travel related startups ideas

18 Companies & Startups Revitalizing Travel in 2024

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• Top Travel Industry Trends
• 20 Disruptive Transportation Startups
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The travel industry was one of the hardest hit industries during the pandemic.

In 2023, global tourism recovered, jumping back to  84% of pre-pandemic levels . Also, global travel and tourism revenue is expected to grow from $927.3 billion in 2024 to $1.1 billion by 2028. 

However, the industry as a whole isn't expected to recover  until 2027 .

Despite that, some travel startups are still growing exponentially.

Check out this list of companies that are looking to revitalize the travel industry in 2024 and beyond.

1. TravelPerk

5-year search growth : 172%

Search growth status : Exploding

Year founded : 2015

Location : Barcelona, Spain

Funding : $530M (Series D)

What they do : TravelPerk is a travel management platform designed to simplify business travel. It offers a centralized platform for booking, managing, and analyzing business travel, with features such as real-time booking, expense management, and travel policy enforcement.  The company aims to reduce the time and cost associated with business travel while providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for travelers.

In 2023, revenue grew 70% and gross profit 90% year over year as annual booking volumes reached $2 billion. The company also raised an additional $104 million in January 2024 at a valuation of $1.4 billion. 

2. SafetyWing

5-year search growth : 9,800%

Year founded : 2017

Location : Palo Alto, California

Funding : $47.1M (Series B)

What they do : SafetyWing is an insurtech company that focuses on digital nomads. Their flagship, "Nomad Insurance," is accepted across several different countries (ideal for travel). SafetyWing also offers a B2B "Remote Health" product that provides coverage for remote teams. In 2023, SafetyWing grew revenue to $20.3 million and served over 25,000 customers . 

5-year search growth : 99x+

Year founded : 2019

Location : Singapore, Singapore

Funding : $67.3M (Series B)

What they do : Airalo is an alternative to using multiple SIM cards while traveling. Specifically, the company offers over 190 affordable "eSIMs" that can be switched over with a few clicks. eSIMs aren't supported by all smartphones, but they are becoming an increasingly common feature in newer models. The SIM company recently raised $60 million in its most recent series B funding round. 

4. Roadsurfer

5-year search growth : 900%

Location : Munich, Germany

Funding : $33.9M (Series Unknown)

What they do: Roadsurfer rents customized camper vans in 13 European countries and, most recently, the United States. In addition to the core rental service, the startup offers a number of optional add-ons for each trip, like kitchen cutlery. Each plan also includes an insurance policy. Today, the company has 70 stations across Europe and North America .

5. YouLi (YouLive to Travel)

5-year search growth : 22%

Search growth status : Peaked

Year founded : 2016

Location : Melbourne, Australia

Funding : $200K (Angel)

What they do : YouLi is an all-in-one travel management software for organizing group trips and company retreats. The software includes a number templates for different types of travel itineraries. The software also has a member's area that travelers can use to manage and pay for their trips.

6. PickYourTrail

5-year search growth : 23%

Search growth status : Regular

Year founded : 2014

Location : Chennai, India

Funding : $3M (Series Unknown)

What they do : PickYourTrail is a platform for booking entire trips online (including flight, road transportation, and lodging). The startup reports that 46,000 people have used the service to date.

5-year search growth : 400%

Location : New York, NY

Funding : Undisclosed

What they do : Tracki is a travel tech startup that provides real-time GPS tracking solutions for individuals, families, and businesses. Their products range from portable GPS trackers to asset trackers and pet trackers, which can be easily monitored through their mobile app or web platform. The app has more than 500,000 downloads on the Google Play Store.

8. Very Local Trip

5-year search growth : 300%

What they do :  Very Local Trip connects travelers with local tour guides. In other words, the startup is a focused version of Airbnb's "Experiences" feature. Currently, the startup offers experiences all over the world in Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. 

5-year search growth : 3,233%

Year founded : 2018

Location : Madrid, Spain

Funding : $200.6K (Seed)

What they do : Holafly is an eSIM startup that offers international data plans for travelers. The company partners with local providers in different countries and offers unlimited data plans for a fixed time period. Currently, the startup operates in 160+ countries with 1 million customers worldwide. 

5-year search growth : 6%

Location : New York, New York

Funding : $181M (Series D)

What they do :  Away is a DTC travel brand. Often called the “Warby Parker for suitcases,” the company keeps overhead costs low by selling direct-to-consumer. Away's product line includes travel luggage, sleep masks, travel pillows and blankets, and compression socks.

5-year search growth : 284%

Location : Denver, Colorado

What they do : GOTRAX is an electric scooter company that provides affordable and eco-friendly transportation solutions for urban dwellers. With a range of electric scooters for adults and kids, GOTRAX offers a convenient and cost-effective way to navigate through busy city streets.

12. Lodgify

5-year search growth : 217%

Year founded : 2012

Funding : $36.6M (Series B)

What they do : Lodgify develops software that helps property owners manage their vacation rental properties. The all-in-one website includes features to manage bookings, accept reservations, and synchronize across different platforms, including Airbnb, Vrbo, and Expedia.

13. Bobobox

5-year search growth : 325%

Location : Badung, Indonesia

Funding : $13M (Non-Equity Assistance)

What they do : Bobobox is a technology-based hospitality startup that provides affordable and accessible capsule hotels for travelers in Indonesia. The company utilizes an app-based platform that allows customers to book and manage their stays, as well as access various hotel amenities and services.

Bobobox aims to revolutionize the hospitality industry in Indonesia by offering affordable and convenient lodging options that cater to the needs of modern travelers. The app has generated more than 1 million downloads on the Google Play Store. 

5-year search growth : 10%

Location : Bucharest, Romania

Funding : $1.8M (Seed)

What they do : Questo is a mobile app for iPhone and Android that gamifies city exploration. Users embark on "quests" to discover interesting spots and learn about local lore. Each quest is designed by a local "creator." The app currently offers quests in over 500 cities to more than 400,000 players. 

15. Bespoke

5-year search growth : 8,700%

Location : Tokyo, Japan

Funding : $2.5M (Series B)

What they do :  Bespoke  has developed an AI-powered chatbot designed for multilingual guest services. Their software provides hotel guests with answers to hotel-specific questions, local recommendations, and restaurant reservations. Bespoke was used by the Japanese government during COVID-19 to communicate critical health and safety updates to residents and travelers.

16. Tailos (Formerly Maidbot)

5-year search growth : 14%

Location : Austin, Texas

Funding : $50K (Series B)

What they do :  Tailos , formerly Maidbot, manufacturers a housekeeping robot (named Rosie) designed to clean hotels and commercial buildings. Rosie takes on "dull, dirty, and dangerous tasks", in order to reduce injuries to staff while increasing productivity and consistency.

17. TasteAtlas

5-year search growth : 1,400%

Location : Zagreb, Croatia

What they do : TasteAtlas is a food and travel startup that provides a comprehensive guide to traditional dishes, drinks, and ingredients from all over the world. The platform offers a database of authentic food recommendations and local restaurants to help travelers discover new cuisines and experiences. Additionally, TasteAtlas allows users to create their own food maps and share their culinary discoveries with others.

18. Roame Travel

Search growth status : Exploding 

Year founded : 2023

Location : San Francisco, California

Funding : $500K (Pre-Seed)

What they do : Roame is a free award travel search engine that finds available flights that qualify for credit card points and miles redemption. Currently, Roame provides search results for 16 airline loyalty programs and 200 airlines . Users can upgrade to a premium membership to access the SkyView feature, a search function that finds flights within a 90-day search window. 

That wraps up our list of travel startups growing despite the hardships of the pandemic.

The trend away from traditional hotels and towards short-term rental properties, RVs, and campsites accelerated this year as more people work remotely and seek a change of scenery.

There is also a notable shift towards AI and automation, as hotels seek to cut costs and increase efficiency.

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6 Travel Startups to Watch in 2024: Newcomers in Travel Tech!

The travel industry has transformed with technological advancements in recent years, paving the way for innovative startups. I'll take you through all the exciting new travel startups and how it's reshaping how people explore the world! 

The travel industry has grown bigger, better, and faster thanks to modern-day technology. Recent tech advancements have brought many advantages, both for businesses and travelers.

New startups are changing how we plan, book, and experience our journeys. They offer many services and solutions catering to modern travelers' needs. 

Travel startups include everything from budget-friendly itineraries to sustainable accommodations. Today, I'll take you into some up-and-coming travel startups changing how we travel. Having worked for a handful of travel startups myself, I can take you through the ins and outs of these exciting new companies. Let's go! 

What is a Travel Startup? 

New to the game? Don't worry, I've got you sorted. Let's get straight into the basics. 

A travel startup is a new company that uses innovative technology to provide products or services for travelers. These startups generally try to improve travel experiences by addressing modern travel needs. 

Travel startups can cover a range of areas within the travel industry, including: 

• Booking platforms
• Itinerary planning
• Accommodations
• Transportation 
• Sustainable travel
• Experiences
• Travel tech startups

Nowadays, lots of people are looking for tech jobs that travel. Navan, Sabre, Tracki, Expedia, and G Adventures are some of the best travel tech companies to work for. 

Categories of Travel Startups 

If you're considering working at a travel startup, you may wonder what types of jobs there are. The category of travel startups can range considerably. Here are examples of different categories to expect when working at a travel startup:

Online Travel Agencies (OTAS) 

These platforms allow travelers to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more through a single website or app. This is useful for those looking for a hassle-free, all-in-one experience. 

Travel agency startups use technology to provide unique and personalized experiences. They offer everything from  planning a trip  and booking services to equipment. Here are some of the key features and trends in travel agency startups:

• Online platform 
• Personalized itineraries 
• Local experiences 
• Streamline booking for flights, accommodations, activities, etc. 
• Sustainable travel 
• Real-time assistance 
• Social sharing 

Group Travel 

Group travel startups streamline the process of planning and coordinating group trips. This makes traveling together easier for families, friends, or colleagues. If you've ever planned a group trip, you'll know startup travel companies like these are game changers. 

Accommodation Services 

Startups in this category hone in on unique and alternative lodging options. They might offer vacation rentals, boutique hotels, or home-sharing platforms. 

Transportation Services 

Startups provide innovative transport options and solutions. These could include ride-sharing, car-sharing, and peer-to-peer car rental services.

Activities and Experiences 

These startups connect travelers with local experiences, tours, activities, and events. Generally, these startups offer experiences that go beyond traditional tourist attractions.

Travel Planning and Itineraries 

Travel startup companies help travelers to plan and organize their trips. Often, they use AI to create personalized itineraries. Many top tech travel startups are using AI and machine learning-based platforms. 

Sustainable Travel 

Sustainable travel startups are focused on promoting eco-friendly and responsible travel practices. Startups in this space include carbon offset programs, sustainable accommodations, and environmental conservation.

Digital Nomad Services 

Digital nomad travel companies address the needs of remote workers and digital nomads. They offer services like co-working spaces, accommodation, and networking opportunities.

Travel Startups to Watch in 2024!

Now that you know the basics, let's explore some top travel startups that's looking to disrupt and change the way we'll travel in the near future!

