Employee Spotlight: Justin Sun, Growth & Strategy Manager
Rove Spotlight: Q&A with Justin Sun, Growth and Strategy Manager
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what brought you to Rove?
My journey to Rove feels like a series of building blocks that all came together at just the right time. It started at Domio, where I got to be part of something special—watching a small team grow from 8 to 200 people, initially sitting on the real estate team, then leading the debut of our first hotel in New Orleans, and moving into a corporate development role. It was my crash course in the alternative lodging space, and I loved every second of it.
After Domio, I joined AvantStay as the first business operations hire. It was a wild ride scaling the company from 80 to 600 employees, working on everything from optimizing property operations across 40 markets to working on M&A integrations. I learned so much about what it takes to grow a business—and how to thrive in fast-paced environments.
With a background from Cornell’s Hotel School and a love for startups, Rove felt like the perfect fit. I was drawn to the opportunity to help build something in the luxury space, right here in NYC, where I’m based. Combining tech, real estate, and hospitality is where I feel most at home, and Rove lets me do just that.
How would you describe your role at Rove?
Every day at Rove is a mix of building, refining, and solving. My role focuses on business operations, which is all about creating systems that help us scale smoothly and sustainably. I work on everything from improving property launches and optimizing revenue to finding new ways to streamline our processes.
Lately, I’ve also been diving into digital growth—helping Rove expand its online presence and connect with new audiences. It’s exciting because everything we do here feels like it directly moves the needle, whether it’s enhancing the guest experience or helping property owners feel confident in partnering with us.
What are you most proud of?
One of the things I’m most proud of is how much we’ve grown Rove’s digital presence in just a year. We’ve hit over 2 million impressions and grown organic traffic by 500%, which has driven tons of new bookings and revenue for the business. Watching those numbers climb is amazing, but it’s not just about the stats—it’s about knowing that we’re getting our story out there and showing people what makes Rove so special.
What’s the essence of Business Operations at Rove?
Business operations is all about setting up the foundation so the whole team can shine. It’s making sure the processes, tools, and strategies are in place to help us grow and deliver an incredible experience for our guests. It’s not the most glamorous part of hospitality, but it’s the glue that holds everything together—and I love the challenge of figuring out how to make things work better, faster, and smarter.
What do you love most about working at Rove?
It’s hard to pick just one thing, but I’d say it’s the mix of innovation, collaboration, and impact. Rove is fast-paced and full of creative problem-solvers, so every day feels like an opportunity to learn and grow. The luxury market is complex and challenging, but that’s what makes it so rewarding—and being surrounded by a team that’s as passionate about hospitality as I am makes it even better.
Any advice for those looking to join your team?
Be ready to dive in and wear a lot of hats! Rove is growing fast, so adaptability and creativity are huge here. You don’t need to check every box on a job description—what matters more is your drive, curiosity, and willingness to solve problems. If you’re passionate about hospitality and love the idea of building something, this is the place for you.