Stuba co-founder Matt Stuart announces departure from business

After nearly three decades of building and growing a highly successful global accommodation business, Stuba’s co-founder Matt Stuart has announced the decision to step down, marking the close of an extraordinary 28-year journey.

Stuart began his career in 1998 at just 20 years old, when he took over Key Resorts Ltd, a small, two-person operation specialising in Florida hotel bookings for UK travel agents, run largely via fax machine. At the time, the business was facing closure following a disagreement between its founders, with annual sales of approximately £250,000.

The business steadily expanded and by 2001, UK and European hotel contracts had been introduced, alongside the launch of its first online booking platform. In 2005, the company broadened its global offering and rebranded as getabed, reflecting its growing international reach.

In 2013 getabed opened its first overseas office in Dubai, marking its expansion into new distribution markets. Continued growth and innovation led to a pivotal moment in 2018, when the company joined forces with India-based partners Ruchir and Anuj Bang of RoomsXML, forming what is now known as Stuba.

By 2024, Stuba had grown into a global organisation of 220 employees across four operational offices, generating revenues in excess of £180 million, a testament to years of dedication, innovation, and strong partnerships. The business was subsequently acquired by Yanolja Go Global, part of Yanolja Group, a leading global B2B travel distribution platform that connects hotels and sales channels through innovative technology and local expertise.

Over the past two years, significant progress has been made in integrating teams, systems, and processes across the group, creating a solid foundation for future growth.

With this integration successfully underway and the business well-positioned for its next phase, Stuart has decided the time is right to hand over leadership.

Commenting on his departure, Matt said: “This business has been an incredible journey from a small operation run by fax machine to a global company serving partners around the world. I’m unbelievably proud of what has been built and, more importantly, the talented people behind it.

With Stuba now part of Yanolja Go Global and in such a strong position for the future, I feel confident that this is the right time to step aside. The business is in excellent hands with a highly skilled and experienced management team, and I’m excited to see it continue to grow and succeed. I look forward to pursuing new projects and the next chapter ahead.”

Stuba will continue to operate as normal, with its experienced leadership team and the wider Yanolja Go Global group ensuring continuity, stability, and ongoing innovation for partners worldwide.