Mi Casa
Discovery through meaning, not filters.
Client
MiCasa
Category
CONCEPT
Project Type
Web Application
Disciplines
Experience · AI · Creative
Mi Casa is a next-generation vacation rental marketplace that replaces rigid filters with AI-powered Semantic Search. It connects travelers with curated homes based on feeling and aesthetic, wrapped in a robust, two-sided platform architecture.
Challenge
Challenge
The online travel market suffers from 'Discovery Paralysis.' Standard booking platforms force users to search like computers—checking boxes for '3 beds' or 'Wifi'—rather than searching like humans. Travelers often look for a specific feeling, like 'a quiet cabin to write a novel,' but current databases cannot bridge the gap between human intent and metadata. Additionally, building a true marketplace requires perfectly synchronizing two distinct user bases: Guests who need a flawless booking flow, and Hosts who require secure, powerful tools to manage their properties and income.
Strategy
Strategy
I engineered an AI-driven discovery engine that utilizes Vector Embeddings to understand the semantic meaning of a search query, allowing users to find homes that match their mood, not just their destination. For the Guest experience, I built an immersive split-screen map interface, an intelligent calendar that prevents double-bookings in real-time, and secure Stripe payment integration. For the Host side, I developed a complete 'Command Center.' This includes a seamless onboarding wizard with automated address geocoding, and a secure dashboard for hosts to track monthly revenue, manage their active listings, and approve incoming reservation requests.
Objective
Prove that search can start from meaning instead of filters — that travelers looking for a feeling can be matched with homes that fit, without checking a single box.
Hypothesis
If discovery is driven by semantic intent rather than amenity checklists, guests will find homes that match their mood faster, book with more confidence, and return for the next trip.
Expected Impact
Lower search bounce rate, higher booking completion, and stronger host retention — because a marketplace is only as good as the matches it makes.
What They Said
“Sykes Creatives transformed a complex, two-sided marketplace idea into an elegant, user-friendly reality.”
MiCasa
