Pod 39

What Pod 39 does

The Pod Hotels is a New York City-based micro-hotel brand founded in 2012 that operates four properties across Manhattan and Brooklyn — Pod 51 (Midtown East), Pod 39 (Murray Hill), Pod Brooklyn (Williamsburg), and Pod Times Square — with Pod 39 specifically positioned as a "Small n' Mighty" property in the Murray Hill neighborhood on the east side of Midtown Manhattan. The brand's core product is compact, efficiently designed pod-style rooms — Bunk Pods, Full Pods, and Queen Pods — featuring built-in storage, soundproof windows, climate control, multiple charging ports, flat-screen TVs, and workspaces engineered to maximize functionality in limited square footage. Pod Times Square additionally offers "Pod Pads," furnished extended-stay apartments with full kitchens available for 30+ night stays.

The business model is primarily a direct-to-consumer hotel operator generating revenue through nightly room rentals across three room tiers, a mandatory $29.84 per-room-per-night facility fee covering check-in flexibility, calls, printing, and luggage storage, ancillary services (parking at $57–$67 per 24 hours, $25 nightly pet fees for small dogs), and on-site food and beverage operations including Arthur & Sons (Italian-American restaurant) and Artie's Backroom (rooftop bar) at Pod 39, plus Bar 42 & Pizzoteca, Serafina in the Sky, Clinton Hall, and Café Landwer at other properties. Distribution is split between direct bookings via the company website (be.synxis.com) — incentivized by the #PodPal program offering up to 20% savings — and third-party OTAs. Target customer segments are budget-conscious travelers, solo travelers, couples, families, digital nomads, and Broadway/theater tourists seeking central Manhattan or Williamsburg positioning at price points below traditional hotels.

The company operates as a privately-held, independent brand with no disclosed parent company, venture capital, or institutional investors, founded first-party with expansion led by operating hires such as a Head of Acquisitions and Development (2018). The brand has been featured in The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, CNN Travel, and the TODAY Show, and runs a content-marketing blog plus an active social presence across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. A free walking tour partnership with Streetwise New York Tours and on-property F&B venues function as differentiated amenity layers beyond the room product.

Name

Pod 39

Legal name

The Pod Hotels

Website

https://thepodhotel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Pod Hotels operates Pod 39 and three other NYC micro-hotel properties offering compact, affordably priced rooms in prime Manhattan and Brooklyn locations for budget-conscious travelers, solo travelers, families, and extended-stay guests.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Budget Micro-Hotels

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Capsule/Pod Hotels (Budget) (THAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Capsule & Pod Hostels (THAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Micro-hotel accommodations
• Budget hotel rooms
• Extended stay suites
• Rooftop bar dining
• Pod-style lodging

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Hotel Room Rentals: Primary revenue from renting pod-style hotel rooms including Bunk Pods, Full Pods, and Queen Pods. Room rates vary by season and availability with direct booking discounts available.
2. Extended Stay Pod Pads: Furnished apartments with kitchens available for extended stays of 30+ nights at Pod Times Square. Revenue from longer-term accommodations with optimized rates for extended stays.
3. Facility Fees: Mandatory facility fee of $29.84 inclusive of tax per room per night covering services like early/late check-in, US calls, printing, and luggage storage
4. Food and Beverage: Revenue from on-site dining venues including Arthur & Sons Italian restaurant, Artie's Backroom rooftop bar, and lobby café operations
5. Ancillary Services: Additional revenue from parking ($57/24hrs sedan, $67/24hrs SUV), pet fees ($25/night for dogs under 25 lbs), and same-day luggage storage

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pod 39 is a micro-hotel property in Murray Hill, Midtown Manhattan, offering compact, efficiently designed pod-style rooms (Bunk Pods, Full Pods, Queen Pods) at budget-friendly price points. The hotel features on-site amenities including Arthur & Sons Italian restaurant and Artie's Backroom rooftop bar, plus common spaces for work and socializing. It is part of The Pod Hotels brand, which operates four NYC micro-hotel properties.

Product overview

The Pod Hotels is a collection of four efficient, affordable micro-hotel properties located across New York City - including Pod Brooklyn (Williamsburg), Pod 51 (Midtown East), Pod 39 (Murray Hill), and Pod Times Square (Midtown West). The properties offer pod-style room accommodations including Bunk Pods, Full Pods, and Queen Pods, with amenities such as rooftop bars, restaurants, and common spaces. Pod Times Square also features Pod Pads - extended-stay furnished apartments with kitchens for stays of 30 nights or more. On-site food and beverage outlets include Arthur & Sons and Artie's Backroom (Pod 39), Bar 42 & Pizzoteca (Pod Times Square), and Café Landwer (Pod Brooklyn). The company also provides free walking tours through its Pod Walks program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pod Pads: Extended-stay furnished apartments with full kitchens, available at Pod Times Square. Ideal for stays of 30 nights or more, featuring one-bed/two-bed configurations with one or two bathrooms.

