Imagine a world where Michelin-star talent is available for intimate gatherings, corporate events, or even just a special night at home with a click of a button.
Night Inn, a platform founded by Mike Wolkon and Rena Ogura, is making this dream a reality by connecting customers with top-tier hospitality professionals. After testing with customers and high-end talent for over a year in NYC, Night Inn launched its new self-service technology platform in April, allowing hospitality professionals, or "Experts," to develop their own high-end experiences and offer them directly to customers. With current offerings like wine tastings, cocktail making classes, and beer tastings, Night Inn is looking further to expand its roster to include food experts and even entertainers such as magicians and comedians.
From Black-owned and Female-owned wine tastings to Asian-inspired cocktails for AAPI heritage month, Night Inn's platform showcases diverse cultures and supports important causes. This growing selection of unique experiences highlights the creativity and expertise of Night Inn's talented professionals.
Promoting Talent in Hospitality
The hospitality industry has long been plagued by income volatility, a sentiment echoed by a survey commissioned by the NYC Mayor's Office, with 58% of hospitality employees relying on multiple income sources. Night Inn aims to provide a solution by offering new income sources and opportunities for industry professionals to build personal brands. As the platform grows, it plans to offer additional monetization tools like brand partnerships and the ability to sell digital services and physical products. These opportunities empower hospitality professionals to take control of their careers and financial futures, all while creating an amazing end-client experience.
The New Hospitality Experience
Night Inn caters to customers seeking unique experiences and intimate connections. The platform has already served Fortune 100 companies hosting team and client cocktail making experiences, luxury building groups hosting wine and cheese tastings for their residents, and private at-home groups looking to elevate a birthday party or date night.
By bringing high-quality hospitality experiences to customers' homes and offices, Night Inn makes it easier for friends, family, and colleagues to connect and create lasting memories. This innovative approach to hospitality is transforming the way we socialize, offering fresh alternatives to traditional bars and restaurants.
The Founding Story
Mike Wolkon, who has a degree in Labor Relations, is dedicated to bridging holes in the labor economy. Rena Ogura, a recent HBS graduate and CMS Certified Sommelier, is committed to generating powerful customer experiences through hospitality. Their collaboration began when Mike attended a wine tasting and sushi making event hosted by Rena, which inspired the concept for Night Inn.
To start, Mike and Rena conducted extensive interviews with hospitality professionals to better understand their needs and ambitions. This research established the groundwork for Night Inn's mission: to provide a platform that enables hospitality professionals to thrive while providing guests with unique and unforgettable experiences.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed Night Inn's original debut, but the team pivoted to offer virtual experiences, giving much-needed income for furloughed hotel professionals. Building consumer trust was critical in the early days, but after over a year of satisfied customers, over half of Night Inn's experiences serve repeat customers. Since launching its live Experiences in 2022, the platform has facilitated over 250 live experiences for approximately 10,000 people, with an ever-growing list of experts from Michelin-starred restaurants.
The Future with Night Inn
Night Inn aspires to be the go-to platform for high-end hospitality talent seeking to build a freelance business, connecting with consumers, companies, and brands who want to engage with them.
With the launch of the new platform, Night Inn intends to expand in numerous ways:
New Experience types: Introducing food experiences like sushi making and cheese tastings, as well as non-food and beverage experiences such as magic shows, floral workshops, and game nights.
New geographies: Expanding into other major cities to bring Night Inn’s innovative hospitality services to a broader audience.
New Expert tools: Allowing consumers to not only book Experts for private experiences but also to purchase products (e.g., cocktail kits) and services (e.g., wine cellar consultations) from them.
Night Inn's new platform is breaking down barriers in the hospitality industry, providing opportunities for talented professionals to build their careers, and offering customers unique, engaging experiences. With its ambitious expansion plans and commitment to elevating underrepresented voices, Night Inn is poised to change the way we connect with others and experience hospitality. Say goodbye to the loud, crowded bars and restaurants of the past and embrace the creative, intimate experiences that Night Inn has to offer.
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