Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2025: Levee

Levee

Headquarters: Chicago

CEO: Al Lagunas

Wesbite: Levee 

Founding date: 2023

Investment: $280,000

Levee intends to revolutionize hotel operations by solving a critical issue: inconsistent and incomplete data capture from deskless workers like housekeepers and maintenance staff. The platform uses computer vision Al and natural language processing to automate data collection, providing hotels with accurate, real-time insights that help optimize workflows, reduce inefficiencies and enhance guest experiences. By adapting to the way these workers naturally operate, Levee aims to capture higher-quality data than traditional tools.

PhocusWire coverage

STARTUP STAGE: Levee uses AI and computer vision to provide quality control for hotels 

Founders Al Lagunas and Guillermo Villegas

Strategic goals for 2025

A major priority for the year will be fostering integrations and collaborating with key players in the hospitality tech space. We aim to establish Levee as a comprehensive data platform that can work seamlessly with both technology vendors and hotels, enhancing data visibility and operational insights across the industry.

Levee aims to scale its platform across major hotel chains, focusing on further developing Al-driven features to enhance data accuracy and operational efficiency. A key goal is expanding partnerships with top-tier hospitality management groups to integrate our data capture solutions. Additionally, we aim to refine our predictive Al capabilities to provide hotels with actionable insights that go beyond operational metrics, contributing directly to higher guest satisfaction and lower operating costs.

Lessons learned since founding

Building a startup is an exercise in resilience and adaptability. One of the biggest lessons we've learned is the importance of staying deeply connected to the problem you're solving, while being flexible enough to pivot when the solution demands it. Success doesn't come from sticking rigidly to the original plan but from continually iterating and evolving based on real-world feedback.

We've also learned that building a company isn't just about the product—it's about the team and the culture. The best ideas come from diverse perspectives, and a strong, mission-driven team can push through the inevitable obstacles. Another key takeaway is the power of relationships—whether with investors, early adopters or partners—these relationships shape your path forward as much as your own hard work.