Mad Monkey in the news
Mar
Mad Monkey Secures US$4.6M Investment from EXS to Accelerate their Expansion Across Southeast Asia
Mad Monkey, a leading Southeast Asia-based hostel operator and provider of high-octane, sustainable, travel experiences, has closed its first major round of fundraising from the EXS Property Innovation Concepts VCC (“EPIC”), a Singapore-domiciled fund platform sponsored and managed by EXS, a specialist private equity firm focused on real estate business & platforms across Asia. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its ambitious expansion across Asia, substantially growing its portfolio across the region in the next 3 years, building on the great success of the past decade. Singapore, March 22, 2022 – The sun is slowly setting over the Cambodian capital. So much has changed in the uber-fast developing city in the past 10 years since the Mad Monkey team opened the first hostel in the heart of Phnom Penh. High-rises mount over pagodas, SUVs are passing slower tuk-tuks, mobile phones have become the primary payment method. But some things remain the same — the charm and soul of the entire region, inviting young adventurers back to explore its colorful streets, dreamy beaches, and magical sites, now that the pandemic-stricken world has started showing signs of recovery. Early evenings are a time when the music starts getting louder by the pool in Mad Monkey’s hostels and the party is slowly starting. But right now, there is a different buzz; the Mad Monkey team is hard at work preparing rapid re-openings of its existing locations, inviting domestic and international travelers back to its world. In the past decade, Mad Monkey has earned an iconic status in Southeast Asia and has opened hostels in 6 countries, delivering unforgettable, sustainable, and culturally immersive travel experiences to an ever-growing segment of young digital nomads & other experience-driven travelers who are hungry to travel, build friendships and experience new cultures. But reopening seems like a small task amidst a much bigger ambition now turned into an accelerated action plan. The Mad Monkey team is poised to open up to 50 hostels in the next 3 years in Asia and Australia, cementing their status as the region’s biggest player in experience-driven hospitality. To help achieve this goal, Mad Monkey has now partnered with EXS, a Singapore-based private equity firm focused on real estate businesses & platforms, through EPIC, which is focused on “New Economy Real Estate” across Asia including co-working, co-living, student housing, new hospitality, and modern fitness models. EPIC has successfully completed a US$4.6M investment into Mad Monkey to drive the company’s near-term growth and reinforce its position as Southeast Asia’s leading hostel operator. “Mad Monkey is a leading player in Southeast Asia and a great example of real estate’s continued shift towards ‘new economy’ business models that combine real estate, hospitality and technology to deliver unique experiences. The Mad Monkey team has organically built a business anchored on strong values, with social and environmental responsibility at its core, while staying aggressive with expansion plans, maintaining profitability, and developing a stable team over the past decade. We are proud and excited to enter the next phase of driving Mad Monkey’s growth across the region,” stated Eric Solberg, Chairman & CEO of EXS. EXS plans to contribute its expertise in building leading Asian real estate platforms to Mad Monkey. As a specialized private equity firm with a track record of investing successfully across Southeast Asia, EXS is a strong believer in the growing trends driving new business models across real estate. Through EPIC, EXS plans to play a major role in helping the Mad Monkey team to accelerate growth and take advantage of the rapid return in tourism across the region, creating value for…
Dec
Mad Monkey Expands Further Into Vietnam, Launching its Second Location in the Ancient City of Hanoi
Mad Monkey, a leading Southeast Asia-based hostel operator and provider of high-octane, sustainable travel experiences, is opening their second hostel in Vietnam this year. The new property will be located in the heart of Hanoi’s buzzing old quarter, centrally positioned in the popular tourist area of the city. It is set to not only be the biggest Mad Monkey location to date, but also the biggest hostel in Vietnam, comfortably accommodating up to 250 travellers. This move represents another major milestone for Mad Monkey on their journey of being the biggest provider of immersive, socially responsible, and fun experiences for young travellers and digital nomads. Vietnam, December 2022 – Mad Monkey announced the opening of their new Hanoi hostel in an amazing location, right in the centre of the historic old quarter. The newly renovated property is spread over eight floors, offering modern hostel-style dormitory accommodation across a wide variety of rooms. The property features a stunning rooftop