Selina and Remote Year are joining forces to combine a global portfolio of coworking hotels with a network of thousands of digital nomads. Erica Jamieson reports

This October, Selina, a global hospitality platform with properties in 19 countries, announced the acquisition of Remote Year in an all-stock transaction of brand and customer base.

Remote Year, which organises “work from anywhere” programmes abroad for digital nomads, will continue to operate as its own company, using Selina’s global roster of trendy living and workspaces.

Meanwhile, Selina will gain access to Remote Year’s network of members, with an alumni of over 2,000 “Citizens of the Remote Nation”.

The partnership will offer new pathways for digital nomads and those working remotely during the pandemic to explore new cultures and destinations, all while staying connected to work.Selina hotelThe latest predictions estimate that up to 40 per cent of US employees are now expected to utilise a remote working model in the future.

Selina says the acquisition is one of a number of steps it is taking “to double down on its stay, play and ‘work from anywhere’ model”.

In April 2019, Selina raised US$100 million in Series C round fundraising, bringing the company’s total funding to US$225 million.Selina hotel, PenicheFounded in 2012 by Isreali entrepreneurs Rafael Museri and Daniel Rudasevski, Selina offers subscription-based travel packages to its 76 properties throughout Latin America, the US and Europe.

Guests can book stays by the night, or purchase a membership, which includes all accommodation, coworking spaces, daily wellness activities, weekly laundry, and discounts on food and beverages.

The company has supported continued growth during the pandemic, opening a dozen locations since early June. Selina has also launched three new subscription packages, catering to longer-stay remote workers.

The Nomad Passport, starting at US$360, offers a 30-night prepaid stay that can be used in a four-month window. Tiered offerings allow greater flexibility between locations, and guests must commit a minimum of three nights per property.

Selina CoLive is a month by month rental option, up to four months, starting at US$300. Guests can choose up to three locations per month.

Finally, the B2B Remote Work Pass invites employers to purchase fixed-period stays at individual Selina properties for remote staff, welcoming an industry approach to flexible WFA models.Selina hotel, Saluyita“As we look to a new era of travel and hospitality, we plan to continue expanding our product to offer unique experiences at the intersection of culture, work and travel, that ultimately make it easier than ever for a new generation of worldly travelers to pursue their most fulfilling lives”, says Museri.

Remote Year, founded in Chicago in 2015, offers four-, six-, and 12-month global work and travel itineraries. Each option requires a down payment, starting at US$3,500, and a monthly fee from US$2,000.

Costs include private accommodation, 24/7 coworking space, all flights and door to door transport, and cultural and exchange experiences.

Remote Year’s Village Programme also organises one-month experiences in US cities for remote workers who cannot take longer breaks from their home residence. Earlier this year, Remote Year Signed a deal with the University of California, Irvine, to offer a leadership certification programme via remote teaching and coursework.Selina hotelThe pandemic led Remote Year to pause all operations in mid-March and lay off the majority of its staff. With Selina’s backing, the company is now beginning to resume operations, and has promised to fulfill all commitments to existing companies.

“We could not be more thrilled to join the Selina family. We have previously partnered with Selina in multiple markets over the last few years, and look forward to utilising their global team and infrastructure to power our best programmes yet.

“As travel resumes and more professionals work remotely, we are planning for a surge in demand for our transformational four and 12-month work and travel programmes”, says Remote Year co-founder and CEO, Sam Pessin.Selina hotel, PenicheMeanwhile, Selina announced in mid-October that it has invested in the Israeli-founded e-scooter sharing company LEO.

“In Selina, we realised that green and “open-air” transportation will replace traditional mobility options like buses, cars, trains,” says Museri. He adds that the partnership “not only will enhance our guest experience but open the doors to a new chapter for micro-mobility and hospitality.”

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