Alternative Lodging Startup WhyHotel Raises $10 Million in Series A

WhyHotel, an alternative lodging service that operates pop-up hotels in new build luxury apartment buildings, secured $10 million in a Series A funding round led by Highland Capital Partners, with participation from Camber Creek, Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, Mendacre, MetaProp, and Geolo Capital.

After a series of successful pop-up hotel launches in DC and Baltimore, WhyHotel plans to use the funds to expand to northern Virginia with locations at Ballston Quarter, Centro Arlington, and The Boro in Tysons. In partnership with the property owner, Brookfield Properties and QIC Global Real Estate, the Ballston Quarter pop-up will house up to 175 WhyHotel units and will be located at 700 N Randolph Street. The Centro Arlington pop-up, launched in partnership with Orr Partners and Weingarten Realty will house up to 150 WhyHotel units and will be located at 950 South George Mason Drive. Finally, The Boro pop-up, located at 8305 Greensboro Drive in the future apartment building branded as “Rise” will house up to 150 WhyHotel units in partnership with The Meridian Group and KETTLER.

The company plans to also use the funds to fill new technology, brand, sales, and human capital positions.