Pilot is a social travel hub (AI-Powered) that helps groups discover, plan, book, and share trips together in one platform.

Pilot helps save time and money, helping people make the most of every trip.COVID made people realize they crave more experiences in the real world, not more social media. Travel is a great way to deliver that, as purchase behavior focus continues shifting from assets to experiences.

The abundance of marketplaces and travel blogs have created a fragmented UX that underserves traveler needs.

Today, the trip planning process is tedious and costly (time/money/stress), especially as most people travel in groups (2+ people). Travel is inherently social, yet no one is doing collaborative planning well. Yet, competitors continue to put paywalls on basic features like file uploads, or feel like checkout carts. Tools like TripAdvisor’s planner (which most don’t know about) aren’t flexible enough to replace Google docs/sheets.

Unlike competitors, Pilot is personalized, flexible, fun and free, monetizing via bookings & related services rather than charging the user directly. Starting with a social trip planner, Pilot will learn and adapt to you, enabling you to go on more trips with friends and family while making more in real life memories togehter!

Founding year:  2020

Location:  Canada 

Category:  Trip planning / Social Travel / Consumer Software

TravGeo  taps into the power of geo-tourism. This lets travelers explore a location's unique natural, cultural, and historical features. TravGeo offers guided tours and experiences focusing on the environment of a place.

Location:  USA 

Category:  Travel tech  

YouLi is reinventing group travel! If you've ever tried to assemble a group trip, you'll understand how challenging it can be. This travel startup company streamlines the process of planning group trips. It offers a centralized platform known as the "member's area."

Organizers can manage bookings, payments, and communication in this virtual space. YouLi also offers a lot of group discounts and deals. This makes group travel easy and enjoyable for families, friends, and corporate teams.  

Founding year:  2016

Location:  Australia

Category:  Group tour management 

TravelPerk 

TravelPerk  is a not-so-new startup that's tailored to corporate travel management. It offers real-time booking, managing, analyzing, and everything in between. With TravelPerk, corporate travel is made easy. It also offers event organization, refundable bookings, flexible options, and travel assistance. 

Read more about them in our review of TravelPerk here!

Founding year:  2015 

Location:  Spain 

Category:  Travel tech 

Roadsurfer 

Roadsurfer  rents out customized camper vans in 13 different European countries. On top of the rental service, this travel startup offers additional options for each trip. You can choose from a large fleet of well-equipped Class B RV rental options with different styles, sizes, and models. 

Founding year:  2016 

Location:  Germany  

Category:  Transportation 

Tracki  is a tech travel startup that offers real-time GPS tracking solutions. It provides services for families, individuals, and businesses. 

Tracki's product range includes pet, asset, and GPS trackers. All of these can be monitored through an easy-to-use mobile app or website.  

Founding year:  2005 

Interesting Facts About Travel Startups 

Want to learn more about travel startups? Here are some lesser-known facts about travel startups that might surprise you!

• There have been more than  1009 digital travel startups  established since 2015.
• More than  $27 billion  worth of investments were poured into travel companies from 2020 to 2022.
• Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were approximately 65 million digital nomads worldwide. It is expected that in 2035, their quantity can rise up to  one billion .
• Startups providing services for short-term rentals, such as Airbnb or AvantStay, accounted for  55% of hospitality startup funding  in 2021.

Travel Startups and Beyond!

Now that you're up to speed on travel startups, you can start to craft your ideal travel experience for you, your family, and your friends. Give Pilot a try for free!

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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Top 20 travel startups to watch out for in 2024

1. travelperk.

• Headquarters : Barcelona, Spain
• Other office locations : Boston, Chicago, Miami, Berlin, Birmingham, Edinburgh, London
• Number of employees : 1,142 
• Funding : raised a total of $408.2M over 9 rounds

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2. timeshifter.

• Headquarters: New York, USA
• Other office locations: Southampton, NY, Water Mill, NY
• Number of employees: 861
• Funding: raised a total of $3.5M over 3 rounds

3. GetYourGuide

• Headquarters: Berlin, Germany
• Other office locations: Zurich, Sydney, Vienna, Paris, Hong Kong, Rome, Dubai, San Francisco, New York City, Cape Town, Barcelona, London, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo
• Number of employees: 928
• Funding: raised a total of $5.9 billion in venture funding by 2022
• Headquarters: Saudi Arabia
• Other office locations: N/A
• Number of employees: 16
• Funding: seed round closed in February 2023

5. Lighthouse (OTA Insight)

• Headquarters: London, UK
• Other office locations: Singapore, Denver, Belgium, Sao Paolo, Dallas
• Number of employees: 411
• Funding: $80 million Series B 

6. SafetyWing

• Headquarters: California, USA
• Number of employees: 145
• Funding: raised a total of $47M over 4 rounds

7. Coindrum

• Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
• Number of employees: 10
• Funding: raised a total of $2.9M over 2 rounds

8. Luggage Hero

• Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Number of employees: 30
• Funding: raised a total of $3.9M over 5 rounds

9. Blacklane

• Other office locations: New York, San Diego, Miami, Dubai, Paris, Brisbane
• Number of employees: 343
• Funding: raised a total of $103M over 10 rounds
• Headquarters: USA
• Other office locations: Singapore
• Number of employees: 300+
• Funding: raised a total of $67.3M over 3 rounds

11. Roadsurfer

• Headquarters: Bayern, Germany
• Other office locations: 70+ locations 
• Number of employees: 263
• Funding: $31.3M (Series Unknown)

12. PickYourTrail

• Headquarters: Chennai, India 
• Number of employees: 5
• Funding: $4.74M over 5 rounds from 12 investors

13. Tripsider

• Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
• Number of employees: 50
• Funding: $1M in seed
• Headquarters: Cedarhurst, New York, USA
• Number of employees: 100 
• Funding: Undisclosed

15. Tourisfair

• Headquarters: Saabrücken, Germany 
• Number of employees: 10 
• Funding: £500-800K
• Headquarters: Austin, Texas 
• Number of employees: 12
• Funding: $4.25M in seed funding in 2023
• Headquarters: London, UK 
• Funding: $236M in funding across 35 funding rounds

18. Katanox

• Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands 
• Other office locations: Manchester, Delaware, Seattle, New York 
• Number of employees: 25
• Funding: $5.7M raised by 2022

19. Greether

• Headquarters: Zurich, Switzerland  
• Number of employees: 34
• Funding: $2.2M in seed funding (July 2023) 

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69 Best Travel Tech Startups to Watch in 2024

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The 12 Travel Startups to Watch Out For In 2021

No one could have anticipated what 2020 had in store for us. When COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, back in March, the travel and hospitality industries were among the sectors that were hit the hardest, having to navigate one of the worst crises in history. Several travel corporations and startups went through difficult layoffs in the weeks and months to follow - most notably Airbnb and TripActions. The industry as a whole quickly realized that this pandemic would have lasting effects and change the way we travel for the foreseeable future.

The good news is that there are signs of recovery as we near the end of 2020 and look ahead to 2021. On the startup front, Airbnb’s long-awaited IPO is sure to give travel industry partners a tailwind, proving that despite a global pandemic, “getting away” is not just a luxury, but has rather become a necessity for many. Adding to this, the growing concept of “working from anywhere” is changing how we think of accommodations - being more than just a place where we sleep and get away for the weekend.

Do you want to meet a curated selection of startups in travel? Get in touch with us

In the travel industry, 2020 has been a year where many companies have raised funds to "survive" the current pandemic - if they even had the ability to raise. The latest data from Crunchbase shows that both the number of funding rounds and the average dollar amounts raised by venture-backed travel startups have declined this year. Early-stage startups were the hardest hit with less fresh venture capital money going towards backing companies at this stage.

However, “in the midst of every crisis lies an opportunity,” and we, at Plug and Play, are firm believers that there will be many winners born out of the pandemic. We’ve listed out 12 travel startups below that are redefining the travel and hospitality space and that we think are worthwhile to keep an eye on in 2021 .

Purchasing international data plans when traveling can be frustrating. Buying a local SIM card can be a tedious process and carriers like AT&T tend to charge a huge fee to use data plans abroad. Airalo is here to change that, as the world’s first eSIM store. Almost all new smartphones are being offered with an eSIM, a SIM that’s already embedded inside the device. Airalo is an eSIM marketplace that smartphone users can use to buy temporary mobile data plans when traveling abroad. Airalo’s mobile data plans are completely separate from your standard mobile data plan and run on a local network.

“Contactless” has been the theme of 2020 and will continue to be for at least the first part of 2021. Ditto is a distributed database for cross-platform apps to sync even without an internet connection. With Ditto , your apps can sync directly with each other during outages, crashes, or in mobile not-spots. Since the pandemic hit, Ditto has seen a surge of interest from airlines.

Amenitiz is an all-in-one platform for the hospitality industry. This travel startup ’s solution centralizes all the tools that any hotelier would need to run its property into a single, easy-to-use platform: a PMS, a website builder with a fully-integrated booking engine, and a channel manager. The main value proposition is the platform’s convenience, allowing hotels to increase direct bookings, save costs, with a great UX. The company has more than 1,200 clients across Europe.

Meetings and events planning have become increasingly complicated. Troop aggregates thousands of data points, enabling corporate travel managers and meeting planners to select event destinations based on objective intelligence rather than just opinion. The platform of this travel startup optimizes destination selection based on cost, travel time, ease of travel, visa requirements, and carbon footprint, among other factors. Now, Troop is adding functions to surface safety and security information to address the risk side that becomes part of the equation.

Facial recognition and biometric identification technology could play a pivotal role in how “immunity” or “health passports” might work. One of the leaders in this space is Yoti , who allows consumers to take control of their digital identity by creating a reusable ID on their smartphone that can be shared multiple times with organizations on the Yoti platform. It is a GDPR/CCPA compliant solution, available in 6 languages and accepts passports and photos from 165 countries.

The Hotels Network

In today’s environment, hotel brands need to take innovative approaches in order to increase their direct bookings. The Hotels Network enables hoteliers around the world to increase direct bookings by using predictive personalization to offer each guest a unique user experience. The company has developed a predictive algorithm for hotels, capable of analyzing the visitor's interactions in real-time and predicting the action they intend to take on the website before they do so. This enables hotel owners and marketers to change the messaging on their websites in real-time, personalizing the experience for website users. The Hotels Network works with more than 5,000 hotels across 96 countries.

Smooss helps travel companies (especially airlines) to increase revenue and improve customer experience thanks to tailor-made solutions designed on top of reservation systems. This travel startup currently has two main products: an upselling platform and a disruption recovery solution. Smooss enables easy rebooking with its universal “Disruption Recovery” solution and enables a personalized revenue opportunity through its Smooss Ancillary Platform.

As more employees work remotely, companies are finding it difficult to recognize and reward them. Blueboard solves this problem, offering a rewards and recognition platform that is providing a curated experience that employers can bestow on their employees and top performers. Virtual cooking classes, skydiving, snorkeling, you name it, Blueboard’s concierge service is here to handle all of the logistics.

