Smart Host Secures Growth Financing from Riverside Acceleration Capital and Kicks Off Its Next Expansion Phase
The DACH hotel CRM teams up with RAC to expand its platform, build out its guest data ecosystem and take first steps into further European markets.
Smart Host, one of the leading hotel CRMs in the DACH market, today announced that Riverside Acceleration Capital (RAC) has come on board as a strategic financing partner.
RAC is one of the most renowned investors in B2B SaaS and specifically backs companies that deliver measurable impact for their customers. For Smart Host, the partnership marks the start of a new growth phase: deeper roots in the DACH market, an expanded platform and first steps into additional European markets.
Why now?
Independent hotels are fighting on two fronts every day. OTAs control the guest relationship and charge commission for it. And legacy systems like the PMS were built to manage reservations, with guest marketing never part of the brief. Smart Host closes this gap: the platform connects directly to the PMS, centralizes all guest data and enables automated, personalized communication before, during and after the stay.
The result: hotels win back their guest relationships, grow direct bookings and reduce their dependency on OTAs.
What the financing makes possible
With RAC behind it, Smart Host is accelerating on several fronts:
Platform expansion: New features across guest profiles, CRM, offer management and analytics
Data ecosystem: Smart Host is positioning itself as the central platform where hotels strategically build their guest data and make it usable across systems, from the very first booking inquiry to the loyal regular guest
Broader market coverage: A stronger presence among independent hotels, boutique hotels and small hotel groups in the DACH region
European expansion: First targeted steps beyond the DACH market
Julian Leitner, Founder of Smart Host:
"This partnership gives us the resources and the network to accelerate what we've built over the past few years: a platform that puts hotels back in real control of their guest data and guest relationships, and that grows alongside the hospitality industry's expanding tech ecosystem."
Christian Stein, Partner at Riverside Acceleration Capital:
"Smart Host addresses a structural problem that affects thousands of hotels every day. What convinced us was the combination of deep PMS integrations, purpose-built automation and a clear focus on measurable results for hoteliers."
Looking for a hotel CRM?
More than 1,000 hotels in the DACH region already use Smart Host to centralize guest data, grow direct bookings and automate their guest communication. Book your personal demo here: https://www.smart-host.com/de/produkt/demo
