June 26, 2025
Dubai, UAE / Vienna, Austria – In a move that signals a major leap forward for the hospitality industry, Chatlyn, the Vienna-based AI communication hub for hotels, has announced the closing of a $9.3 million (€8 million) Series A funding round, led by Smedvig Ventures. The round also saw participation from a roster of strategic investors including Andreas Burike (founder of AnyDesk), Austrian transport leader Blaguss, and Mathias Hiebeler, former owner of Grob Aircraft. Additionally, Austria’s national innovation body, FFG, extended support through a prestigious research and development grant.
Founded in late 2022, Chatlyn is already transforming how more than 1,000 properties across 30 countries manage guest communication. With its recent expansion into the Middle East via a new Dubai office, the company is poised to deepen its impact in one of the world’s fastest-growing luxury hospitality markets.
Tackling the Hospitality Industry’s €10 Billion Communication Challenge
The global hospitality sector is plagued by fragmented communication workflows that span 8–12 disconnected channels—from WhatsApp and email to OTA platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com. This disjointed setup causes delayed responses, lost bookings, and overwhelmed staff. The result? An estimated €10 billion in missed revenue every year.
“Hotels are losing guests at 2 AM because no one’s available to reply in real time,” said Nicolas Vorsteher, Chatlyn CEO and Co-founder. “We’re building the AI brain for hotels—an intelligent assistant that speaks 35+ languages, understands each property’s tone, and ensures every interaction is timely, personal, and revenue-generating.”
AI That Speaks Hotel
Chatlyn positions itself as more than a chatbot—it is an AI-native guest experience platform built for real-world hospitality operations. Some of its standout features include:
Visual AI Webchat: The industry’s first visual assistant that showcases live availability and pricing while guiding guests through entire booking journeys.
WhatsApp Messaging with 98% Open Rates: A massive improvement over the 20% typical email open rate, making guest engagement more effective than ever.
Complete Channel Integration: The only platform integrating with Airbnb, Booking.com, WhatsApp, email, SMS, and more.
Multilingual AI Suite: Real-time translation and intelligent automation in 35+ languages across voice calls, review responses, and emails.
20+ PMS Integrations: Deep integrations with platforms like Oracle Opera, Protel, Mews, Apaleo, and Clock PMS, turning Chatlyn into the central command center for hotel operations.
“Our AI handles over 70% of guest inquiries instantly in German, Arabic, English, and beyond,” shared Garry Loefgen, Head of Commercial at InterContinental Vienna. “It’s like having a multilingual concierge who never sleeps.”
Strategic Funding to Drive Global Growth
The new capital will power Chatlyn’s next phase of expansion across three key dimensions:
Product Innovation
Launch of a channel-agnostic AI Booking Assistant
Development of agentic AI for automated voice support
Market Expansion
Strengthen dominance in DACH markets
Expand further into Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East
Team Growth
Scale engineering and AI teams
Offer AI consulting for hotel partners to stay ahead of evolving tech
“This investment validates our belief that intelligent guest communication should be seamlessly connected to hotel operations,” said Michael Urbanek, CTO and Co-founder. “We’re not just automating replies—we’re elevating service through contextual AI.”
Investor Confidence and Industry Recognition
“Chatlyn is redefining how hospitality works, much like online booking did in the 2000s,” said Freddie Kalfayan, Principal at Smedvig Ventures. “Their fast adoption by high-end hotel brands and standout AI tech gives them a clear edge in this rapidly growing sector.”
The platform’s success has not gone unnoticed. Chatlyn was named Best Chatbot Solution Provider 2024 by the World Travel Awards and secured innovation grant funding from FFG for its cutting-edge AI research.
Key Highlights at a Glance
💰 €8M Series A led by Smedvig Ventures
🏨 1,000+ hotel partners across 30 countries
🌍 Offices in Vienna & Dubai
🔌 20+ PMS integrations
🏆 Awarded Best Chatbot Solution 2024
🛎️ Serving properties like St. Regis Mauritius, InterContinental Vienna, Le Grand Bellevue Gstaad, and The Royal Stable Dubai
About Chatlyn
Founded by Nicolas Vorsteher (CEO), Michael Urbanek (CTO), and Matthias Haubner (CPO), Chatlyn is the all-in-one AI communication platform designed for hotels. By unifying email, WhatsApp, SMS, social media, and OTA channels into one intelligent interface, it delivers powerful automation, multilingual support, and revenue-driving guest experiences.
👉 Learn more at: www.chatlyn.com
About Smedvig Ventures
Smedvig Ventures is a UK-based venture capital firm focused on scaling visionary SaaS, fintech, and AI-driven businesses. The firm backs ambitious founders building platforms with global potential and long-term impact.