Port is another travel startup that will shape 2021 . Curious travelers want to experience and learn about different places in the world, however, there are many tour and travel experiences not within reach if you are unable to travel (for financial, time or physical reasons). Port enables travelers and working professionals to book on-demand remote guides around the world and receive live, interactive video calls to experience new destinations or attend events that they can't physically go to.

It’s safe to say that COVID-19 has changed the world of events with everything moving online. Hopin is an interactive web events company that allows hosts to create events where through video, quality connections can be made. Whether it’s a 50 person event or 50,000 person conference, you can customize your event to fit the requirements and even have attendees move in and out of rooms. It was recently announced that Hopin (founded just in 2019!) closed a $125M Series B at a $2.125B valuation.

Butler Hospitality

Butler takes over restaurants inside of hotels and transforms them into delivery hubs that provide virtual room service to nearby full, limited- and select-service hotels. Butler designs its own menu of elevated, accessible luxury food, prepares it in its own kitchens, and delivers it to hotels throughout New York City in under thirty minutes. By partnering directly with hotels, Butler delivers food directly to the hotel room and charges the guest’s credit card on file unlike other delivery services.

Calling air cargo demand “one of the few bright spots” in the global airline sector, IATA chief economist Brian Pearce said that requirements for air freight had been supported by the transport of medical equipment and essential supplies. We expect this to continue as unlike passenger demand, air freight requirements are following a fairly typical recession/recovery cycle. cargo.one is a digital platform for freight forwarders to search, compare and book air freight capacities across airlines. These airlines benefit from a fully digital and data-driven distribution channel, attracting new business at lower cost and higher operational efficiency.

In 2021, travel startups will not only play a large role in helping us adjust to the new normal and restore confidence in travel, but also challenge the fundamental ways of how we’ve thought about travel, which presents an exciting prospect - especially for early-stage investors. If 2020 was about surviving, we have our fingers crossed that 2021 will be about thriving.

Innovation in the travel industry is happening. Don’t be left behind.

At Plug and Play's Travel accelerator we are in touch with corporations and startups that are changing the world as we know it. Join our platform today.

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50 🔥 Travel Startups

Here's our list of hot travel startups to watch in 2022.

👏 Thanks to over 3000 voters from 88 countries 🎉 Official results below — congrats to the Top 10 😅 See how close the competition was in this cool visual

🦄 The #1 upvoted startup wins 0.005 Bitcoin (~$250 USD) 👍 One voter (random) will win 0.001 Bitcoin (~$50 USD) 🚨 Voting has closed (December 19 at 23:59 UTC)

🦄 1. Tripsider (formerly YouTravel.me)

🏆 2. NaviSavi

🏅 4. yolovivo

🏅 5. Troupe

🏅 7. Floodin PRO

🏅 8. socialbnb

🏅 9. Ask A Local

🏅 10. SafeScore

Global Convoy

Eddy Travels AI Assistant

Nomad Stays

Travel Creators

GetAboutAble

Travel Kollekt

Map Your City

Room Steals

World Views

Local Purse

I like local

Guess Where Trips

The Work From Anywhere Team

Unearthed Retreats

Paradise Ride

What's The Plan

Yūgen Earthside

Trip.Social

Visit Dark Skies

Competition rules . If there is a draw, the prize will be split evenly between the winning startups. To be in the draw to win 0.001 BTC you must upvote at least one of the startups, and have a completed profile. The winners will be announced in the weekly newsletter and contacted via email. Good luck!

22 Travel Startup Ideas for the Avid Globetrotter

• Startup Ideas

Best Startup Ideas

Last Updated: April 19, 2024 By TRUiC Team

Traveling is a lot of fun, which is probably why at least some of the 917 million people who traveled internationally in 2022 were out on the roads, in the sky, or out to sea. The wonderful thing about this industry is everything you learn when you’re a part of it. If this is an industry you want to launch your startup in, then you should know there are plenty of fantastic opportunities.

We’ve put together a list of innovative travel startup ideas so you can consider different approaches to your business. One of these could be the exact kind of travel work you’re interested in doing.

Recommended: Check out our full list of the best startup ideas .

Startup Ideas for Travel Lovers

Since you love to travel, it makes sense to allow your sense of adventure to guide your career. Your company can be a fantastic resource for people looking to visit a local area, find bargains, or learn about traveling. Here are various startup ideas you can take a look at to start brainstorming. 

1. Ecotourism Startup

The point of ecotourism is to help with conservation efforts while making travel sustainable. Ecotourists care about how they get somewhere just as much as leaving those travel spots how they found them (or better). 

Responsible travel is an interesting area of the travel industry, making it a good choice for up-and-coming businesses. You could create a website and sell products for travelers with an eye for sustainability, or you might want to look into working with travel destinations that are interested in having tourists come to them but worried about the risks. Pairing up vacationers or tourists and these destinations could lead to a payday for your startup.

2. Travel Tech Gadgets

Sometimes, you can make traveling a little easier with gadgets. Things like earbud holders or keychains that remember temporary locker combinations can be great tools to help people who are on the go. 

Travel tech gadgets can be almost anything. If you’re an entrepreneur with a manufacturing background, you could manufacture and promote new gadget ideas. Or, consider a website selling the latest and greatest products.

3. Social Network for Travelers

For the IT-savvy, one good way to get your startup going is by creating a new social network within your niche. For travelers, a social network where they can share information, couch-surfing or housing options, or other kinds of details could be an immense help.

To be successful with a social network, you’ll need to be sure of your target audience. You may also want to consider reaching out to locals first, so you can start with a strong community when you go online.

4. Web-Based Tourism Agency

Not everyone can go to a physical tourism office to ask questions, pick up pamphlets, or learn more about a place where they’re going. However, an online tourism agency can meet their needs from anywhere. 

A successful web-based tourism agency should have agents standing by to help people with questions about their destination. You may also want to have people on call who speak multiple languages, so anyone can get assistance with the push of a button. Work with hotels, cab services, or others in the regions you promote for an added connection to the area.

5. Rental Price Comparison App

There’s nothing worse than paying a premium for a hotel room or an Airbnb—but if you don’t check the websites separately, you might not see all the discounts that are available.

Your startup can eliminate the guesswork by helping people compare their potential rentals with one another for price, availability, and features. To stand out, make it easy to see all the options in one place, so people don’t have to flip from one page to another to get all the details.

6. Ebike/Escooter Rentals

Have you ever gotten to a travel destination and wondered how you were going to get around? Maybe you weren’t planning to go far enough to need a rental vehicle, but you also are too far to travel by foot. An e-bike or e-scooter is the answer.

For your venture, consider renting out e-bikes and e-scooters not only around popular tourist destinations but also in the residential areas around them. Tracking them on an app is one way to keep watch over them, or you can rent them individually to specific individuals by the minute, hour, day, week, or month.

7. Language Translation App

A big problem some tourists run into when they’re in a different location is the inability to communicate effectively in the area’s main language. For example, if a tourist goes to China, they may be able to speak English in Beijing, but if they go out to a rural area like Hunan, it could be harder to find people to converse with. Even if they know Mandarin Chinese, different dialects can throw a wrench in the works. 

A good language translation app with an eye on local dialects can be a lifesaver in this kind of situation. Rather than focusing on just one or two main languages, a company that thinks about specific local tongues could be one that becomes necessary in some countries.

8. Foreign Money Converter Tool

One yen? Two Canadian dollars? Five euros? How exactly do those currencies translate to USD? 

For your startup, consider creating a foreign money converter tool that lets people know exactly how much they’re spending when they convert their dollars to the native currency. For an extra benefit, consider adding in ATM fees or international fees so people know exactly how much they’re spending.

9. Local Content App

When most people get to a tourist destination, they turn to the internet or brochures to find out more. They might plan where they go to dinner or which sights they see based on what they find.

That’s problematic, though, because those sources of information aren’t always accurate and may miss local gems. Your venture can focus on local content and pair up with vendors all over the area to give tourists a real bang for their buck.

10. Luggage Storage

If you’re near a local tourist destination and you know that people often come with backpacks or other luggage they won’t want to carry while interacting in the region, you could open a luggage storage facility. From paid lockers to actual luggage stops where you sell and store luggage for travelers, there are plenty of ways to set up this kind of business.

And, if you want to expand your business, you could franchise it out to other major tourist sights. Travelers will love having somewhere safe to store their belongings.

11. Abroad Education App

Those who travel abroad aren’t always prepared for the culture shock or differences in how they have to live. They could save face (and avoid getting into trouble) if they take a look at your app. 

For your venture, talk to locals and expats living abroad at the destination. Ask them about common rules and things to know—then package that information into your educational app to help travelers on their way.

12. Travel Concierge

If you’ve ever been traveling and wished you had someone you could call to arrange a cab for you or help you make dinner reservations, then you were looking for a travel concierge. Why not create a business to help others with the exact issue you dealt with? 

A travel concierge takes care of all the little details for travelers as they enjoy their vacations or business trips. You could run your startup as a call center, personal concierge service, or chat service.

13. Interest-Based AI Booking App

Artificial intelligence is seemingly everywhere these days, and for good reason. It’s very good at doing repetitive tasks, like booking flights or inputting important details for your itineraries. 

For your company, using AI to your advantage could be a great help. Consider creating an AI booking app that sorts out reservations based on the user’s interests. Have users input the kinds of foods they like or their favorite hobbies, and the AI can show them all the possible options at their chosen destination.

14. City Guide

One thing that can be hard about traveling is not being familiar with a city. A city guide helps by detailing information about the best places to eat, what the population is like, demographic information, and more. 

Creating a city guide website is one option for your startup. Partner up with local shops and services at each destination for excellent backlinks and an opportunity to sell ad space.

15. Pre-Booked Chauffeur Service

Not everyone wants to hail a taxi at the airport. It can be hard to find a bus or other transportation, though, and sitting with people they don’t know can make some travelers wary. 

Your business can help by working as a pre-booked chauffeur service. A pre-booked chauffeur service makes sure a driver is there and ready to pick up travelers at their destination so they’re taken to their hotel or reserved room safely and on time.

16. Web-Based Travel Aggregator

Another good business option for those who want to work online but who are keen on travel is to create a web-based travel aggregator website. Your business, as a travel aggregator, will find travel deals from all over the web. Then, you’ll aggregate (collect) them in one place, so people can see which deals are the best online right now.

Using an affiliate-link structure, you can make good money as an aggregator. To draw in more users, consider making deals with local businesses. Then, only show those deals on your website.

17. Bus Tours

Bus tours are an excellent option for anyone who is interested in seeing an area but not interested in driving. Bus tours go through important points of interest—some allow people to get on and off, but others just pass through the areas to give a taste of what the city or location has to offer. 

If you have a bus, one startup idea is to offer bus tours. You could focus on a single, important destination, or you could allow people to book you for tours based on their interests.

18. Carpooling App

Sometimes, people want to travel, but they don’t know who to travel with. On top of that, they might be interested in traveling but not be able to drive themselves.

A carpooling app can help. For a fee, users could browse through people offering rides. Then, they can match with each other and ride together anywhere they plan to go. Adding long-distance destinations to your app could make it stand out from others.

19. Multi-Booking Website

A multi-booking website is one that allows people to book flights, car rentals, hotels, and other services all in one place. If you love working with other businesses and pairing up with affiliate links, this kind of venture could be a good choice for you. 

