Remote Year Shuts Down After Nearly a Decade, Leaving Digital Nomads in Disarray

Remote Year, a pioneering company that reshaped the travel landscape for digital nomads, has announced its abrupt closure, which was effective by the end of December 2024. The company, which offered month-to-month travel and work programs across the globe, cited “circumstances beyond our control” in a statement shared on its website. The shutdown followed the acquisition of Remote Year by Singapore-based hospitality group Collective Hospitality, which is accused of blocking efforts to save the company.

This closure has sent shockwaves through the travel and remote work communities and has raised questions about the company’s future, its new ownership, and the fate of customers and vendors now left in the lurch.

A Legacy of Innovation Now Undone

Founded in 2015, Remote Year quickly became the posterchild for the glamorous digital nomad lifestyle by offering participants the opportunity to work and explore a new city every 30 days. Over nearly a decade, it built a loyal following of alumni who praised its transformative travel experiences and close-knit communities.

However, the company’s fortunes began to shift in 2020 when it was acquired by Selina, a hospitality brand focused on co-working and co-living spaces for younger travelers. Selina’s aggressive global expansion and financial struggles ultimately led to insolvency in mid-2024, which set the stage for Collective Hospitality’s acquisition of Remote Year and other distressed assets in a fire sale.

Despite early promises from Collective Hospitality to develop Remote Year and turn the ship around, their ambitions unraveled within months. In an email to customers, Remote Year revealed that its team had pursued a third-party deal to keep operations alive, but Collective Hospitality rejected it at the last minute.

Fallout for Customers and Vendors

Customers and vendors have expressed outrage and disappointment over the handling of the shutdown. Reddit user “jeanshortsjorts” shared that emails from Remote Year lacked clarity about refunds for canceled trips, which has left many scrambling to file travel insurance claims or contact their banks. Others, like user “jellyboness,” revealed that credits from prior canceled activities are now effectively worthless.

Vendors, too, have borne the brunt of the fallout. A small tour provider in Valencia, Spain, stated they have not been paid since July but had continued to deliver services in good faith. “This has taken us by shock, having just found out tonight,” the vendor wrote on Reddit.

Behind the Scenes

Insiders claim that Collective Hospitality’s leadership failed to support Remote Year through this critical period. Reddit user “marshmatter” criticized CEO Gary Murray for prioritizing other interests over sustaining the company. “It seems like he opted to just screw RY customers instead of taking a buyout from potential new owners that would have kept them in business.”

The collapse also highlights the challenges Remote Year faced as it transitioned from a startup into a growth-driven company under Selina, a shift that some argue pushed it into unsustainable territory.

The Path Ahead

While Remote Year staff have resigned en masse, they’ve encouraged the community to stay connected and hinted that some elements of the program could resurface independently. For now, customers and vendors are left grappling with the immediate financial and logistical impacts of the closure.

The shuttering of Remote Year leaves a void in the digital nomad space. While Collective Hospitality’s broader plans for its portfolio remain unclear, the sudden demise of one of the movement’s pioneering brands serves as a stark reminder of the risks tied to the hospitality and travel sectors’ rapid expansion. For many, Remote Year’s closure marks the end of an era.