Amsterdam-based HolidayHero’s CEO and co-founder Sjeel Koster steps down

Sjeel Koster, CEO and co-founder of HolidayHero, announced on Monday that she is stepping down from her role. 

HolidayHero empowers hotels and short-term vacation rental hosts to manage guest experiences beyond booking. 

With the HolidayHero Guest app, users can save time on guest management, boost topline revenue, and exceed overall guest expectations.

“Two years ago becoming a founder felt like the next logical step for me, drawing on my diverse experiences from working in various startups and scale-ups. But something was missing—a challenge I hadn’t tackled yet: building a company from scratch. So, when the chance came my way, I jumped at it without a second thought,” says Sjeel. 

Sjeel also emphasised the lessons learned during their tenure, highlighting the rollercoaster nature of entrepreneurship, where resilience in the face of setbacks is paramount. 

Reflecting on the complications of starting a company, she discussed the ongoing process of refining product-market fit and the critical decisions surrounding funding strategies. 

“When it comes to funding, the options can feel overwhelming. Do you bootstrap, seek support from angels, or venture into the world of VC? It’s crucial to have open discussions with your founding team to align on the best funding strategy for your journey ahead,” she adds. 

“Stepping away from HolidayHero wasn’t easy. It meant letting go of not just a concept, but a part of myself deeply intertwined with the company’s journey. However, I made a pact with myself long ago: prioritise happiness above all else. If something no longer makes you happy, it’s time to move on. And in doing so, other doors will open for you,” she concludes.

HolidayHero: Improving guest and hosting experience 

Founded in 2022 by Sjeel Koster, Dennis Cuijpers, Hjalte Niehorster, and Ruud Stelder, HolidayHero is a software platform that supports hotels and short-term rental hosts to manage guest expectations.

The all-in-one guest experience platform helps hosts and hoteliers delight guests and build loyalty through smart conversational messaging and personalised service offerings.