Our story

The beginning

Offbeat came from personal experience.

In early 2025, I was travelling and working across Europe trying to book longer stays of four to six weeks. But I was stunned by how expensive everything was. Airbnb prices were sky-high, even though I could see many of the properties were sitting empty. It didn’t make sense.

With a background in property development and investment, I understood how landlords think about yield, vacancy, and pricing. So I started messaging hosts directly, offering less for longer stays. Many accepted. Some negotiated. It clicked: when hosts understand the person, the length of stay, and when they want it, they’re often willing to take a view on price, especially in the off-season.

But current booking platforms don’t allow for that. There’s no real transparency into demand. Hosts just list a place, set a price, and hope someone clicks. It’s passive. It’s inflexible. And it leaves value on the table for both sides.

That was the spark for Offbeat.

The idea takes shape

When I got back to London, I found myself on the other side. I didn’t want to Airbnb my flat — too much churn — but I also didn’t want to rent it out for a whole year. What I wanted was the ability to see if someone was looking for a two-month stay, and if so, offer it to them at a fair rate, with some control and certainty.

Again, what was missing was visibility — real-time, specific demand — so I could make a proactive, informed decision.

When I shared the idea with Joe, my friend and now co-founder, who spent 10+ years in hospitality bookings (including several years at a startup), he just said: “That’s better than what I’ve been working on for the last three years.” So that was it, and we set about building.

Growing the mission

While Offbeat began as a solution to a problem I personally experienced, it’s grown into something more meaningful.

Now, with the team we’re building, we share a deep belief in enabling people to live differently, and in giving hosts better ways to act strategically in the off-season. We’re here to connect great guests with amazing homes, in a way that works for both sides: longer stays, less friction, better value, and a more inspiring way to experience cities.

Looking ahead

Right now, we’re just in Lisbon, but we’re working hard to unlock this platform in more cities for our community. What we’re doing is not easy, but by flipping the model, Offbeat is allowing guests to find better value stays, and hosts to proactively manage their off-season risk — unlocking value that’s been hiding in plain sight.

Lee
Founder – Offbeat