Appointment Trader
Appointment Trader is a platform that enables individuals to exchange reservations for restaurants, hotels, bars, and some government agencies through an online marketplace.[1] The company was founded by Jonas Frey in 2021.[1]
The platform is accessible via the web and as a mobile application, with availability on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Overview
Appointment Trader was established in 2021 by Jonas Frey, a computer scientist originally from Germany who currently resides in Miami, Florida.[2][3] Frey conceived the idea for Appointment Trader out of personal frustration when attempting to secure an appointment at a high-demand motor-vehicle registration government facility in Nevada.[1][3] Initially, the website primarily served as a platform for swapping and selling appointments at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Las Vegas during the height of the pandemic.[4] Subsequently, Appointment Trader expanded its scope to encompass reservations for a broader range of establishments, including restaurants, hotels, bars, clubs, and theme parks.[1][4]
Appointment Trader facilitated the exchange of approximately $1.2 million in reservations between 2021 and 2022. Its website discloses the 12-month trailing volume. As of April 2023, the value of reservations exchanged on the platform in 12 months had increased to $2.4 million.[2][1]
The platform, available on both its website and app, incorporates an algorithm developed by Jonas Frey. This algorithm leverages cellphone data sourced from vendors to evaluate the popularity of specific reservations on any given time of day and assigns an initial bid value for users of the platform.[1][4]
Business Model
Appointment Trader operates on a business model that caters to clients who are willing to pay for reservations that are typically difficult to obtain but would normally be available for free.[5]
- ^ a b c d e f Morales, Christina (2023-04-12). "This Website Promises the Hot Reservation (If You're Willing to Pay)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331.
- ^ a b Kadvany, Elena (2022-11-29). "This obscure website resells Michelin-starred restaurant reservations — here's how much they can go for". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ a b Rejas, Miguel Ayuso (2023-04-13). ""Los ricos van a pagar lo que sea". El negocio de la reventa llega a la reserva de restaurantes". DAP Viajes (in Spanish).
- ^ a b c Freund, Helen (2022-11-04). "Why is it harder to get a restaurant reservation in Tampa Bay right now?". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ Latham, Tori (2023-04-13). "This Site Lets You Buy (and Sell) Reservations to the World's Most Exclusive Restaurants". Robb Report.