Products and services

• Pod 39 Hotel Micro-hotel property in Murray Hill, Midtown Manhattan offering pod-style rooms (Bunk Pods, Full Pods, Queen Pods) with efficient compact design, private bathrooms, soundproof windows, and modern amenities. Centrally located near Grand Central Station, Empire State Building, and Bryant Park.
• Pod Brooklyn Boutique micro-hotel in North Williamsburg, Brooklyn, close to Bedford Avenue. Features trendy rooftop, green courtyard spaces, free bike rentals, and rooftop yoga.
• Pod 51 Micro-hotel on a tree-lined block in Midtown East Manhattan, recently renovated, with a rooftop deck featuring skyline views and proximity to Grand Central, Rockefeller Center, and Fifth Avenue shopping.
• Pod Times Square Hotel property near Times Square and the Theater District in Midtown West Manhattan with 665 rooms, including pod-style accommodations (Bunk, Full, Queen pods) and on-site dining (Bar 42 & Pizzoteca).
• Pod Pads Extended Stay Accommodations Extended-stay furnished apartments at Pod Times Square with one bed/one bath or two bed/two bath configurations, full kitchens, social lounges, terrace, gym, and laundry facilities. Available for stays of 30 nights or more.
• Arthur & Sons Restaurant Classic New York Italian-American red sauce restaurant located at Pod 39 Hotel in Murray Hill, serving dishes including spicy rigatoni vodka, chicken parm, baked clams, and oversized meatballs in a vintage-inspired setting. Open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
• Artie's Backroom Rooftop Bar Bar and rooftop venue at Pod 39 Hotel featuring skyline views, seasonal cocktails, pool table, and event space. Hosts sports viewings including Super Bowl and provides shareable food platters.
• Pod Walks (Guided Walking Tours) Free guided walking tours for hotel guests in partnership with Streetwise New York Tours. Tours explore neighborhoods including Central Park, Upper West Side, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, Greenwich Village, and Lower Manhattan, led by local New Yorkers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 20% savings when booking direct vs third-party channels
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Streetwise New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree walking tours partnership offering Pod Hotel guests guided tours of NYC neighborhoods including Central Park, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, and DUMBO. Tours are led by local New Yorkers and are exclusive free perks for guests, enhancing the guest experience and local immersion.
• Arthur & SonscoreOthersClassic Italian-American red sauce restaurant located inside Pod 39 Hotel in Murray Hill. Offers authentic NYC Italian dining experience including spicy rigatoni vodka, chicken parm, and oversized meatballs. Accessible directly from the hotel, serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
• Artie's BackroomcoreOthersRooftop bar at Pod 39 Hotel featuring skyline views, seasonal cocktails, pool table, and $100 Super Bowl platters with pitchers. A vibrant social space for guests and locals offering casual dining and entertainment.
• Clinton HallminorOthersDining option mentioned at Pod Hotels properties offering burgers and beers as part of the food and beverage offerings across the hotel portfolio.
• Café LandwerminorOthersMediterranean-inspired all-day brunch restaurant at Pod Brooklyn, offering guests additional dining options in the Williamsburg neighborhood.
• Serafina in the SkyminorOthersItalian restaurant at Pod Times Square offering dining discounts for Pod guests. Located on the rooftop with city views.
• Bar 42 & PizzotecaminorOthersLobby bar at Pod Times Square serving breakfast items, cocktails, and personal pizzas (Tues-Sat, 1pm-11pm).
• iPark ParkingminorOthersPreferred parking partner at 350 West 42nd Street, one block from Pod Times Square. Offers discounted parking rates for hotel guests ($57 sedan/24hrs, $67 SUV/24hrs).

Scale indicators3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Bunkhouse Group: Bunkhouse operates a portfolio of boutique hotels with communal spaces and design-led rooms, partially overlapping Pod Hotels' positioning on social, design-forward urban lodging at the affordable end of the boutique segment.
• PodShare: PodShare operates co-living pod hotels in LA and other markets with shared communal spaces; an emerging player applying a similar pod-based concept but positioned for longer-term residents rather than nightly travelers.

Direct peers

• Yotel: Yotel operates compact, technology-forward 'cabin' hotel rooms in NYC (Times Square, Midtown), directly competing for the same price-sensitive, design-oriented urban traveler that Pod Hotels targets.
• Arlo Hotels: Arlo operates micro-room hotels in NYC (Arlo SoHo, Arlo Nomad) and other cities, targeting the same budget-conscious urban traveler with compact rooms, rooftop F&B, and social programming — a near-clone of Pod Hotels' positioning.
• Generator Hostels: Generator runs design-led hostel/hotel hybrids across Europe and NYC, offering private and shared rooms at budget price points with social bars and event programming — competing head-to-head with Pod Hotels on price and experience.
• Freehand Hotels: Freehand operates hybrid hostel-hotel properties with shared and private rooms in NYC and other major cities, serving the same budget-conscious, design-oriented, social-traveler segment as Pod Hotels.
• citizenM: citizenM runs luxury-affordable 'micro-hotels' with compact rooms, app-driven check-in, and vibrant social lobbies; an almost identical product concept to Pod Hotels, scaled globally and competing in NYC.

Broad incumbents

• Ace Hotel: Ace operates boutique hotels with compact, design-led rooms, vibrant lobbies, and on-site F&B in NYC and other cities; a broader incumbent targeting a similar social-traveler and creative-class demographic.
• The Standard Hotels: Standard operates design-forward boutique hotels in NYC (High Line, East Village) and other cities; a broader-portfolio incumbent in the same compact-room, design-led, social-lobby category as Pod Hotels but at a higher price point.
• Moxy Hotels: Marriott's Moxy brand is a global limited-service hotel concept with compact rooms and social lobbies aimed at millennial travelers, directly overlapping Pod Hotels' niche but with the distribution, loyalty (Bonvoy), and capital scale of Marriott.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thepodhotels
• Instagraminstagram.com/thepodhotels
• TikToktiktok.com/@thepodhotels
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pod-hotels

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Pod 39