Urban Rest Apartments is a technology company.
Urban Rest Apartments has raised $30.0M across 1 funding round.
Urban Rest Apartments has raised $30.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Urban Rest Apartments is a hospitality company specializing in premium, tech-enabled serviced apartments for short- to medium-term stays, offering stylish alternatives to hotels and short-term rentals with a focus on comfort, wellbeing, sustainability, and flexibility.[1][2][3] It serves business travelers, corporate relocations, remote workers, leisure guests, and pet owners, solving the problem of cramped, impersonal hotel rooms or unpredictable rentals by providing 30% more space, full kitchens, laundry, fast Wi-Fi, 24/7 support, and prime locations across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Ireland.[2][3][4] With over 1,000 apartments globally and rapid expansion—including recent acquisitions and new openings—the company demonstrates strong growth momentum, scaling from a Sydney startup to a multi-country operator supported by platforms like SiteMinder.[2][3][5]
Urban Rest was founded in 2017 in Sydney, Australia, by David Whelan, who drew from personal frustrations with inadequate accommodation options during extensive business travel and relocations.[2][4][5] Whelan aimed to revolutionize extended-stay lodging for corporate travelers by blending hotel luxury with rental flexibility, creating spacious, design-led apartments that promote wellbeing.[3][4][5] Early traction came from addressing gaps in personalized, modern stays; the company quickly expanded from a handful of properties to over 700 units globally, leveraging technology for a "digital reception desk" and 24/7 support to enter high-demand locations unviable for traditional hotels.[3] Pivotal moments include surpassing 1,000 stays, launching flagship properties like Melbourne CBD and Sylvia Park in Auckland, acquiring The Urban Butler in New Zealand in 2025, and entering Europe.[2][4][5][6]
Urban Rest rides the trend of tech-disrupted hospitality, blending proptech with flexible accommodations amid rising demand for hybrid work-travel, remote relocations, and "bleisure" stays post-pandemic.[2][3] Timing aligns with market forces like corporate travel rebound, sustainability mandates, and urban density favoring compact, high-end apart-hotels over bulky traditional hotels—allowing entry into premium spots via digital efficiency.[3][5] It influences the ecosystem by pioneering a "new category" of next-gen serviced apartments, inspiring competitors like Placemakr and Mint House while expanding globally through acquisitions and tech integrations.[1][5]
Urban Rest is poised for accelerated global scaling, targeting dominance as the most trusted provider in Australasia and Europe with plans for more properties, tech enhancements, and corporate-focused lines like Urban Rest Homes.[2][4] Trends like AI-driven personalization, ESG pressures, and prolonged business stays will fuel growth, potentially evolving it into a full-fledged global brand via further M&A and proptech partnerships. This positions Urban Rest to redefine modern travel comfort, directly fulfilling Whelan's vision from Sydney frustrations to worldwide wellbeing-focused stays.[2][5]
Urban Rest Apartments has raised $30.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Urban Rest Apartments's investors include 3VC, Trivian Capital.
Urban Rest Apartments has raised $30.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $30.0M Series B in October 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2023 | $30.0M Series B | 3VC, Trivian Capital |