Multi-booking websites take time to set up, so you’ll need a good understanding of coding and web design. To stand out? Consider offering users deep discounts or using partnerships to guarantee special rates they won’t find elsewhere.

20. Microstay Hotels

Microstay hotels are hotels that don’t require a 24-hour stay. They might rent by the minute, hour, or half-day, for example. While many travelers might find microstay hotels odd, they can be fantastic for people who get stuck in an airport for a long layover or for those who have a few hours they need to kill between activities. 

For your microstay hotel, consider capsule hotels. These small hotels fit one or two people, and they primarily offer a small TV, charging stations, and a bed. They’re easy to maintain, and you may be able to partner with local airports to rent them to weary travelers.

21. Bike-Friendly Routing App

Not every city is bike-friendly, and that can lead to accidents. However, many places have bike routes or routes preferred by local cyclists — having a route map could be a literal lifesaver for travelers unfamiliar with the area. 

On your app, consider using GPS and guidance from locals to develop maps with preferred routes. Letting users rate the routes can also help you remove routes that become dangerous or that are defunct.

22. Museum Finder

Many tourist destinations have museums that are unique and fun. From natural history museums to museums about local myths, (we’re looking at you, Mothman Museum,) your startup can help people find these educational gems. 

You will need to identify where museums are, see their open hours, and get contact information for a solid app. Consider adding a chat service for users who need their questions answered before going to museums near them.

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The 28 Most Innovative Travel Tech Startups Around the World

Asian travel tech startups

Middle east travel tech startups , american travel tech startups, european travel tech startups, latam travel tech startups.

Although it suffered tremendously during the pandemic, the travel industry keeps going forwards. In 2020, the entire sector lost more than 60 million jobs and $4.5 trillion . However, it’s coming back to its feet, and some projections indicate that it will again become one of the fastest-growing sectors. It’s expected to reach a market size of $1.5 trillion and a growth rate of 8.5% by 2027 .  

One reason for such incredibly fast recuperation is travel tech. There are hundreds of innovative travel tech companies focused on delivering powerful solutions to help travel companies achieve operational excellence, generate new revenue streams, and stay above the fold even during the most challenging times.

Here is the list of the most innovative travel tech startups you should know in 2022.

The Asian travel tech startup market is quite dynamic, with new startups emerging regularly. We’ve found the following five startups to be the most innovative.

Website: https://www.airalo.com/  

Product/service description: Airalo is a travel tech startup that offers eSIMs. eSIMs are a great alternative to SIM cards, and they are supported by cutting-edge smartphones. The company’s offer currently includes over 190 eSIMs cards.

Stage: Series A

Year of foundation: 2019

Founders: Abraham Burak and Ahmet Bahadır Özdemir

Funds raised: $7.3M

Why have we included it in the list?

Airalo has secured its position on our list because it enables people to easily stay connected when traveling without spending a fortune on high roaming bills. It offers dedicated apps for both Android and iPhone users.

Website: www.travelflan.com  

Product/service description: TravelFlan is a comprehensive platform leveraging cutting-edge tech, including AI and Big Data, to deliver outstanding experiences to travelers and travel companies.

Year of foundation: 2015

Founders: Abel Zhao

Funds raised: $7 million

We included TravelFlan on our list because it’s a great example of a small team being able to achieve a lot. In just a few years, the startup delivered an inventory aggregator and processor, a big data analytical engine, a supply chain and inventory management system, and a voice- and text-based AI personal concierge. 

Website: www.yanolja.in/ko/  

Product/service description: Yanolja is one of the most successful travel tech startups in Asia. It delivers an easy-to-use mobile app for hotel reservations. The company uses AI and VR to delight its users.

Stage: Venture – Series Unknown

Year of foundation: 2005

Founders: Lee Sujin

Funds raised: $1.9 billion

Yanolja is on our list because the company continues to seek new solutions beyond mobility tech to help the travel industry move forward. The most recent Yanolja strategy was to leverage IoT to create a cloud-based hotel management solution.

Website: www.be-spoke.io  

Product/service description: Bespoke is a startup focused on leveraging AI to deliver a powerful chatbot to travelers. The chatbot can make reservations, offer personalized recommendations, and answer many questions.

Stage: Series B

Founders: Akemi Tsunagawa

Funds raised: $2.6 million

Bespoke is one of the best AI-enabled chatbots with multilingual capabilities in the travel sector. The startup even enabled the Japanese government to use it during the pandemic to deliver critical information to travelers and residents.

H2O Hospitality

Website: www.h2ojapan.co.jp  

Product/service description: H2O Hospitality is among a few startups that have successfully built an in-house automation solution to streamline the management of accommodation facilities. 

Stage: Series C

Founders: John Lee

Funds raised: $48.9 million

What we love about this startup’s tech is that it’s capable of automating all processes through a PMS without any additional human resources on site. That enables the startup to guarantee lowered operational costs.

There are a dozen Middle East-based travel tech startups, especially in Israel. You can find the most innovative ones below.

Website: mize.tech  

Product/service description: Mize offers profit optimization solutions to facilitate higher profits . Using big data enables hotel booking businesses and hotel resellers to easily manage post-booking revenue and become more competitive in their markets. 

Stage:   Series B

Year of foundation: 2016

Founders: Dor Krubiner, Guy Levitan, and Omry Litvak

Funds raised: $4.4 million

Mize is on our list because it helped revolutionize revenue management as we know it . Instead of optimizing the selling-side and pre-booking processes, it enables companies to do buy-side and post-booking revenue management.

Website: www.upstay.tech  

Product/service description: UpStay offers hotels a new way to generate additional revenue streams. This easy-to-adopt upselling platform enables hotels to capture more pre-arrival sales, including additional ancillaries and room upgrades.

Stage: Pre-Seed

Founders: Tzafrir Blonder

Funds raised: $1 million

UpStay doesn’t only unlock new revenue streams, but it’s also completely automated. The staff doesn’t have to do anything, as UpStay works in the background of the existing hotel system. More importantly, it ships out with support for Channel Manager, Booking Engine, and PMS integration .

Website: www.ekar.ae  

Product/service description: ekar is a revolutionized car rental service. Using geo-location and other advanced mobile technologies, ekar delivered an app that enables travelers to benefit from a daily car rental service. 

Founders: Ravi Bhusari and Vilhelm Hedberg

Funds raised: $17.5 million

We included ekar in our list because it uses the latest tech to enable travelers to book and access cars for personal driving use safely and securely. Every car in their network is equipped with tech that enables travelers to unlock and lock them with their smartphones.

Website: www.guesty.com  

Product/service description: While Guesty started small back in 2013, today, it’s one of the world’s leading property management solutions. The platform comes with easy-to-use features to enable property managers to streamline and automate their processes.

Stage: Series E

Year of foundation: 2013

Founders: Amiad Soto and Koby Soto

Funds raised: $284.5 million

Guesty is on our list because it is the first end-to-end property management solution for short-term rentals. The company successfully delivers all the nifty features, such as a unified inbox to help managers streamline bookings and check-in & check-out date management.

Website: www.reTravel.io  

Product/service description: ReTravel is a startup aiming to help travel agencies with their upselling and cross-selling efforts. The startup’s marketplace features everything a travel company needs to personalize its offer and attract more travelers. 

Year of foundation: 2020

Founders: Nir Gurevich and Revital Kristal

Funds raised: N/A

We added ReTravel to our list because it uses modern technologies such as AI and ML and delivers a solution that travel companies of any size can afford. The level of personalization goes so far that the platform can offer the right product to the right customer via the perfect channel.

Website: www.air-dr.com  

Product/service description: Air Doctor is a connection technology that enables travelers to find and use medical services wherever they are. The company offers its services online, thus enabling anyone who wants to use them to do it on the go as long as they have an internet connection.

Founders: Efrat Sagi Ofir, Jenny Cohen Derfler, Yam Derfler, and Yegor Kurbachev

Funds raised: $30.9 million

While Air Doctor doesn’t use cutting-edge technologies, it does provide innovative perks to travelers. Given that travelers are more concerned about their health after the Covid pandemic, Air Doctor’s vast medical network of physicians can encourage travelers to book packages and be more relaxed.

The American travel tech startup scene doesn’t fall behind its Asian and Middle East counterparts. The market is quite diverse, with startups leveraging tech to achieve all sorts of objectives. Here are the top five travel tech startups in North America. 

Website: https://www.safetywing.com/

Product/service description: This is one of the unique tech travel startups, more precisely, insurtech travel startups. SafetyWing specializes in providing health and medical insurance to remote individuals and businesses. 

Year of foundation: 2017

Founders: Hans Nyvold Kjellby, Lona Alia, Sarah Beyahte Sandnes, and Sondre Rasch

Funds raised: $47.1 million

This innovative insurtech startup has reserved its spot on our list of travel tech startups because it creates freedom for travelers . Its innovative approach to travel insurance enables travelers across borders to get travel and medical incident insurance even while abroad.

Mogul Hospitality

Website: https://www.mogulhospitality.com/  

Product/service description: Mogul Hospitality is a next-gen platform to enable companies to easily identify and contact top talent in the industry. Its focus is on enabling travel and hospitality brands to build trust and thrive on the unique values they offer to their clients.  

Stage: Seed

Founders: Alexander Mirza and Yvonne Choi

Funds raised: $3.1 million

We’ve added Mogul Hospitality to the list because it packs some really powerful features, including talent acquisition and data analytics, service profit chain management tools, and experiential training and learning platform. 

Website: www.hopper.com  

Product/service description: Hopper is a travel tech startup that came up with the travel app. The app uses big data and predictive analytics to make relevant and affordable travel recommendations to its users. 

Stage: Secondary Market

Year of foundation: 2007

Founders: Frederic Lalonde and Joost Ouwerkerk

Funds raised: $633.7 million

Hopper is a perfect example of a well-aged travel tech startup. We added it to our list because they were among the first startups to recognize the value of big data and the future of smartphones. Today Hopper mobile app helps thousands of travelers worldwide to find the best hotel and flight deals. 

Website: https://www.tentrr.com/  

Product/service description: Tentrr is one of the few travel tech startups that truly revolutionized how people interact with campsite-related travel products without reinventing the wheel. Tech-wise, the company uses a simple website with advanced location-based search functionality. It enables people to book campsites on private land. 

Founders: Eloise Bune and Michael D’Agostino

Funds raised: $17.8 million

While Tentrr doesn’t use new tech, we added it to our list because it revolutionized the campsite booking process. By enabling landowners to interact directly with travelers, Tentrr successfully facilitated local economic growth throughout the country, secured new revenue streams for landowners, and promoted natural locations.

Website: www.snaptravel.com  

Product/service description: Snaptravel is a travel tech startup that built its solution around AI. Their platform leverages AI to identify relevant, affordable hotels and flights for every traveler . Snaptravel’s price-conscious users can also use the platform to book accommodations and transport.

Founders: Henry Shi and Hussein Fazal

Funds raised: $101.4 million

Snaptravel is an excellent example of how a travel tech startup can create astonishing results when thinking out of the box. In fact, Snaptravel used its message-driven platform to create Snapcommerce, which is a platform that enables users to find the products they need at the most affordable prices.  

