Spain: Online education platform Alterschool.travel has closed a €1.7 million financing round to accelerate its growth and improve the level of professionalism in the vacation rental sector.
The round was led by investors Eneko Knöor and the current founders of Alterhome, the brothers Patricia and Chema González, with participation from banks in the form of Santander, BBVA and Bankia, and a number of unnamed minority investors and company employees.
The training school, which is the brainchild of Chema and Patricia González – co-founders of Madrid-based property management company Alterhome – specialises in training professionals in the tourism and short-term rental sectors to capitalise on the demand for travel.
Alterschool.travel began operating with a face-to-face format but has since developed into a 100 per cent online education programme, incorporating master’s qualifications taught by industry leaders from companies such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Vacasa and Homes & Villas by Marriott International.
It currently offers three master’s degrees, which launched to the public last July:
- Emprendetur Tech – 15-minute sessions led by high-level executives helping professionals to set up their own rental businesses and be profitable
- Vacation Rental Growth – designed to teach students how to improve a tourist apartment business with the implementation of technology
- Revenue for Pros – set up to train professionals and non-professionals in the variable management of hotel and apartment revenue, modifying rates based on occupancy and passenger flows to optimise the costs and expenses of the establishments
Last year, Alterschool.travel was named as the official school of the Spanish Federation of Tourist Housing [FEVITUR] for which it carries out training programmes in Spain.
Chema González said: “Having an investor with such experience in the digital world, such as Eneko Knöor, represents enormous satisfaction and an added commitment for the entire Alterschool.travel team.”
Next Thursday [17 February], Alterschool.travel will also unveil a new training programme that is dedicated to teaching industry professionals how to become successful property managers and helping them learn from those who have already achieved it.
The latest course will consist of 15-minute online classes, as well as personal tutorials, weekly live classes, webinars and networking opportunities with students and speakers.
González continued: “We teach the fastest way to have a robust vacation rental business, knowing each area, as well as the necessary tools for it.”
