Elia Wallen

As founder and CEO of Hotel Engine, Elia Wallen is responsible for defining and executing the company’s strategic vision. Under his leadership, the company experienced 122% growth in 2020 during a pandemic that devastated the travel industry. In late 2021, the company raised $65M in a Series B round, resulting in a $1.3B valuation — nearly nine times higher than the $150M valuation it achieved when it raised $16M in a 2019 Series A round after bootstrapping for two years. Prior to Hotel Engine, Elia founded another bootstrapped company, Travelers Haven, which provides corporate housing solutions that reduce the cost of workforce housing for employees.