The European travel tech startup market is blooming. There are dozens of startups in this niche offering a wide range of solutions to companies in the sector. The following five emerge as the top ones when it comes to innovation. 

Travel Perk

Website: www.travelperk.com  

Product/service description: The team at Travel Perk has come up with a comprehensive platform for business travel booking and management. This startup, with headquarters based in Barcelona, offers an end-to-end solution for the business travel needs of any company. 

Stage: Series-D

Founders: Avi Meir, Javier Suarez, Ron Levin

Funds raised: $408.2 million

It’s great to have a platform that allows you to book and manage business travel – and Travel Perk does it in a very convenient and intuitive way offering deep insights into travel spending. It also allows users to get information on their companies’ carbon impact updated in real-time.

123Comapre.me

Website: https://123compare.me/en/  

Product/service description: 123Compare.me is a travel tech SaaS company focused on creating a perfect conversion rate optimization solution for the hospitality industry . It enables travelers to easily compare prices on official websites and OTAs, thus enabling them to get the best deal.

Stage: Pre-seed

Founders: Jordi Serra and Pau Ferret

Funds raised: Approximately $250.000

We decided to add 123Comapre.me to the top travel tech startup list because they offer a sophisticated solution that compares direct booking and OTAs’ prices in real-time. It’s one of the few travel tech solutions that promote direct booking.

Website: www.lodgify.com  

Product/service description: Lodgify startup entered the market with one goal – to simplify marketing for vacation rental product providers. They came up with a comprehensive SaaS platform for vacation rental property managers and owners.

Year of foundation: 2012

Founders: Dennis Klett and Marco De Gregorio

Funds raised: $6.6 million

Lodgify secured its position on our list because it makes a huge difference for vacation rental owners and managers when it comes to marketing and management properties. Its intuitive dashboard enables users to establish an online presence, facilitate online booking, and synchronize data across all online platforms. 

Website: www.questoapp.com  

Product/service description: Questo enables travelers to explore cities in a brand-new way. The startup has created an app that enables creators to come up with engaging city exploration games. The app currently supports both Android and iPhone devices and features over 100 city exploration games. 

Founders: Alexandru Govoreanu

Funds raised: $1.8 million

We’ve added Questo to our list because it enables travelers worldwide to experience cities like never before. The app is quite engaging as it offers games centered around a wide range of themes such as movies, local legends, books, and historical facts. 

The Hotels Network

Website: www.thehotelsnetwork.com  

Product/service description: The Hotels Network’s innovative approach to growth hacking enables hotels to attract more guests and increase bookings through a direct channel. The platform leverages several technologies to allow hotels to personalize online booking journeys for all guests individually. 

Founders: Juanjo Rodriguez, Laura Martinez Celada, Marc Rollan Serrano

Funds raised: $15.2 million

What we love about the Hotels Network is its well-planned and comprehensive platform. It comes with all the features hotels need to attract and engage new potential guests. It also uses predictive personalization to deliver memorable experiences to potential guests, thus increasing conversion rates and boosting direct bookings.

If you want to see what’s going on in the Latam travel tech startup niche, you need to check out the following companies.

Website: www.tripyeah.com  

Product/service description: TravelYeah is a startup that offers a comprehensive travel meta optimizer. The company uses AI, ML, and sophisticated algorithms to process thousands of data points and create personalized and the most optimal travel itineraries for travel agents.

Year of foundation: 2020 

Founders: Elias Musalem, Fernando Ordonez, and Miguel Rodriguez

Funds raised: $14 million

We’ve added TripYeah to our list because the startup uses next-gen technologies to create next-gen solutions. Their travel meta optimizer is one of its kind in helping travel agents create itineraries that reflect the unique needs and preferences of travelers.

Website: www.travelx.io  

Product/service description: TravelX specializes in providing online travel services. But there is one thing that makes their services unique. The startup uses blockchain technology, thus making its retailing and distribution platform transparent, secure, efficient, and decentralized.

Year of foundation:   2021

Founders: Juan Lafosse

Funds raised: $10 million

TravelX has secured its spot on our list because the startup revolutionizes travel product distribution and retailing . Thanks to blockchain, travel companies can easily tokenize their travel and transportation product inventory to facilitate sales across borders while reducing costs and generating more revenue . 

Website: https://travel.rappi.com/  

Product/service description: Following great success, Columbian startup Rappi decided to tap into a new vertical by launching Rappi Travel startup. Rappi allows users to book flights to destinations worldwide through an Android or iPhone mobile app. 

Year of foundation: 2020 Rappi Travel (2015 Rappi)

Founders: Juan Pablo Ortega, Sebastian Mejia, Felipe Villamarin, Guillermo Plaza Roche, and Simón Borrero

Funds raised: $2.2 billion

We’ve added Rappi Travel to our list because the startup’s team seems to never settle down with an achievement. Instead, they always look for new innovative solutions to help the tourism sector recuperate and provide additional support to travelers. 

Website: https://www.onfly.com.br/  

Product/service description: Onfly is a startup that delivers next-gen solutions for business travel. It also offers solutions for travel expense management and credit cards. Its focus is on small and medium businesses in LATAM. 

Founders: Marcelo Linhares

Funds raised: $390,000

Business travel is an important aspect of business management for many companies. And we’ve added Onfly because it offers companies everything they need to manage their business travels through one platform. 

Website: https://arrivedo.com/  

Product/service description: Arrivedo leverages cutting-edge technologies to create and curate content for travelers. It enables travel companies to drive user engagement rates by offering them a way to tell a story about every destination in their offer. 

Founders: Alonso Franco and Rodrigo Lopez

Funds raised: $3.9 million

We added Arrivedo to the list because it’s a perfect example of how to leverage popular technologies to delight travelers. The app curates every guide, ensuring that only the most complete and engaging guides are available to hotels, travel agencies, and tourism boards. The content is dynamic, and users can access it through a map easily embeddable on a website or in an app.

Website: https://pinguim.app.br/  

Product/service description: Pinguim is a tech and tourism startup devoted to changing the way people interact with travel packages. The app leverages AI to help connect people who share common travel goals and those that want to have the same experiences and same destinations.

Stage:   Seed

Founders: Renata Franco

Funds raised: $195,000

Pinguim has secured its spot on our list because it offers something brand new to people who enjoy traveling. Thanks to the AI and easy-to-use app, travelers can now meet like-minded people and explore the world together. 

Local Adventures

Website: https://localadventures.travel/  

Product/service description: Local Adventure is a travel tech startup that specializes in offering accessible solutions to enable clients to easily plan and book their trips. The company also offers innovative fintech solutions to help clients get access to more flexible arrangements.

Stage : Seed

Founders: Daniel Peña, Moises Vera, and Sebastian Nicolas Rodríguez Romero

Local Adventures is on the list because it doesn’t just offer any travel experience to travelers. The company tropicalizes and validates experiences using technology to ensure only the best ones are available to clients. The company has also helped LATAM tourists get access to international travel packages.

According to CB Insights, the global travel tech startup space lost over 30% of funding in 2020 . Nevertheless, some startups managed to attract tech investors by embracing innovation. 

The 25 startups you had the chance to discover above are on our travel tech market map . While each one brings unique value, they all have one thing in common – they help recuperate the travel sector . 

As you can see, these startups use both proven and emerging technologies to achieve various goals, from improving the traveling experience to enabling travel companies to capture more profit and generate new revenue streams.  

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Cristóbal Reali, VP of Global Sales at Mize, with over 20 years of experience, has led high-performance teams in major companies in the tourism industry, as well as in the public sector. He has successfully undertaken ventures, including a DMO and technology transformation consulting. In his role at Mize, he stands out not only for his analytical and strategic ability but also for effective leadership. He speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. He holds a degree in Economics from UBA, complementing his professional training at Harvard Business School Online.

Mize is the leading hotel booking optimization solution in the world. With over 170 partners using our fintech products, Mize creates new extra profit for the hotel booking industry using its fully automated proprietary technology and has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue across its suite of products for its partners. Mize was founded in 2016 with its headquarters in Tel Aviv and offices worldwide.

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Travel Startup Funding 2023: We Tracked 200 Investments – Follow The Money

Justin Dawes , Skift

December 23rd, 2023 at 8:00 AM EST

Startup founders and investors have been saying all year that funding is tighter, but travel startups still raised billions in venture capital.

Justin Dawes

Travel startups raised at least $3.7 billion in 2023. Skift tracked more than 200 travel startup fundraises through a weekly roundup article, compiled from company announcements and exclusive reporting. 

While $3.7 billion is a big number, the actual total is surely higher. That’s because some startups do not share when they raise money, and some do not disclose amounts raised. And we don’t track all global markets.  

Below is an overview of the biggest raises, funding trends, and other important developments from 2023. (Is your travel startup raising money in 2024? Let us know .)

Short-Term Rentals

The short-term rental sector was the most well-funded in 2023. Skift tracked nearly 30 startups related to short-term rentals that raised more than $676 million.

The group includes booking platforms, property-management platforms, niche websites, and more.  

The sector has exploded since the pandemic, driven in large part by the surge in remote work, and that growth is continuing . 

Some of the startups that raised money are focused particularly on the digital nomad market. That includes Berlin-based property manager Habyt, which raised $42.4 million for a booking platform that includes rentals in co-living spaces, homes, and hotels for locals and travelers.

There have been fundraises for even more niche platforms, as well. Germany-based Raus and Australia-based Unyoked each raised millions of dollars for vacation-rental platforms that offer high-tech cabins in remote locations.

And Vipio raised several million dollars for specialty vacation rentals with a portfolio that includes Freddie Mercury’s former vacation home. 

Startups from the hotel tech sector were most likely to be funded in 2023, though the sector did not get the largest amount of funding overall.  

Skift tracked more than 30 startups related to hotel tech that raised at least $274 million, including several startups that did not disclose their funding amounts. 

This category covers a number of software products and services, such as property management, pricing and revenue, guest communications, kitchen operations, and more.  

The largest fundraise among them was $48 million by Stayntouch, a property management system owned by MCR. 

Next-Generation Aircraft

Nine startups developing next-generation aircraft and components raised more than $603 million. 

Regent Craft raised $60 million in October toward development of an electric seaglider for commercial travel along coastal routes. The first, called Viceroy, will carry 12 passengers up to 180 miles and is meant for underserved coastal communities. The company has a goal to deliver the product by mid-decade. 

And ZeroAvia raised $116 million in November to develop a hydrogen-electric jet engine, focusing first on engines that support a 300-mile range in aircrafts of nine to 19 seats by the end of 2025. 

Corporate Travel

There’s a lot of investment going toward platforms that help companies streamline corporate travel expenses. We tracked nine platforms that raised at least $445 million

Mooncard , a platform based in Paris, raised $40.6 million for an expense automation platform that includes providing Visa expense cards for employees of client companies. 

Tours and Activities

The tours and activities sector has been busy this year.

Klook, an online travel agency for tours and activities, recently raised $210 million (equity and debt) in a bid to compete with GetYourGuide and Viator. The Hong Kong-based company has now raised more than $900 million.

