STARTUP STAGE: At Ease simplifies short-term rentals for military and federal travelers

What inspired you to create this company? 

Fed up with options that didn't work for my military family, we created At Ease Rentals in May 2018. The military issued me orders and I was determined not to cram my family of eight into yet another hotel room while we waited for permanent housing. 

It was during this move that we did something different. For the price of a hotel room that doesn't accommodate our family, we rented a beautiful five-bedroom home listed by one of the top short-term rental booking websites. 

Our family was comfortable, less stressed and saved money because we did not have to eat out. Of the 13 Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves conducted over my 20-year career, this was the first time I wasn't reimbursed for my temporary lodging expenses. To date, I still haven’t been reimbursed. 

That experience changed everything. 

It was time to create a better option for military families - an option that allows short-term rentals during official travel. 

Federal and military travelers are looking for something more when moving or staying in a city for an extended period; we want the option of a kitchen, more living space and other personalized home effects beyond what you get in a typical business hotel or extended-stay suite.

Give us your SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the company.

Strengths: 
• Niche and untapped market
• Research-based need
• Annual recurring customer base
• A personal connection to the “why”
• Access to military installations
• Veteran company priority for government business
• Personal experience from completing 17 PCS moves and countless temporary additional duty/temporary duty travel

Weaknesses: 
• Lack of partnerships 
• Initial acquisition of hosts
• Brand recognition

Opportunities: 
• Acquisition of similar smaller companies
• Advertising
• Partnership
• Rapid growth
• Investors
• Acquire hosts

Threats:
• New competitors
• Current vacation rental websites pivoting into market
• Municipalities' short-term laws and rental property ordinances

• Homeowner association bylaws

What are the travel pain points you are trying to alleviate from both the customer and the industry perspective? 

The federal government doesn’t allow federal and military travelers to use websites like Airbnb, HomeAway, Booking.com, etc. during official travel. We are solving that problem!

At Ease Rentals Corporation is a booking platform that connects listings of units that adhere to federal lodging criteria to federal and military travelers during business and leisure travel. 

Tell us what process you've gone through to establish a genuine need for your company and the size of the addressable market.

I have conducted more than one year of research on the number of federal and military travel authorizations conducted over the last three years, how many military families move annually and the number of attending lodging industry days hosted by the federal government travel branch (attending by multiple departments to include the Department of Defense).

Market Size:

$5 billion total addressable market - United States government spend on lodging globally
$4.4 billion serviceable available market - U.S. government spend on lodging in the country
$25 million serviceable obtainable market - At Ease potential market share by full-year 2021 

How and when will you make money?  

We will begin making money once we have our first property initial compliance inspection and registration generated, and after we get bookings. We will make money in three ways:
1. Initial Compliance Inspection and Registration (CIR) expense 
2. 3% commission on host average daily rate (ADR)
3. At Ease ADR (lodging rate minus host ADR) 

What are the backgrounds and previous achievements of the founding team, and why do you have what it takes to succeed with this business?  

Anthony Gantt, founder & CEO
As the founder, more than 20 years of active duty with access to travelers
Operational and logistics planning expertise
Supervised and managed 300+ team
Supervised and managed accounts valued more than $250 million
WeWork and Bunker Labs’ Veteran’s In Residences incubator alumni
VETToCEO incubator alumni

NewChip accelerator alumni

Gregory Rollins, COO
More than nine years of military service (Marine veteran)
Supervised and managed 150+ team
Two years managing a vacation rental valued at $2.4 million with over $200,000 in gross revenues

Advisors and Mentors
Industry mentor: Brian Sharples, serial entrepreneur with multiple exits and former founder of HomeAway
Technology advisor: Brian Dass, more than 20 years in travel and hospitality technology industry, serial entrepreneur with two multiple exits
Strategic advisor: Kathleen Fairall, more than 20 years HR and corporate strategy, experienced executive and consultant
Financial advisor: Jarvis Buckman, more than 17 years in finance, more than $5 billion transacted and/or invested
Financial Advisor: Nina Johnson, commercial equity investing, more than $4.5 billion transacted and managed

What's been the most difficult part of founding the business so far? 

The most difficult part of founding the business so far has been warding off self doubt.

I have accomplished so much for many other companies and organizations. Now I have to believe I can do it for my own business. 

Generally, travel startups face a fairly tough time making an impact - so why are you going to be one of lucky ones? 

Its not about the business - its about serving those who serve. 

At Ease is a people-first business; our platform is dedicated to making quality short-term rentals accessible to military or federal employees traveling on official orders. 

Who knew...not me! But who really cares!?! I DO! 

I care because I’m an active duty Marine and family man; staying in a hotel doesn’t work for many military families! 

Like all other service members, I want to be reimbursed for my travel when given orders to relocate.  

At Ease allows that: a platform that ensures military and federal travelers are reimbursed and a place for short-term rentals to list for military and federal travelers.

What value-add do you provide?

1. Federal and military travelers have broader options during business travel for trips beyond two or three days.
2. Federal and military travelers will be able to save more money by eating out less.
3. The federal government will be able to save more money long term as more travelers look for more economical, yet comfortable spaces to use for official lodging.