A new curated platform to book hotels and experiences across the Jewish state was introduced to the tourism world in June.
Staymakom offers hand-picked hotels and unique experiences. On the website, users can choose what kind of experience they want, tailored to all kinds of individuals: from couples to families to single travelers. Their website offers experiences in major cities such as Tiberias, Beersheba, Eilat, and others.
“I have been working in the hotel industry in France for seven years, and I came up with this project after October 7,” Shana Cohen, the platform’s founder and CEO, told the Magazine. “I was asking myself what I could build for myself in Israel. I wanted to build something truly meaningful for the country.”
“You’re not going to search for a city like Tel Aviv or Jerusalem; you’re looking for an experience, whether it’s for romance or for families. That’s at the center of Staymakom,” she continued. “I want to change the way we travel. I want people to discover Israel in a new way.”
She went on to say that Israel’s hotel and tourism industry took a big hit due to the war, and that this endeavor will help improve Israel’s image while also showcasing its beauty. Additionally, the platform assists independent hotels and local experience providers outside of major hubs like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa.
Israel has so much more to offer beyond the major cities
Cohen stressed that without Staymakom, lots of travelers would only spend their time in the Jewish state in these major cities, when in reality, Israel has so much more to offer beyond that.
“A lot of people won’t touch tourism in Israel right now because of the uncertainty. While I understand why, I actually see it the other way. That uncertainty is why this matters,” Cohen added.
The platform already enables users to choose from around 30 hand-picked hotels and 30 curated experiences. They can book an experience, hotel, or both in English, French, or Hebrew. People can search for daily activities or a two-day escape.
Cohen noted that options include a safari in Ramat Gan, laser tag in the wild Carmel, a chocolate workshop in Tiberias for the whole family, or wine tasting in Zichron Ya’acov. The platform also states that travelers browsing through its options start from the type of experience they want to live, and choose whether or not they want to book it together with a hotel stay.
'Everything is already here'
“I’m not waiting for things to feel completely safe before rebuilding. Staymakom is that rebuilding – happening now, one booking at a time,” she explained. “For the international crowd, tourists from outside of Israel, they usually go to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or the Dead Sea, because that’s what they’ve heard of.”
“It’s also important for domestic Israeli travelers. Because with the borders closing in Israel, Staymakom’s website states that it helps Israelis rediscover their own land ‘that feels like a true escape, not just another weekend getaway.’”
Cohen also noted that Staymakom would not only bring value to tourists and travelers, but to lesser-known hotels and experience providers in the country.
The platform also plans to expand the number of hotels and experience partners it’s linked to through the coming years.
“I already built a little community around the platform on social media, and now I’m looking toward the next step for people to discover the platform and to travel to all these places,” Cohen concluded. “Everything is already here; I just want to highlight those places.”■
You can find more information at staymakom.com and follow them on Instagram and TikTok @staymakom.