GetYourGuide this year raised $85 million in venture capital along with $109 million in revolving credit, pushing its total investment past the $1 billion mark.

And multiple startup platforms meant to streamline operations and sales for the sector raised millions of dollars. Historically one of most low-tech sectors in the industry, the tours and activities sector has been more focused on getting online and adopting new technology. 

Other Trends

• We tracked eight startups involved with the growing sustainable aviation fuel sector, raising a total of at least $312 million.
• There were various online travel agencies and other booking platforms, often specializing in niche markets, that raised a few hundred million dollars. Wheel the World, a booking platform for travelers with disabilities raised money in March , as did Bach, a planning and booking platform for bachelorette parties.
• There were fundraises by multiple startups working to modernize the ground transportation industry, particularly taxi operations and airport transfer bookings. 
• Startups with a product powered by generative AI are starting to raise money, though not large sums at the moment. 

Top 8 Single Fundraises 

• Ramp, corporate expenses including travel: $300 million
• Archer Aviation, flying taxi: $215 million
• Klook, online travel agency for tours and activities: $210 million (equity and debt)
• GetYourGuide, online travel agency for tours and activities: $194 million (equity and debt)
• Lilium, flying taxi: $192 million
• SkyNGR, sustainable aviation fuel: $190.9 million
• Hostaway, short-term rental management platform: $175 million
• DiDi Autonomous Driving, autonomous rideshare vehicle: $149 million

Backed by Celebrities 

There were multiple trip planners for consumers that raised money in 2023. 

Two of them were backed by entertainment celebrities.

• John Legend is a founder of It’s Good, an “invite-only” social media app for restaurant reviews, meant to combat negative reviews on Google and Yelp. The startup raised $5 million in October. 
• Paris Hilton is an investor for Layla, a generative AI trip planner chatbot accessible through an app or through direct messages on Instagram. The startup raised $3.3 million in late November.

Seven Innovative startups 

Below is a list of funded startups that stood out for being particularly unique.

• HalalBooking is an online travel agency tailored for the Muslim market , with features meant to help users search for specific needs, such as a resort with a ladies-only beach, a hotel with halal food, or a villa with a secluded pool.
• Scapia is a credit card for Indian travelers that offers unlimited domestic airport lounge access and 10% rewards on all purchases, which can be used to book travel through the app. 
• Fairlyne is a platform that helps consumers resell non-refundable travel tickets , a capability that’s common for sports and concerts but not travel.
• Autio offers more than 10,000 short audio stories based on geographic location and signed a deal with JetBlue to offer in-flight audio entertainment.
• HotelYaari is a platform that allows investors to purchase a stake in luxury hotels. 
• Minut provides short-term rental hosts with sensors to detect things like cigarette smoke, too many visitors, or too much outside noise. 
• DiDi Autonomous Driving raised $149 million for an autonomous rideshare vehicle that includes a robotic arm to pick up luggage and wake up passengers. And there’s no driver’s seat. 

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Tags: artificial intelligence , asia newsletter , business travel , funding , online travel newsletter , startups , vcroundup

Photo credit: Archer Aviation was one of the top-funded travel startups in 2023. Archer Aviation / Archer Aviation

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16 Less-Known Travel and Tourism Startups Around the World

Explore the unconventional with these 16 unique travel startups globally. Discover new places, experiences, and innovative solutions reinventing the tourism industry. Start your journey here!

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Travelers are ready to get out and explore, according to a new report by the World Travel & Tourism Council . Venture capitalists recognize the opportunity – over the last ten years, they have fueled travel startups with $19 billion in funding.

We choose top disrupting travel and tourism startups to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with insights on what it takes to hit it big in the industry. Rather than including top-tier players like Tripadvisor 🌴, we aim to explore some lesser-known startup travel companies which are gaining market traction lately.

Check out our list of innovative tourism startups that make big waves now.

1. Touch Stay

Whether you have 5 properties or 500, Touch Stay digital guidebooks help you easily create and share property information to deliver the best guest experience. From practical accommodation information and inspirational content, to automated (and free!) SMS and email messaging, Touch Stay guidebooks give guests everything they need to know before, during and after their stay. Spend less time answering guest questions and focus on growing your short term rental business with Touch Stay.

Touch Stay was founded by Andy McNulty and Joe Jones – two serial travellers who kept on encountering the same issue over and over again: an absence of clear communication with their rental accommodation hosts.

2. Beyond Pricing

Beyond Pricing is a revenue management solution for short-term rental managers and owners to get, grow, and keep revenue, established by Ian McHenry and David Kelso in San Francisco in 2013.

The startup provides vacation rental owners with an automated AI-based pricing solution. The service analyzes market data in real-time and adjusts pricing recommendations to maximize revenue. Beyond Pricing claims their solution to increase revenue by up to 40%.

The company has raised $3.5 million in investments. They were funded by Plug and Play, Amicus Capital, Resolute Ventures, and Bullpen Capital, among the others.

• Beyond Pricing was included in Phocuswright’s 25 hottest startups list for 2019.
• The startup was covered by The Wall Street Journal, Time, CNN, Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, Mashable.

3.  Coindrum

Coindrum is converting foreign coins into duty-free vouchers.

A self-service machines provider founded by Lukas Decker in Dublin.

The startup offers a neat solution for those travelers who find themselves left with pockets full of basically useless coins after leaving the currency zone. They are offered to deposit foreign change into one of the Coindrum machines placed inside the airport area. In exchange, a tourist gets a voucher to spend in a duty-free zone. This also benefits duty-free retailers by making the non-spenders spend.

Coindrum received $2 million in funding. Among their investors were co-founders of Ryanair and Hostelworld.

• Coindrum won the 2018 top travel startups award.
• Last year, the startup was selected for the Retailtech Hub program in Munich to provide their machines to Germany’s key retailers.

4. Crowdvision

CrowdVision  is a leading automated pedestrian analytics and insights company.

A UK-based early-stage company founded by Fiona Strens and Anders Johansson in 2011.

Crowdvision provides an automated real-time computer vision technology that analyzes crowds at the airport using video cameras and machine learning. The solution allows to prevent bottlenecks and achieve smooth passenger flow throughout the terminal.

• In 2018, Crowdvision received an investment of an undisclosed amount from Amadeus Ventures. Prior to this, the startup was backed by Oaktree Capital, Plug and Play Tech Center, Angel CoFund, and Beacon Capital.
• Among the airports using Crowdvision technology are London Heathrow, London City, Stansted and Jersey airports, as well as Tokyo’s Narita and Chicago O’Hare airports.

5. Culture Trip

Culture Trip is your trusted shortcut to booking travel that’s good and makes you feel good.

One of the hottest travel startups geared towards those who are looking to dive deep into the local culture. The company was founded in 2011 by Kris Naudts in London. In subsequent years, they expanded their presence to New York and Tel Aviv and established a network of over 300 local authors across the globe.

Culture Trip is a hybrid of a magazine and a travel platform that delivers exclusive local content, recommendations, and overviews on culture and art. They aim to inspire travelers to explore the world through local cultures and creativity.

In 2016, the startup secured $20 million in funding from PPF Group. A further investment of $80 million boosted the company’s growth in 2018.

• Forbes named Culture Trip as one of the fastest-growing startups.
• In 2018, they were awarded by Red Herring Top 100 Europe, British Media Awards, the Sunday Times Fast Track Disrupters to Watch awards.
• This year, Culture Trip was named among the hottest startup travel companies by the Europas Awards.

Doerz is a real-life experience with the city locals.

The company is in business since 2016. Doerz was launched by Tomi M. Virtanen in Turku, Finland.

The startup was born from the idea of exploring the foreign city from the inside – by doing stuff and going places with the locals. Doerz is a social platform where verified local experience providers offer to share their daily real-life activities. You can find yourself ice-fishing on a forest lake, cooking pea soup in a Finnish student dorm, composing a song with a local musician – the list goes on.

• Currently, their ambassadors’ network covers 14 cities in Finland, Estonia, Germany, France, and Italy.
• Doerz has raised €127.448 on Seedrs.
• The startup is in partnership with Finnair and Viking Line.

7.  Evaneos

Evaneos is the leading online marketplace for tailor-made tours. Plan your trip with the expertise of a local travel agent in the destination.

Evaneos is a French tours and travels startup founded in 2009 by Eric La Bonnardière and Yvan Wibaux.

The startup has created the world’s first online platform aimed to connect tourists directly with local travel agents. Evaneos platform provides access to 1,300 local agencies and features 8,000+ ready-made, customizable itineraries to 160 destinations. The startup serves over 30,000 tourists across the globe.

• Evaneos has raised about $109 million in funding. Among the investors are Serena Capital and Fonds Ambition Numérique.
• Their solution has received positive reviews by National Geographic, Daily Mail, Wanderlust, TechCrunch, The Guardian, and other media.

Itinari is helping travelers tread off the beaten track.

A Brussels-based trip startup aimed to help people around the world discover and share some lesser-known local attractions. Italy-born entrepreneur Nicolas Casula founded the company in 2017.

Itinari is a media platform featuring exclusive travel articles that reveal some hidden gems across the globe. The contributors’ network covers more than 40 European countries. Here you can also find articles on some niche local activities like horseback riding in Kazakhstan or Parisian pet cemetery exploration.

The startup has raised €830k in funding.

Hopper’s innovative technology helps travelers save up to 40% every time they travel.

Take Skyscanner startup idea, add some advanced predictive analytics, and you’ll get Hopper. This cheap flights startup was co-founded by former Expedia engineers Frederick Lalonde and Joost Ouwerkerk in Montreal, Canada.

Hopper is a mobile app designed to automate travel-related prises monitoring. Its AI-driven algorithm processes million of prices daily and predicts how prices will change up to a year in advance. The user then gets a suggestion on when they should book a trip or wait, and when there will be the best time to make a purchase.

The startup has raised over $184 million and is valued at $780 million. Among their investors are Citi Ventures, Brightspark, OMERS Ventures, and Accomplice.

• As of today, Hopper app has exceeded 40 million installs, becoming one of the fastest-growing travel booking startups .
• In 2019, the startup was featured in the world’s most innovative companies list by Fast Company for the second year in a row.
• Hopper is the 2018 People’s Voice Webby Award They also won the 2016 Google Play Award in the category of Standout Startup.

Grabr is a monetize your free luggage space.

A San Francisco-based startup is on the market since 2015. The project was launched by Russian-born spouses Artem Fedyaev and Daria Rebenok.

The startup idea was to create an “Uber for international shopping”. As a result, they have developed an international peer-to-peer courier service linking shoppers and travelers.

On Grabr, you can drop a link to the desired item from Amazon or any other online store and get a delivery offer from a traveler heading to your destination. As a tourist, you can pick delivery requests at your destination and earn some money for delivering their items.

• In total, Grabr has raised about $14 million. The company was backed by SignalFire, Founders Fund, and Foundation Capital.
• The startup was recognized by the EyeforTravel’s Startup Awards .

11. LuggageHero

Luggage Hero is a luggage-storage startup co-founded by Jannik Lawaetz and Kristian Loekkegaard in Copenhagen (2016).

