South Korea’s leading motel-booking app operator Yanolja said Wednesday that it has signed a strategic partnership with Minda, another homegrown startup which facilitates bookings for Korean guesthouses overseas.

Under the new partnership, which will involve unspecified investments, Yanolja will add some 1,600 Minda-registered lodging options around the world to its app, widening user options.

With the addition, Yanolja will now operate a network of more than 30,000 motels and guesthouses in and out of Korea, the company said.

Founded in 2006, Minda currently offers booking services for around 1,600 Korean guesthouses located across more than 180 countries around the world. Minda users can also access guesthouse reviews, travel itineraries recommended by locals and other helpful travel tips.

Yanolja and Minda and expect positive synergies from the partnership as both services target travelers in their 20s and 30s seeking affordable lodging options, the companies said.

“We are delighted to have formed a win-win partnership with Minda after searching for optimal business partnerships,” Yanolja CEO Lee Soo-jin said in a statement.

“We will continue to form more exemplary business partnerships in the industry to expand our company’s vision and strengths.”

By Sohn Ji-young ()


jys@heraldcorp.com