A European hospitality startup using tiny homes as boutique remote hotel rooms is seeing huge success — see inside its cabins

A Raus cabin among nature and trees

Noel Richter

  • German hospitality startup Raus is putting tiny home cabins in remote destinations near Berlin.
  • Raus has a roughly 2,600-person waitlist and plans to open in 50 locations by the end of 2022.
  • Its most recent cabin was fully booked within 48 hours.
Why stay in a five-star hotel surrounded by other guests when you can vacation in a tiny cabin in the middle of nowhere?

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed near an open window.

Noel Richter

If you’ve been asking yourself this since the start of the summer travel boom, you’re not alone.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Noel Richter

In October 2021, German hospitality startup Raus began placing cabin rentals in remote locations near Belin, giving city dwellers a nearby reprieve.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields at night.

Noel Richter

Raus hasn’t been in operation for a full year yet, but the company is already seeing wild demand and thousands of people on its waitlist, Julian Trautwein, Raus’ co-founder, told Insider.

Stairs leading up to a black Raus cabin.

Noel Richter

Operating tiny homes in off-grid locations isn’t a new hospitality concept.

A bed and dining table next to a large window showing the view of nature

Noel Richter

In the US, companies like Getaway House and Moliving are doing just that, appealing to travelers who are tired of standard hotels and craving a break from cities.

A Moliving unit sits atop a hill.
A Moliving unit.

David Mitchell

And like other startups thriving in the tiny cabin-turned-boutique hotel space, Raus is seeing plenty of success in Germany.

A bed, kitchen, table with chairs and windows showing nature outside

Noel Richter

The rise in local but isolated unique stays is the result of three emerging travel trends: the desire for off-grid, sustainable, and nearby vacations, according to Trautwein.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by tall trees and open fields.

Noel Richter

During COVID-19, more travelers began seeking remote vacations to recharge and unplug from crowded cities.

A Raus cabin glowing with the lights on at night

Noel Richter

At the same time, eco-friendly vacations have steadily risen in popularity amid our ongoing climate crisis.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by tall trees.

Noel Richter

Source:

And let’s not forget about everyone’s favorite topic: money.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Noel Richter

Inflation and the rising costs of both air travel and gas have recently pushed more travelers to consider nearby destinations.

A close up of a Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Noel Richter

So it should be no surprise Raus’ 10 locations have seen smashing success and nearly nonstop business.

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed, dining table, kitchen, windows with views of nature.

Noel Richter

The first cabin was designed in-house and set up in October 2021.

An overhead view of a Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Noel Richter

Shortly after, Raus was “overrun” with public interest, Trautwein said.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by dense and tall.

Noel Richter

All of its units have hit over 95% occupancy levels since the rollout of Raus’ first cabin.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Noel Richter

When the company opened bookings through October for one of its newest builds, travelers booked the cabin out in 48 hours.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Noel Richter

And Raus now has an almost 2,600-person waitlist, Trautwein said. Insider verified the waitlist.

Sun shining through the window in a Raus cabin with a daybed, bed.

Noel Richter

To generate all of this hype, the brand relies on two cabin models.

A bed, kitchen, daybed with windows showing nature outside

Noel Richter

The first accommodates up to two people, while the second — designed with an architecture firm — can fit up to four guests.

The view of a Raus cabin near trees.

Noel Richter

No matter the model, all of Raus’ tiny homes are based on wheels …

A bed, kitchen, daybed with windows showing nature outside

Noel Richter

… which decreases the units’ impact on the environment and allows the cabins to be moved according to the company’s needs.

A Raus cabin outside in nature surrounded by trees

Noel Richter

Raus knows many of its guests are looking to unplug from big cities, which is why its locations are denoted by the level of remoteness and “on-grid” versus “off-grid” on its website.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and a nearby home

Noel Richter

Source:  

“We wanted to create spaces for people to take time off to and take care of themselves,” Trautwein said.

A close up of a Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees and open fields.

Noel Richter

The cabins, which are each sustainability built in six weeks, were designed to have a boutique hotel room feel to make a stay “feel like an experience,” he said.

A bed, kitchen, daybed with windows showing nature outside

Noel Richter

The cabins start at €160 (about $167) per night with a minimum two-night stay.

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed, dining table, kitchen, windows with views of nature.

Noel Richter

Inside, there are amenities like a queen bed …

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed near windows.

Noel Richter

… expansive windows for views of nature …

Windows that show the outside trees and fields from inside the Raus kitchen

Noel Richter

… a kitchen with two stove tops, a refrigerator, and kitchen tools …

A look inside a Raus cabin with a dining table, kitchen, windows with views of nature.

Noel Richter

… and bathroom with a shower and composting toilet.

A black minimalist shower inside a Raus cabin.

Noel Richter

If you plan on working remotely during the duration of your stay, the cabin also has a small desk space.

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed, dining table, kitchen, windows with views of nature.

Noel Richter

For summertime vacations, there’s a terrace for an afternoon bask under the sun.

A Raus cabin outside in nature surrounded by trees and animals.

Noel Richter

But when it’s winter, vacationers can use the fireplace instead.

A kitchen with a dining table, heater

Noel Richter

To support all of these amenities off-grid, the cabin relies on solar panels and fresh water tanks.

A Raus cabin in nature surrounded by trees

Noel Richter

Like New York-based Moliving, Raus’ partners with local landowners to open new locations.

A Raus cabin outside in nature surrounded by trees

Noel Richter

Source:

In one cabin, you might wake up to views of roaming animals.

A Raus cabin among nature, animals, and trees

Noel Richter

Source:

In another, you’ll have an expansive view of giant lush trees.

A Raus cabin among nature and trees

Noel Richter

There’s obviously a big emphasis on off-grid vacationing, but this doesn’t mean the units are difficult to access.

A Raus cabin among nature and trees

Noel Richter

Most of Raus’ cabins are under two hours from Berlin, making them the perfect vacation destination for city dwellers craving an escape.

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bed near windows.

Noel Richter

Looking ahead, the company already has plans to expand, which was inevitable for a young but thriving hospitality startup that now has minimal availability and a deep waitlist.

A look inside a Raus cabin with a bathroom, kitchen, windows with views of nature.

Noel Richter

“So many people are looking for this new type of travel that is a bit closer to home, mindful, and very sustainable,” Trautwein said. “We [thought we] should try to expand it, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

A Raus cabin outside in nature surrounded by trees

Noel Richter

Raus wants to operate in 50 locations by the end of 2022, a massive growth from the 10 units it is currently operating.

A Raus cabin outside in nature surrounded by trees and an open field

Noel Richter

Beyond that, it’s also considering expanding into nearby countries following an abundance of international interest …

A Raus cabin outside in nature surrounded by trees

Noel Richter

… and is considering the possibility of rolling out more “unique stays” besides cabins.

A Raus cabin outside in nature surrounded by trees

Noel Richter

“We’re building a platform that is not only about accommodations, but also about products and services that provide you with a more immersive experience in nature,” Trautwein said.

A Raus cabin outside in nature surrounded by trees

Noel Richter

Read the original article on Business Insider