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Subscriptions look set to be big business, with the needle currently swinging to higher quality holidays and experiences.
Luxury vacations club Inspirato could be going public, as part of a special purpose acquisition company deal with Thayer Ventures.
If the deal proceeds, it would value the subscription-based company at $1 billion, according to a Bloomberg report.
Venture capital firm Thayer Ventures set up its so-called “blank check” company in October last year, with a $175 million fund ready to pounce on travel and transportation deals.
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In May 2020, it also closed a $80 million fund to invest in startups.
A public listing would reinforce the strength of the subscription model coming out of the pandemic. Inspirato offers a pass for $2,500 a month, where members can choose from a list of thousands of vacations, and pay no nightly rates, taxes or fees. As well as homes, hotels and cruises, its experiences are included.
To Learn More on SPACs in Travel at Skift, Read: What Exactly Are ‘SPACs’? Why They Will Matter in Travel This Year
A lower priced “Club” membership allows members to pay nightly rates as they travel.
In January, Skift pinpointed the emergence of the subscription model as a staple of travel industry renewal as part of Travel Megatrends 2025. Netherlands-based Zoku recently set up a $3,300 subscription for unlimited stays across its European properties, with a focus on remote workers.
Watch This Interview With Inspirato Founder and CEO Brent Handler from Skift Global Forum
In April, Thayer Ventures contributed to an investment in Redeam, a technology provider to the tours and experiences sector, and NoiseAware, which monitors noise at short-term rental properties.
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Tags: inspirato, loyalty, luxury, spac, startups, subscriptions, thayer ventures, venture capital
Photo credit: A still from an Inspirato commercial in 2020. Inspirato