The Independente Collective

What The Independente Collective does

The Independente Collective is a privately-held hospitality group headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, founded in 2010. The company is described as innovation-driven and focused on developing hybrid hotel and hostel properties — a format that combines hotel-style service and amenity levels with the social atmosphere, shared spaces, and price points of hostels, targeting both budget-conscious and design-oriented travelers. The company operates with a workforce of 101-250 employees, a scale consistent with managing multiple properties and a centralized back office in the Lisbon market, and maintains a web presence at theindependente.pt.

The business model is B2C lodging revenue (room nights, F&B, ancillaries) supplemented by distribution through online travel agencies and direct booking channels typical of European independent hotel and hostel operators. The company received investment from Portugal Ventures, the Portuguese state-backed venture capital firm, in December 2021, which is consistent with its positioning as an innovation-focused hospitality operator. No further operational, financial, property-count, or customer data is disclosed in the available source material.

Note on data quality: the input set contains extensive structured data describing an unrelated entity — an online gambling platform branded W88, operated by Marquee Holdings Ltd in the Philippines and targeting Vietnam/Asia. This data does not match the firmographic profile of The Independente Collective and has been excluded from the substantive analysis above.

Name

The Independente Collective

Legal name

Marquee Holdings Ltd

Website

https://theindependente.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Independente Collective is a Lisbon-based, innovation-driven hospitality group founded in 2010 that develops hybrid hotel and hostel properties for leisure and design-oriented travelers in Portugal, operating with 101-250 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Services

NAICS

Other Traveler Accommodation (72119), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), All Other Traveler Accommodation (721199)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Hotels & Motels (7011)

akta.pro primary industry

Private-Room & Boutique Hostels (THAGAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Co-Living Private Rooms (Short-Term) (THAMABAI), Independent Budget & Limited-Service Hotels (THAGABAN)

Keywords

• Hybrid hotel hostel
• Hospitality properties
• Lisbon accommodations
• Design hostels
• Boutique hotels

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sports Betting Commission: W88 takes a margin (house edge) on sports betting odds across seven sportsbook operators. Revenue is generated from the spread between implied probability odds and true probabilities across Asian handicap, European odds, over/under, and prop bets.
2. Casino House Edge: Live casino games (Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, Dragon Tiger, Sicbo) generate revenue through built-in house edge on all wagers, with revenue shared with game providers Evolution, Ezugi, and Microgaming.
3. Slot Game Revenue: Slot games (1,000+ titles from Pragmatic Play, QTech, Playtech, PG Soft, Jili) generate revenue through Return to Player (RTP) margins and progressive jackpot contributions. Jackpot pools reaching billions of VND.
4. Lottery and Number Game Bets: Online lottery (3 regional lottery, Keno, Lotto) with payout ratios of 1:99 for Vietnamese lottery. Revenue from lottery bets across Northern/Central/Southern regions.
5. Customer Promotional Incentives (Retention): Daily cashback (0.2%-1% on Casino/Slots), reload bonuses (10%-20%), and tournament prize pools are funded from house revenue, effectively reducing net payout while maintaining player engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Independente Collective operates as an innovation-driven hospitality group developing hybrid hotel and hostel properties. Its properties combine private hotel-style rooms with shared hostel-style accommodations and common areas, targeting travelers in Lisbon, Portugal. The group operates multiple property formats under a unified hospitality brand portfolio, leveraging a direct website channel (theindependente.pt) for guest acquisition and bookings.

