Indian company Oyo popularized the concept of branded budget hotels. But other companies elsewhere have adopted the model while hoping to avoid Oyo's widening losses.
On Wednesday, Ayenda, a Colombian low-cost hotel brand, said it had raised $8.7 million in new funding meant to finance expansion into Peru. Kaszek Ventures led the funding.
Since its launch two years ago, Ayenda has brought more than 150 hotels in Colombia up to a brand standard. The Medellin-based company offers franchisees a standardized look and set of amenities, modern software for managing guests and room inventory, and contemporary marketing techniques, such as direct bookings via its mobile booking app.
Kaszek Ventures, based in Buenos Aires, has deployed about $1 billion in capital since