LH business model is as simple as can be – book online, then drop your suitcase at the nearest LuggageHero partner store in your destination. Today, their network of luggage storage locations covers 45 cities across the US and Europe, with more cities joining in 2022.

• The startup has secured $1.45 million in its 2019 funding round. Their investors include Nordic Eye, Danish Growth Fund, and Innovation Fund Denmark.
• LuggageHero was covered by the New York Times, Forbes, Evening Standard, Lonely Planet.

Panzly is the first flight insurance for delays or cancellations with automatic and immediate payouts.

Panzly is a young Ukraine-born travel insurance startup headquartered in London. The project was created by Ukrainian developers Alex Gayduk and Anton Nesterenko in 2018.

Plane cancelation is never fun, but Panzly founders have decided to make it less stressful. They developed the first flight insurance app with an immediate claim-free payout to the passengers whose plane has been canceled. The service triggers compensation automatically in the event of a two-hour delay.

• Panzly was featured in the 2019 top innovative travel startups by British Airlines, and 2019 top most promising new travel startups by Insurance post.
• They also entered the top 5 Disrupt Launchpad & Awards at 2019 Travel Technology Europe (London).

Questo turns city exploration into a game.

A Romanian travel app startup was established by Alex Govoreanu in 2017 in Bucharest.

Questo is an app that makes real-world city exploration even more fun by mixing traveling and casual gaming. It enables tourists to discover new places while solving augmented puzzles, quests and completing story missions. You can choose either outdoor urban quests or indoor quests in the local castles, museums, etc.

The game is available in 40 cities across Europe.

The startup has secured a seed round of funding from investors, bringing its valuation to $1.5 million.

14. Routehappy

Routehappy finding the comfiest flight.

RH is a NY-based flight booking startup founded by Robert Albert in 2011.

There’s more to a good flight than an affordable price and a convenient schedule. Legroom and a reclining seat, Wi-Fi, snacks and drinks, outlet access, and other small things make a big impact on your comfort during a flight.

Routehappy holds an exhaustive dataset of plane types, seat layouts, and other assessments for flights over the world. You can choose the most comfortable option according to your preferences or based on the overall “happiness points”.

15. SeeVoov

SeeVoov is the first interactive video trip planning platform.

An Israeli travel planning startup co-founded by Asaf Toker and Yosi Golan in 2016.

The startup has raised $400,000 in funding from investors.

• In 2019, SeeVoov was among the top 10 travel technology startups for the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) startup competition.
• The company won the ITB China 2019 Tourism Innovation Startup award.
• Their partners include Samsung, SmartAir, Israir, Pruvo.

16. TravelPerk

TravelPerk is the next-generation business travel platform pioneering the future of business travel.

An award-winning corporate travel startup designed to handle all the business trip management issues. The company was founded in 2015 by three experienced entrepreneurs – Avi Meir, Ron Levin, and Javier Suarez. They are headquartered in Barcelona.

TravelPerk has delivered a free tool that enables users to book and manage travel fast, within the corporate policy, and under budget.

• TravelPerk has gained €65.3 million in funding. The startup is backed by investors from Slack, Trello, Twitter, and Spark Capital.
• Among their partners are Lufthansa, Uber, TransferWise, Farfetch, etc.

🔔 Hire top PHP developers in Ukraine .

You may have noticed geographic diversity in our best tourism startups list. These flourishing travel tech startups represent 12 countries across the world. It looks like blurring international boundaries is at the very core of the tourism startups scene.

If you’re looking to join the travel startups 🦄 unicorn club with your own project, you may consider going offshore and offloading a part of web or mobile development of your project to remote developers. Contact us with your business-related question and our expert team would be happy to provide you with professional assistance on hiring the best tech talent and setting up a remote team in Ukraine.

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Tags: adventure , booking , destinations , experiences , hospitality .

IT Entrepreneur

Hello. I’m Julian from Bali, Indonesia. I have a concept/idea for rural tourism in Indonesia. Pandemic covid19 makes many small-medium enterprises, especially in the tourism sector, get a big impact. I’m looking for a team that can help us to develop our platform. I have 365 members (tourism players), and many rural spots for tourism (diving, surfing, agriculture, culture experience, etc). Also, I want to join the travel startups unicorn club. Thanks!

Hi Julian, Are you thinking to implement this idea in India?

We are young Egyptians we going to start up a new tourism service online. I would like to know how and the way to transfer our business from just a start up company to bring investors to invest in ?

Hello, thanks for the interesting write up. I’m not sure how often you update this blog but we’ve just launched another interesting travel planning and booking platform, http://www.travelplanbooker.com . We’d appreciate all the feedback you can about our site but in general our aim was to simplify travel planning and removing the time consuming process of booking on Silo travel websites. We like to think our platform is user-friendly, adaptable and best of all it enables customers to book transportation, accommodation as well as rental cars and attractions, from a variety of suppliers, all in one place. Please check it out

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12 Travel Business Ideas

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer and editor. She has written on everything from finance to travel for publications including Fundera, LendingTree, SoFi, MagnifyMoney, LearnVest and Northwestern Mutual, among others.

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If there is one thing most people can agree on, it’s that traveling is one of life’s great pleasures. Exploring new cultures, visiting the world’s great wonders, spending days following your instincts and trying exotic foods — there’s a lot to love about discovering new places.

If you want to take your love of travel to the next level and start a business to serve your like-minded wanderlusters, you should consider these fun and profitable travel business ideas.

What is a travel business?

There are two overarching types of travel businesses worth considering. First, you could think about starting a business that provides services or goods for travelers — running a hotel, for example. The second option is to start a business that you can run from anywhere in the world while you yourself travel. In many cases, this type of business revolves around travel, such as working as a travel writer and writing stories about your latest adventures.

What makes a travel business idea a good one?

A good travel business should combine two things: reliability and excitement. When you run a travel business, your clients need to be able to trust you. They need to feel confident that the tour group you run is legitimate and will show them the best sites. Or that the blog you run about the best inns on the east coast actually gives honest reviews.

At the same time, you need to offer services or create content that excites your customers. Introduce them to sights off the beaten path. Help them unwind and relax while on their vacation. Find a way to create trust amongst your customer base while offering them an experience they can’t find anywhere else.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

12 travel business ideas for 2021

If you’re unsure of what type of travel business ideas could work for you, keep reading for some popular options. These ideas range widely and you should put your own creative spin on them. At the end of the day, think back to your passion for traveling. What services or products have made the most difference to you on past trips? What did you feel was missing? Can you find a way to make a living on the road while capitalizing on your skillset? Chances are, you have more ideas at the ready than you think.

1. Modernized bed and breakfast

B&Bs have been popular for decades — they outlive trends and are clearly here to stay. But why not step things up a notch and find a way to modernize the bed and breakfast experience a little bit? Make sure your rooms are outfitted with nice televisions so guests can enjoy a movie night in their cozy room. Offer unique culinary experiences. Decorate in a way that feels timeless but fresh at the same time. A bed and breakfast is a smaller operation than a hotel and is a great way to break into the hospitality business. If you need a little help funding your bed and breakfast, consider one of these financing options.

2. Off-the-beaten-path tour guide

Tour groups are a dime a dozen. But if you can offer a unique tour, you’ll be able to stand out from the competition. What do you love about your city? Maybe you can find the best coffee, chocolate, or salty treats at your local shops and restaurants. Organize a foodie tour of your town that highlights how your local delicacies are made. Of course, you’ll have to include tastes of all the local treats.

Or consider organizing a tour of some lesser-known sites. Surely there is a natural activity or historical site that tourists haven’t caught onto yet. If you can give your travelers a taste of local life or make them feel like they’ve uncovered something special, then your tour guide business will thrive. Maybe some locals will even join in on the fun.

3. Glamping

Here’s a fun fact for you: By 2025, experts estimate the glamping market in the United States alone is projected to reach a revenue of around $1 billion. It sounds like the great outdoors is getting a little fancier. What exactly is glamping? Glamorous camping.

Glamping combines nature with the comforts of home, and usually Champagne. That’s right, after a long day of hiking or river rafting, campers can return to decked-out campsites that offer spa treatments, wine and gourmet meals. The perfect combination of adventure and relaxation. If you can create a campsite that melds the best parts of nature with resort living, you’ll be in business.

4. Remote travel agent

Long gone are the days of travel agent offices. The truth is, thanks to the internet it’s easier than ever to plan a trip. Anyone with a computer can choose between hundreds of flights, hotels and restaurant reservations. The ease of access is great, but the time it takes to weed through those options might not be available to everyone. This is where a remote travel agent comes in.

You’ll work out of your own home which saves the customer costs on overhead expenses. For a more affordable price, remote travel agents can help busy travelers plan their next vacation from anywhere in the world. Help them book the best hotels, unique activities and provide them with all of their important travel bookings and documentation.

5. Travel consultant

Even though their job titles sound similar, a travel consultant is different than a travel agent. A travel consultant usually specializes in solving complex travel issues. For example, they may specialize in helping adoptive parents travel abroad to make the task of adopting a child from a foreign country run smoothly. Or they might assist businesses with complex assignments like learning how to cater to new cultures during business deals. Travel consultants generally focus less on tourism and more on helping iron out logistical issues.

6. Travel photographer

As a travel photographer, you’ll have plenty of options for making money off your passions for travel and photography. You can sell photos taken while traveling to newspapers, magazines and websites. Or you can sell your favorite shots in your own online shop. You could license your gorgeous photos of Paris or Peru to companies that create goods like calendars or art prints. Perhaps you want to help create stock photography for big companies like Getty Images. Point being, we live in a very visual world and there are plenty of options for starting a travel photography business.

7. Create a haunted attraction

Want a surefire way to make sure your hotel or guided tour drum up enough business? The solution is easy: Make it haunted. This may seem like a business better suited for Halloween time, but people are ready to get their scare on year-round. These haunted attractions do particularly well in historic locations like towns on the east coast where there are plenty of ghost stories to go around. Do some research and then let your imagination take care of the rest. You might want to load up on business insurance just in case your haunted attraction is too scary.

8. Teach cultural classes

It’s time to share your unique culture with the world. Offer fun classes for tourists that will make them feel like locals, whether that be a Creole cooking class or an art class that captures a local style of painting. Help tourists pick up a skill that they won’t learn anywhere else, like how to make an authentic cup of Turkish coffee or bake a truly Parisian croissant.

9. House or pet sitting

Sometimes a travel business does its best work when helping travelers look after what they left behind. House or pet sitting can be a great side hustle to take on if you’re looking for a little extra cash. Of course, you could always start a larger business like a kennel that takes care of beloved pets while their owners are jet-setting around the world. Some people are even willing to pay for plant hotels that keep their plants in tiptop shape until they return from vacation. Consider a travel business that will give your customers peace of mind while they are far from home.

10. Travel blogger

You’ve traveled the world and, boy, do you have some good stories to tell. So why don’t you then? By starting a travel blog, you can make money by sharing your experiences. You can offer up travel advice, share photos from your journey and review restaurants and hotels. Once your blog picks up some steam (aka gets a decent amount of pageviews and monthly visitors) you’ll be able to make money from ads hosted on your website, sign up for affiliate programs, or create sponsored content for brands. If this sounds like your ideal business, this guide can help you start a travel blog.