bar along with a spacious common area including a bar and restaurant serving local and western favourites and hosting iconic Mad Monkey events. The new location on Ma May street, previously home to the popular Vietnam Backpacker Hostels, has been extended, renovated and had the signature Mad Monkey stamp put on it. The whole property has been fully remodelled with design centering on rustic but modern, industrial elements featuring inspiration from Vietnamese culture with stylised furniture and art pieces. Mad Monkey in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Mad Monkey Hostels The move to open a second Vietnamese location, especially in the capital Hanoi, represents Mad Monkeys commitment to the country and is a major step towards their goal of substantially growing its portfolio of locations and strengthening their position as the regional leader in the experience hospitality sector. With Vietnam tourism on the rise post-COVID, Mad Monkey is well positioned to meet the demand of eager travellers looking to explore the region with its amazing accommodation and epic travel experiences. Mad Monkey believes that truly life-altering experiences for its guests happen at the intersection of quality accommodation, fun, and strong societal and environmental impact. They strive to deliver the signature Mad Monkey vibe that young adventure seekers and digital nomads pursue, whilst having a positive impact on communities across the region. Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Unsplash. With over 10 years of successful community projects throughout Southeast Asia, including clean water initiatives and education projects, Mad Monkey is excited to continue this trend into Vietnam. Launched in 2011 by a team of passionate serial entrepreneurs, and driven by tenacious purpose and values, Mad Monkey has quickly earned an iconic status in Southeast Asia and have since opened hostels in 6 countries, delivering unforgettable, sustainable, and culturally immersive travel experiences to an ever-growing segment of young digital nomads, hungry to travel, build friendships, experience new cultures and enjoy their newly found freedom of remote digital work. “We are incredibly excited to announce the opening of our second location in Vietnam, while growing our portfolio of hostels in the region. Hanoi is a great place for young adventure seekers and digital nomads to discover and we are confident we can continue to deliver our signature Mad Monkey experience in Vietnam’s capital city. With exceptional accommodation, unique tours, experiences, and iconic events all under one roof Hanoi will certainly be a destination” Alex Darroch, Business Development Director of Mad Monkey explains. The new location is scheduled to open in early 2023 and bookings can be made directly using the Mad Monkey Experience App or via the Mad Monkey website.
Dec
Mad Monkey Hostels Adds New Property to their Philippines Portfolio
Panglao Island, Bohol, Philippines: Mad Monkey, a leading Southeast Asia-based hostel operator and provider of high-octane, sustainable travel experiences is set to open a brand-new hostel on the famous Panglao Island in Bohol, Philippines. This will be the fourth property to operate in the Philippines under the brand’s portfolio. The opening is set to happen less than two weeks before Christmas 2022. Mad Monkey Panglao is looking forward to welcoming old and new guests to its new location with the same Mad Monkey brand of hospitality and the nightly events it became famous for across the country and region. Balicasag Island in Panglao, Bohol. Photo courtesy of Mad Monkey Hostels. The island paradise of Panglao is popular for its white sand beaches and world-class diving sites. Guests will enjoy various activities such as diving, island hopping, and exploring Bohol’s natural wonders and attractions such as the Chocolate Hills and the sanctuary of the world’s smallest primate, the tarsier. Quad-bike adventure in Chocolate Hills, Bohol. Photo courtesy of Maan Samontanez, Mad Monkey Hostels. Mad Monkey Panglao will offer various accommodation options, including an all-female dorm, standard dorms, and private rooms. The Fil-Hispanic-themed hostel pays homage to Bohol’s rich culture and features different social spaces such as a bar & restaurant, an outdoor pool area and garden, a coworking space, and the Xbox Kinect corner. The famous hostel brand is known for unparalleled experiences for young travelers and digital nomads through various activities, and Mad Monkey Panglao will be no exception. These enriching experiences allow one to experience the best of what the surfing capital has to offer, with an added touch of world-renowned Filipino hospitality and culture. Through these shared encounters, Mad Monkey guests are able to build and foster communities, friendships, and memories that last a lifetime. Mad Monkey Hostel Panglao is set to open by December 15, 2022. For more information and bookings, visit our website at www.madmonkeyhostels.com/panglao.
