Curated Spaces aims to make travel discovery more personal by connecting travellers with boutique stays recommended by trusted creators, while giving influencers a direct way to monetise the bookings they inspire.

A new travel booking platform called Curated Spaces has launched with the ambition of changing how people discover and book trips. Founded by tech entrepreneurs Molly Cooper and Alex Oldfield, the platform connects travellers with a curated collection of independent hotels, cabins and pubs that have been selected by creators, influencers and tastemakers they already follow and trust.

The London-based startup enters a travel sector increasingly shaped by social media recommendations, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional booking sites that rely heavily on algorithms and large inventories. Instead of presenting travellers with thousands of options, Curated Spaces focuses on a smaller collection of independently owned properties chosen by creators whose personal taste aligns with their audiences.

The concept grew out of Cooper's experience hosting an Apple UK Travel and Places podcast, where conversations with hospitality operators revealed frustrations with existing booking systems. In 2024, she joined forces with startup strategist Oldfield to develop the idea into a travel booking platform that connects creators and accommodation providers directly.

For travellers, the platform aims to simplify the planning process by turning recommendations into bookable experiences. Rather than discovering a destination through social media and then searching elsewhere to make a reservation, users can book properties directly through the platform.

For creators, Curated Spaces provides a way to track and monetise the bookings generated by their content. The company says creators receive attribution and rewards when travellers book stays through their recommendations, creating a new commercial model that links travel inspiration with transactions.

Independent hospitality businesses also stand to benefit. By working with creators whose audiences match their brand, accommodation providers can generate bookings through trusted recommendations rather than relying solely on traditional advertising or online travel agencies.

Commenting on the launch, co-founder Molly Cooper says: “Curated Spaces is the world’s first travel booking platform powered by tastemakers. We make travel discovery more human, experiences more soulful, and every moment offline genuinely worth it.

“In an age dominated by algorithmic suggestions, we believe that real taste, style, and authenticity should guide how people plan and book travel. From handpicked design-led stays to seamless bookings, Curated Spaces is built to make every journey deeply personal and joyful.”

Among the first creators to join the platform is Laura Jackson (pictured below), co-founder and CCO of Glassette. She says: “Travel should be joyful, a bit spontaneous and full of character which is exactly what Curated brings to the table. It’s sharp, creative, and built by a female team who really get what a ‘life well lived’ looks like. As someone who’s spent years sharing places I love, it’s exciting to back a platform that finally gives creators the space and structure to do that brilliantly.”

At launch, Curated Spaces features more than 50 properties, including boutique hotels and countryside retreats such as Beaverbrook, Boath House and Thyme. The creator roster includes figures such as Laura Jackson, Estee Lalonde, Gina Goes To and Connor O'Donnel.

The launch highlights the growing overlap between the travel industry and the creator economy. Curated Spaces estimates that it sits at the intersection of an US$800 billion global travel market and a US$500 billion creator economy, reflecting the increasing influence of social media personalities on travel decisions.

As travellers continue to seek more personalised recommendations and independent accommodation providers look for new ways to reach audiences, Curated Spaces is betting that trusted human curation can offer an alternative to algorithm-driven travel discovery.