ZUZU Hospitality Secures $5.9M to Bring AI-Powered Revenue Tools to Independent Hotels

Singapore-based ZUZU Hospitality, a revenue management and distribution platform for independent hotels, has secured US$5.9 million in a Series B extension round. The fresh capital came from Wavemaker Growth, the growth fund of long-time investor Wavemaker Partners, alongside existing backers Velocity Ventures and Vulpes Ventures, with Latin Leap joining as a new investor.

Founded in 2017 by former Expedia executive Vikram Malhi, ZUZU aims to reshape hotel operations by integrating revenue optimization with AI-driven solutions. The company believes that advanced tools will not only accelerate its own expansion but also open up opportunities with hotel partners that were previously difficult to reach.

The new funding will accelerate ZUZU’s mission to equip independent hotels with the same technological edge as global chains, helping them compete more effectively. The company plans to expand product development, strengthen its data infrastructure, and scale go-to-market efforts, aiming to bring thousands more properties into the AI-powered travel economy.

“We’re witnessing the most significant transformation in hospitality since the internet. AI is reshaping how demand is predicted and revenue is optimized,” said Vikram Malhi, Founder and CEO of ZUZU Hospitality. He stressed that the firm’s goal has always been to empower independent hoteliers—businesses that form the backbone of the industry but often lack the resources of large hotel groups.

At the core of ZUZU’s advantage is its proprietary dataset, built from over 3,000 hotels across Southeast Asia and India. According to Malhi, this dataset fuels RevMate, ZUZU’s new AI-driven revenue management platform, which fine-tunes algorithms specifically for the nuances of the Asia-Pacific hospitality market. The platform allows independent properties to automate pricing and distribution strategies that were once only available to large hotel chains.

Early results from RevMate’s deployment show a 40% increase in efficiency and a 25–30% boost in revenue for hotels. Beyond rate optimization, the platform is also designed to be user-friendly by presenting its pricing logic in plain terms—making it accessible even to hoteliers without dedicated revenue management teams. “Omnichannel and AI are no longer optional—they’re essential,” added Malhi.

Investors say ZUZU is filling a critical gap in Southeast Asia’s fragmented hotel market, where independents make up a large share but often lack advanced revenue and property management systems. “ZUZU democratizes access to top-notch technology and AI with its simple all-in-one stack, helping these hotels maximize revenue and secure their fair share of online demand,” said Shiv Choudhury, Founding Partner of Wavemaker Growth. He noted that many partner hotels have reported occupancy growth of 30–40% since adopting ZUZU’s platform.

Beyond revenue management, ZUZU has begun embedding AI into other areas of hotel operations, including review responses, guest queries, and upselling opportunities. For example, its AI-generated guest replies can add personalized touches—such as referencing special occasions—that templated responses often miss. These features, the company says, help independents deliver service quality closer to that of larger, resource-rich competitors.

Looking ahead, Malhi believes AI will unlock new markets beyond small independents, with regional chains already piloting ZUZU’s system. “AI gives us rocket boosters. It compresses product cycles, lowers costs, and lets us build for markets that were closed to us before,” he said. With over 200 employees and growing investor backing, ZUZU aims to expand its reach across Asia and beyond, ensuring that independent hotels can thrive in the digital era.