11. Ecotourism

Sustainability is all the rage right now and for good reason. It makes sense that those who value exploring the world want to keep it safe. Which is why ecotourism (also known as green tourism) is such a potentially profitable idea. Essentially, ecotourism allows travelers to learn about local culture and wildlife in a low-impact way.

Generally, these types of tours or services (like hotels) try to minimize the impact of traveling while giving tourists the education and tools to help positively impact the environment and community they visit. Many travelers are even willing to spend more on hotels if they are environmentally friendly. If you can find a way to show tourists a good time while helping them make a positive impact, you’re sure to have a popular business on your hands in no time.

Start Your Dream Business

12. Home rentals

Do you have a gorgeous pool house just waiting to be turned into an oasis for weary travelers? Consider starting a home rental business. You can list any rooms in your house that are available to rent out (or even your entire house if you’re headed out of town yourself) on home rental websites like Airbnb or HomeAway. If you live in a popular area where hotels are particularly pricey, then you may be able to fetch a pretty penny by allowing customers to rent rooms in your home.

The best part is, you get to set your price. You only have to rent to people who can meet your price and who you think would be a good tenant (Hint: They need as many good reviews as you do). This can be an ideal business for bringing in extra money to help fund your next vacation. Just make sure that your town, apartment complex, or homeowners association allows you to rent out your property and that you’re following proper regulations.

This article originally appeared on JustBusiness, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

On a similar note...

BUSINESS STRATEGIES

11 travel business ideas to get you started

Starting a business  in the travel industry can be a lucrative opportunity where you’ll provide travel services to individuals and groups looking to get away, celebrate a milestone or travel for work. As people increasingly prioritize experiences over material goods, demand is consistently on the rise  for travel-related services. The consistent demand makes a travel business an appealing recession-proof business idea  as well. 

11 travel business ideas to inspire you

Here are eleven travel business ideas  to help you choose the right niche.

Travel agency services

Adventure travel planning

Luxury travel planning

Cruise planning services

Business travel management

Destination wedding planning

Cultural and historical tours

Family vacation planning

Eco-friendly travel services

Solo travel planning

Group travel packages

01. Travel agency services

Provide comprehensive travel planning services, including itinerary creation, accommodation bookings and transportation arrangements. This type of service is usually on a commission basis, earning you a percentage of the total travel cost.

02. Adventure travel planning

Specialize in planning adventurous trips, such as hiking expeditions, wildlife safaris and extreme sports vacations. This niche can attract clients seeking unique and exciting travel experiences.

03. Luxury travel concierge

Offer premium travel concierge services for high-end clients, including luxury accommodation, private transportation and exclusive experiences. This niche can be lucrative but requires attention to detail and a network of luxury service providers.

04. Cruise planning services

Focus on planning cruise vacations, including cruise line selection, itinerary planning and shore excursions. Cruises are popular among various demographics, providing a broad client base.

05. Business travel management

Specialize in managing corporate travel needs, including booking flights, accommodations and coordinating business events. This type of service requires a strong understanding of business travel requirements. This can be a great scalable business idea , as you can work with multiple businesses around the world or big corporations with multiple locations.

06. Destination wedding planning

Provide destination wedding planning services, helping couples organize and execute their dream weddings in exotic locations. This niche combines travel planning with event coordination.

07. Cultural and historical tours

Design and organize tours focused on cultural and historical experiences, catering to travelers interested in learning about different cultures and exploring historical landmarks.

08. Family vacation planning

Tailor travel packages for families, including child-friendly accommodations, activities and transportation. This niche can be rewarding, catering to families looking for stress-free travel experiences.

09. Eco-friendly travel services

Differentiate your business by offering eco-friendly travel solutions, appealing to clients with a focus on sustainable and responsible travel practices.

10. Solo travel planning

Cater to solo travelers by providing customized itineraries, safety tips and group travel opportunities. Solo travel is a growing trend, and this niche can tap into a lucrative market segment.

11. Group travel packages

Create and organize group travel packages for various interests, such as culinary tours, wellness retreats or photography expeditions. This niche can attract like-minded individuals looking for shared travel experiences.

How to get started with your travel business idea

Apply your industry knowledge and experience.

Develop a deep understanding of various travel destinations, accommodations, transportation options and industry best practices, depending on the travel services you offer.

Choose your specialization or niche

Consider specializing in a specific travel niche or industry to provide tailored services. This can help you gain a professional reputation in a particular niche, attracting repeat business and new clients. Pro tip: Create a business plan  to map everything out.

Build a professional network

Establish connections with travel service providers, hotels and other industry professionals to enhance your offerings. Consider creating a website  to expand your online presence and market your travel services.

Choose a legal structure for your business

Decide on the legal structure of your business, such as a sole proprietorship , LLC  or corporation . Ensure you comply with any regulations or licensing requirements in the travel industry.

Determine your pricing strategies

Choose your pricing model, whether it's service fees, commission-based or a combination. Research local market rates and competitors to ensure your pricing is competitive and reflective of the value you provide.

Travel business examples (built on Wix) to inspire

Wanderlust adventures.

This travel agency offers a variety of adventure travel packages, including hiking, wildlife safaris and cultural experiences.

Luxe Life Ventures

A premium travel concierge service providing exclusive luxury travel experiences for discerning clients.

CruiseDreams Planning

Specializing in cruise vacation planning, CruiseDreams helps clients find the perfect cruise experience tailored to their preferences.

Travel business ideas FAQ

What types of travel services can i offer in my travel business.

The travel industry offers a wide range of services. You can consider offering general travel planning, adventure travel, luxury travel concierge, cruise planning, business travel management, destination wedding planning, cultural and historical tours, family vacation planning, eco-friendly travel services, solo travel planning and group travel packages.

How can I attract clients to my travel business idea?

What equipment and supplies do i need to get my travel business idea off the ground, how do i determine pricing for my travel services, how can i ensure the safety of my clients during their travels, how can i differentiate my travel business idea from competitors, how can i expand my travel business idea as it grows, other business ideas to consider.

Service business ideas

Businesses to start with little money

Unique business ideas

Online business ideas

Low-cost business ideas

Side business ideas

Outdoor business ideas

Home-based businesses

Mobile business ideas

Consulting business ideas

Freelance business ideas

Reselling business ideas

Business ideas for couples

Rental business ideas

Small town business ideas

Wedding business ideas

Print on demand business ideas

Music business ideas

Finance business ideas

Cleaning business ideas

Marketing business ideas

Art business ideas

Tech business ideas

Restaurant business ideas

Fitness business ideas

AI business ideas

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Discover 5 Top Sustainable Travel & Tourism Startups

Curious about new technological advancements in the travel industry? Explore our analysis of 630 global sustainable travel and tourism startups & scaleups & learn how their solutions impact your business!

The travel industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic . To come out strong from this crisis, it is important for you to stay ahead of the technology curve as this strengthens your competitive advantage. That is why we give you data-driven innovation insights into the travel industry . This time, you get to discover 5 hand-picked sustainable travel & tourism startups.

Global Startup Heat Map: 5 Top Sustainable Travel & Tourism Startups

The 5 travel startups you will explore below are chosen based on our data-driven startup scouting approach, taking into account factors such as location, founding year, and relevance of technology, among others. This analysis is based on the Big Data & Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform , covering over 1.3 million startups & scaleups globally.

The Global Startup Heat Map below highlights the 5 startups our Innovation Researchers curated for this report. Moreover, you get insights into regions that observe a high startup activity and the global geographic distribution of the 630 companies we analyzed for this specific topic.

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Green Tickets creates a Sustainable Travel Planner

Although traveling helps broaden people’s horizons and get to know different cultures, it is a major contributor to climate change. Therefore, startups develop planning solutions to provide travelers with sustainable alternatives, reducing the toll on the environment. Such solutions include sustainable ticket search, carbon offsetting, and CO2 calculations to lower the carbon footprint of the tourism sector.

Dutch startup Green Tickets develops sustainable route planning solutions for travel within Europe. The startup’s ticket suggestion platform allows users to compare the sustainability of the routes they choose. Among the factors that the startup includes are the mode of transportation and time of day. Moreover, Green Tickets offers eco traveling tips, giving tourists an opportunity to plan their trip more sustainably.

Tripian personalizes Sustainable Travel

It is evident that the travel industry needs to adapt to the changes brought by the changing public concern about climate change. To support travel companies adapt to the tourists’ demands, startups develop personalized and sustainable solutions. Utilizing technologies such as AI and data analytics, these solutions improve customer experience and retention.

Canadian startup Tripian provides a trip planning platform to personalize related content and services. The platform uses AI to show customers personalized travel recommendations based on their profiles. Additionally, the platform offers a route planner and location-based recommendations, thereby accommodating the preferences of green tourists.

CO2 Cards reduces Carbon Offset

When it is impossible to avoid a carbon footprint, carbon offsetting solutions compensate for the carbon dioxide (CO2) created through supporting environmental projects such as reforestation. To further advance this effort, startups develop carbon offsetting initiatives to balance travel-related emissions. These solutions promote green tourism to support the growing sustainability movement.

Bulgarian startup CO2 Cards offers a carbon-offsetting solution for online travel agencies. The solution consists of an application programming interface (API) that calculates the carbon footprint based on customers’ orders and integrates carbon offsetting options in the companies’ ticketing systems. This helps travel agents secure the trust of environmentally-minded customers and reduce the net carbon footprint of the travel industry.

Jet-Set Offset focuses on Sustainable Air Travel

Air travel is one of the biggest contributors to growing CO2 emissions. Although sustainability-wise, any other mode of transportation is more preferable than air travel, it sometimes is the only option. To reduce the impact of passenger flights, startups provide carbon offsetting solutions for individuals and businesses, sometimes in collaboration with environmental organizations.

Jet-Set Offset is a US-based startup offering mileage-based carbon offsetting solutions for businesses and individual contributors. The startup gives human resource (HR) departments and travel managers a platform to offset employee air travel emissions. By providing a solution for mileage-based donations, Jet-Set Offset helps companies reach their sustainability goals in an easy way.

MURMURATION tackles Over-tourism

Popular destinations often suffer from an excessive influx of tourists, particularly during peak holiday seasons. This has a negative impact on local communities, visitor experience, and the overall condition of the destination. To tackle over-tourism, startups develop data-driven solutions that utilize satellite data to help local governments preserve their communities and attractions.

French startup MURMURATION provides a sustainable tourism solution based on satellite imagery to travelers and travel agencies. Flockeo , the startup’s platform, utilizes satellite data to identify the number of tourists at a given destination. Empowered by this data, travel agencies and tourists themselves have the opportunity to pursue alternative destinations, thereby lessening the negative impact of over-tourism.

Discover more Travel Startups

To keep you up-to-date on the latest technology and emerging solutions, we provide you with actionable innovation intelligence – quickly and exhaustively. You can download one of our free Innovation Reports and discover new business opportunities or save your time & let us look into your areas of interest. We provide you with an exhaustive overview of new startups, scaleups & emerging technologies that matter to you.

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