Category: Frontdesk News

Alycia Doxon Appointed to Frontdesk Board of Directors

Posted on by Alicia Haugen

We are proud to announce today that Alycia Doxon, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, has been appointed to Frontdesk’s Board of Directors.

“In three years, Alycia was promoted from City Manager to Director of Operations and then to Chief Operating Officer. She has made our company better at every stop,” said Kyle Weatherly, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “So it’s natural, but nonetheless exciting, that we asked her to join the Board.”

Doxon is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, with degrees in finance and economics, in addition to having significant operating experience in venture finance and entrepreneurship. She started with Frontdesk in 2017. 

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Alycia to the Board. Alycia brings a deep understanding of short-term rental operations, having grown Frontdesk’s own city operations team from 1 market to 27 markets in just 3-years, hosting thousands of guests each month,” said Jesse DePinto, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer. “The fact that over 85% of Frontdesk guests have a 5-star experience is a testament to Alycia’s leadership.”

Frontdesk Secures $6.8 Million Series A Financing Round

Posted on by Alicia Haugen

Founded in 2017, Frontdesk, the tech-enabled short-term apartment rental startup transforming the way people experience travel, announced it has completed a $6.8 million Series A raise in a combination of debt and equity. This financing comes on the heels of the company’s $2.75 million bridge round, raised in summer 2019.

“Before the coronavirus crisis, we always felt that we had the most supportive investors imaginable,” said Kyle Weatherly, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Now we are absolutely certain of it. Not only did they make good on their initial commitment, but they increased it by almost $3 million. This provides us the capital to not only survive the crisis but it will also allow us to accelerate our growth again when travel rebounds.”  

Frontdesk’s focus on sustainable growth is another key contributor in helping the company weather the coronavirus crisis. The company is not immune to the effects of the virus, having recently laid off 35 of its 241 employees; however, Frontdesk already sees positive indicators of increased travel demand. The company hopes to rehire those employees, in addition to dozens of new employees, this summer.

“We are opening a new chapter of Frontdesk history,” said Jesse DePinto, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer. “We may have been the underdog before, but now Frontdesk is positioned to be an industry leader. We would not be here today if it wasn’t for the dedication of our employees, the faith of our investors, and the support of our real estate partners.”

The Comforts of an Apartment with the Conveniences of a Hotel 

Frontdesk currently operates in 28 cities with over 500 fully-serviced apartment suites. Unlike vacation rentals, Frontdesk manages the entire guest experience from end to end, from their in-house technology stack to the in-house cleaning operation. Frontdesk proudly boasts an average of 4.8 out of 5.0 guest review score on their over 60,000 stays to date, ranging in length from 1-night to 6-months. Their spaces are on average 3x the size of a typical hotel room, offering more space and comfort to their guests.

“This place was amazing. I’m still impressed with how big it was,” said Frontdesk guest Anna. “The location was perfect, it was close to everything we needed. Communication was spot on and available at any time you needed it. We would go back in a heartbeat!” 

8 Best Things to Do With Your Family During Quarantine

Posted on by Alicia Haugen

Many states have enacted stay-at-home orders and families across the country are adapting to a new way of life. While many schools and businesses have closed and transitioned to a remote setting, it has allowed for some unprecedented quality time which has people asking: how do I keep my kids (and myself) from going stir crazy? Whether you’re learning to balance life working from home, or you’ve simply run out of ways to entertain your children, we’ve got the best tips for you.

1. Take a Virtual Field Trip - No Permission Slip Needed!

Have you ever dreamed of visiting far off places like the Louvre in Paris, or seeing Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park? Now’s your chance! Take the tour of a lifetime right from the comfort of your couch. Several of the world’s best museums and parks have stepped up to offer educational activities for you and your children, including the Guggenheim in New York, the British Museum in London, and many more!

2. Watch Zoo and Aquarium Live Streams

Maybe museums aren’t your thing, but the free virtual experiences don’t stop there! Some of the nation’s finest zoos and aquariums have also stepped up to offer hours of free live streamed entertainment for your family. The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago did a live stream of their penguins roaming the empty aquarium at night. The Georgia Aquarium, National Aquarium, and the Atlanta Zoo are offering live stream footage of some of their most popular exhibits. Additionally, the Seattle Aquarium has an awesome 30-minute virtual tour. The options are endless when it comes to virtual experiences you and your kids can take advantage of during your time at home.