Oct
Mad Monkey Expands Operations Into Vietnam, Launching its First Location in the Iconic Historical City of Hoi An
Mad Monkey, a leading Southeast Asia-based provider of hostel accommodation and travel experiences, is proud to announce the expansion of their current operations into Vietnam. This move represents a major milestone on their journey of being the biggest provider of immersive, socially responsible, and fun experiences for young travellers and digital nomads, and aligns with Mad Monkey’s ambitious expansion plan. Mad Monkey Hoi An is set to be the first of many locations planned for the country and with space to comfortably accommodate up to 230 travellers, it will be the biggest Mad Monkey location to date and offer the biggest experience-based accommodation in the area. Vietnam, October 2022 – Mad Monkey team announced a major move towards their goal of substantially growing its portfolio of locations and strengthening their position as the regional leader in the experience hospitality sector. This expansion plan will see Mad Monkey create immersive cultural experiences for young travellers to Vietnam, helping them discover vibrant towns and cities, beautiful beaches and many other scenic destinations across the country, all whilst providing environments that are fun, and environmentally and socially responsible. As Vietnam continues to show signs of recovery, particularly in the tourism sector, and reopens its borders to more and more visitors from around the world. The timing for this entrance into the market could not be better. Visitor numbers are expected to increase significantly over the coming months and with the demand for quality hostel accommodation growing, Mad Monkey aims to help serve the crowds of young travellers hungry for amazing adventures. With plans to open 3 locations in Vietnam before the end of the year, and continue this rate of expansion into 2023, Mad Monkey is set to become the go-to travel experience company within the country. Young adventure seekers and digital nomads will enjoy the signature Mad Monkey vibe while making friends for life and, most importantly, have a positive impact on communities in Vietnam. Mad Monkey’s business is anchored on strong values, with social and environmental responsibility at its core. They delivered 10 years’ worth of impactful community projects across Southeast Asia that range from clean water initiatives to education projects, believing that truly life-altering experiences for its guests happen at the intersection of quality accommodation, fun, and strong societal and environmental impact. This will continue to be at the forefront of business operations in Vietnam. Mad Monkey will open their first Vietnamese hostel in the quaint and historic town of Hoi An. The team is taking over an existing property on Cua Dai street, which was previously a popular and well known backpacker hub operated by the incredible Vietnam Backpacker hostels. The property will have the capacity to host up to 230 guests in 55 rooms offering both, hostel-style dormitory accommodation as well as beautiful private rooms. The hostel is equipped with a stunning pool, countless open and airy common spaces, a deck area overlooking lush rice paddies, and a large alfresco style bar and restaurant. Mad Monkey hostel in Hoi An. Photo courtesy of Jason Kane, VBH Located between the UNESCO ancient town and some of Vietnam’s most incredible beaches, this hostel comfortably delivers the iconic Mad Monkey vibe and will be the perfect spot for unforgettable events. “We’re beyond excited to continue building our footprint in the region and to open our first hostel in Vietnam. Vietnam is such an exciting country for young travellers and we’re eager to cater to their demands for experiences combining unique tours, events that connect, moments that build memories and second to none accommodation. The hostel delivers hotel-quality accommodation and the very…
Oct
Mad Monkey Hostels Launch the Mad Monkey Experience App & Loyalty Program
Mad Monkey, a leading Southeast Asia-based hostel operator and provider of high-octane, sustainable travel experiences, has launched the Mad Monkey Experience App and Loyalty Program. The app is already available to both iOS and Android users in their respective app stores. The launch of the app and the loyalty program is another milestone in Mad Monkey’s digitalization journey and a testament to the company’s singular focus on impeccable guest and user experiences, ensuring young travelers can now make affordable, easy bookings on the app, collect points and get rewarded for their loyalty. The app will further enhance the holistic, culturally immersive experience for travelers and will ensure they can seamlessly book their travel between Mad Monkey hostels, while better connecting with the brand online. Guests will be earning points for each booking, when booking an experience in a new country or staying at all Mad Monkeys in a certain region. All app users will benefit from guaranteed lowest rates while loyal members who collected points will benefit from additional discounts and other mad perks that will further enhance their experience and stay. “Mad Monkey is committed to providing guests with an innovative and seamless travel experience; this new platform is just one way to achieve that goal. Aside from the best available rates and a madly rewarding loyalty program, more features are set to be released following the app’s launch. We’re excited for this release and everything else this program will bring to our guests in the future.” Steve Vaile, Chairman of Mad Monkey explains. Currently, Mad Monkey operates hostels in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Koh Rong Samloem in Cambodia, Cebu City, Siargao, and Nacpan Beach in the Philippines, Bangkok in Thailand, and Kuta Lombok and Gili Trawangan in Indonesia. In these locations, Mad Monkey tours and events are back in full swing, so guests can enjoy a full schedule of activities and connect easily with young-minded travelers. Other properties in Vietnam, Luang Prabang in Laos, Panglao, Bohol and Dumaguete in the Philippines are also set to open towards the end of 2022.