Product overview

W88 is an all-in-one online betting and gaming platform established in 2013, operating under Marquee Holdings Ltd with headquarters in Makati, Philippines. The platform provides a unified ecosystem combining sports betting (SABA, BTi, SBO, XJ, Saba C, CMD, V Sports), live casino (Evolution, Ezugi, Microgaming), slot games (Pragmatic Play, QTech, Playtech, PG Soft, Jili), lottery (1:99 payout), fishing games, and poker (P2P). The core platform is accessible via website and dedicated mobile apps (iOS/Android) with W88 Lite as a lightweight alternative. The platform integrates multiple payment methods including bank transfers, e-wallets (Momo, ZaloPay, ViettelPay), phone cards, game cards, and cryptocurrency (USDT) for Vietnam market transactions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hybrid Hotel and Hostel Properties Accommodation offering that combines hotel-style private rooms with hostel-style shared dormitory beds and communal spaces, offered under the Independente brand to travelers visiting Lisbon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Deposits processed in 1-3 minutes; subsequent withdrawals in 5-15 minutes; first-time withdrawals in 15-30 minutes for identity verification
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Crystal Palace F.C.flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Official sponsor of Crystal Palace F.C., an English Premier League club. The sponsorship provides W88 with brand visibility during Premier League matches broadcast across Asia, targeting football fans who constitute the core betting demographic.
• Aston Villa F.C.flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Official sponsor of Aston Villa F.C., an English Premier League club. Similar to the Crystal Palace partnership, this provides brand exposure during high-profile football broadcasts across Asian markets.
• Sunderland AFCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Official sponsor of Sunderland AFC, an English football club. Provides brand visibility and credibility among English football audiences in the UK and Asia.
• Argentine Football Association (AFA)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Official partner of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the governing body for football in Argentina and one of the world's most globally recognized national football teams. W88 branding appears in AFA events and communications.
• Evolution GamingcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Live casino game provider powering five W88 casino halls. Evolution provides real human dealers, HD livestream infrastructure, and a catalog of live dealer games (Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, Dragon Tiger, Sicbo). Revenue shared between W88 and Evolution.
• EzugicoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Live casino game provider integrated into W88's casino platform, providing additional live dealer game tables and regional variants. Compliments Evolution Gaming's offering.
• MicrogamingcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Live casino game provider and slot game developer integrated into W88's platform. Microgaming contributes to both live dealer tables and the broader casino game library.
• Pragmatic Play, QTech, Playtech, PG Soft, JilicoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Slot game providers integrated into W88's slot platform. Combined library exceeds 1,000 titles. Each provider contributes distinct game styles, graphics, mechanics, and RTP profiles. Progressive jackpots are pooled across some titles.
• bludau.iocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Authorized official W88 agent for the Vietnamese market. bludau.io distributes verified unblocked access links, provides Vietnamese-language customer support, publishes promotional content, and assists with new member registration. Commission-based arrangement. Contact: 0934127856, [email protected], 45 Đinh Tiên Hoàng, Bình Thạnh, HCM. Listed as the only verified W88 link source in Vietnam.
• First Cagayan Leisure and Resort Corporation (CEZA)coreOthers · 1 January 2013Licensing and regulatory partner. CEZA, based in the Philippines, is one of Asia's most reputable online gambling regulators. W88's operating license requires compliance with strict standards for fairness (RNG certification), transparency (publicized promotional terms and dispute resolution), and security (data protection, real-time monitoring).

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Selina: Selina operates a global portfolio of hybrid hostel/hotel properties targeting millennial and experience-driven travelers. Direct comparability with The Independente Collective's hybrid hotel/hostel positioning, multi-format guest mix (shared and private), and lifestyle branding approach.
• Generator Hostels: Generator operates design-led boutique hostels across major European cities, mixing dorm beds with private rooms in upscale settings. Closely mirrors The Independente Collective's hybrid model of hostel and hotel-style accommodations in urban tourism markets.
• MEININGER Hotels: MEININGER operates hybrid hotel-hostel properties in European cities, combining budget private rooms with hostel-style dorms and shared amenities. Highly comparable to The Independente Collective's mixed-format lodging concept in urban European markets.
• Wombat's Hostels: Wombat's operates boutique hostels across European cities with private rooms alongside dormitories under one roof. Comparable to The Independente Collective on hybrid lodging format, urban tourism positioning, and design-forward brand approach.
• aío Living: aío Living (aio Hotels) operates private-room-focused hostels in Portuguese and European markets. Overlaps with The Independente Collective on Lisbon presence, hybrid lodging format, and Iberian/Central European expansion thesis.

Broad incumbents

• Pestana Hotel Group: Pestana is Portugal's largest domestic hospitality group operating full-service hotels and resorts nationwide. Comparable to The Independente Collective as a Portugal-based lodging operator competing for tourism demand in Lisbon, though Pestana sits in the upscale/full-service end.
• Accor (ibis / ibis budget): Accor's ibis and ibis budget brands provide budget and limited-service hotel rooms across European cities, including Lisbon. Overlaps with The Independente Collective's budget-conscious urban lodging demand, though Accor operates standard branded hotels rather than hostels.

Others

• Hostelworld: Hostelworld is the dominant OTA/distribution platform for hostels and budget accommodations globally. Indirectly comparable to The Independente Collective as a core demand channel and industry benchmark for hostel occupancy and ADR trends.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=s964sMQpSWg
• Facebookfacebook.com/theindependentecollective
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theindependentecollective

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Independente Collective