Someone sitting outside Unyoked’s cabin.
Off-grid tiny homes for use as short-term rentals have continued to dominate the US’ hospitality industry.
Unyoked
And it looks like this popularity isn’t stopping overseas either.
Unyoked
Like other “eco-hospitality” startups that have popped up over the last few years, Australia-based Unyoked doesn’t operate giant hotels with hundreds of rooms and thousands of guests.
Unyoked
Instead, it has found its niche with off-grid tiny homes on wheels surrounded by nature.
Unyoked
When you’re in an Unyoked cabin — all located two hours from nearby cities — it’s unlikely you’ll see or hear other people.
Unyoked
And this promise of seclusion has had travelers booking up its cabins since the company’s debut six years ago.
Unyoked
Within the first 48 hours of Unyoked’s March 2017 launch, all of its cabins were booked out for months in advance, Cameron Grant — who founded the company with his twin Chris — told Insider.
Unyoked
The hospitality provider currently has almost 100 units speckled throughout Australia and New Zealand with a handful in the UK.
Unyoked
And over the last six years, these cabins have maintained an approximately 73% occupancy rate, Grant said.
Unyoked
Following this high demand and an over $19 million fundraising round, the hospitality company will now begin expanding across Europe …
Unyoked
… focusing on Scandinavia, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, and the UK.
Unyoked
Grant believes the company has seen this level of success because it “created a new category of travel.”
Unyoked
“It’s not the same as people booking an Airbnb and going for a weekend away,” he said. “They’re booking Unyoked because they’re stressed, anxious, need a sense of freedom, or want to clear their head. And they’re connecting with the fact that these natural locations are what makes them feel [better].”
Unyoked
Unyoked’s target demographic is millennials. Think of the stereotypical burnt-out young worker in need of a break and some nature.
Unyoked
Unyoked wants to grow its footprint to around 400 units in the next 18 months, Grant said.
Unyoked
And in the next three to four years, the goal is to have about a thousand of these tiny homes in operation.
Unyoked
Similar to US-based Getaway — known for its Instagrammable matte black tiny cabins — Unyoked’s properties are all accessible by city dwellers.
Unyoked
But according to Grant, Unyoked prioritizes seclusion, unlike Getaway.
Unyoked
Some of its units are all on the same property.
Unyoked
But given the distance between cabins, travelers likely won’t see or hear other Unyoked guests during their stay.
Unyoked
Inside, the approximately 10-foot by 30-foot tiny homes all have kitchens, full bathrooms, and a bed.
Unyoked
The walls are lined with plywood-like walls, leaving the natural wood grain exposed.
Unyoked
And outside, every unit comes with an outdoor fire pit and cooking equipment for travelers who want a true camping experience.
Unyoked
To remain off-grid, all of the tiny homes are equipped with solar power, rainwater tanks, wooden fireplaces, and composting toilets.
Unyoked
The units are designed in-house and tweaked for their locations’ climates. Unyoked then partners with builders to create the units.
Unyoked
When it’s time to deliver, the home on wheels can be towed to their remote destinations with a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Unyoked
Instead of relying on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, Unyoked’s cabins can only be booked on its own platform.
Unyoked
Over the last few years, hospitality operators with off-grid tiny homes have seen a boom in bookings.
Unyoked
Many Airbnb hosts with unique tiny homes have seen consistent bookings.
Courtesy of Seth and Emily Britt
Source: Insider
And in 2022, Getaway opened nine new locations, bringing its total number of cabins across the US to over 1,000.
Getaway
Source: Getaway