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The [Almaty Travel Massive Mini Conference](www.travelmassive.com/events/almaty-travel-massive-3-2024-7163006190) was a two day event hosted by the Almaty Travel Massive community in April 24-25 this year, gathering over 100 participants. The purpose of the event was to showcase new travel products and TravelTech startups in Kazakhstan and to build new connections within the industry.
👇 Here's a short summary of the 11 tourism projects that presented — thanks to everyone who participated!
Day One: Tour Experience Day
The first day was focused on Tour Experiences with key topic about new travel products in the experiences, event, show, attraction segment in the domestic and inbound tourism market of Kazakhstan.
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*Svetlana Chvanova, founder of [1hub.kz](taplink.cc/1hub) — a co-working network in popular establishments of Almaty.*
Six projects and initiatives presented at Tour Experience Day were divided into 2 categories which consist of traditional tour operators with active tour providers and emerging attractions and festivals with expedition:
1) [Altay Golden Festival](veters.kz), pitched by Natalya Borovaya, publisher of Wind of Change magazine and organiser of Birdwatchers community in Kazakhstan.
2) Drive Forum expeditions festival and gatherings, pitched by [Abduali Abdugali](/@abdugali-7519965519) board member of Autotourism Association in Kazakhstan.
3) [Hara Hura](harahura.kz) plastic training classes and production studio of how to reuse plastic as souvenirs (pitched by Yekaterina Dmitriyeva and [Anton Afanasyev](/@anton-afanasev-4914689491).
4) [Future of Camping and Caravanning](glamping.kz) and nomadic types of tourism including recent glamping developments in Kazakhstan, pitched by [Bayan Shapagatova](/@bayan-2629517560), President of Kazakhstan association of camping tourism and caravaning.
5) [Salem Kazakhstan](salemkazakhstan.kz) National Dancing Show traditional dressed multi ethno performance transports viewers into the world of Kazakh culture and traditions. Dances that toured the world tell the story of Kazakhstan nation authenticity and living heritage in movements, pitched by [Michail Vislin](/@mikhail-vislin-5530243370).
6) Snow Leopard school of mountaineering and [Turclub.kz](Turclub.kz) mountain guide training center presented information about their preferred learning management solution and IT tools for young ecotourists training initiative supported by Almaty city council, pitched by [Diana Frolova](/@diana-frolova-3150709115).
[Salem Kazakhstan](salemkazakhstan.kz) project was chosen as the winning pitch, voting of participants of the event. There were more then 60 visitors at the event. Thanks to the moderator of the first day, [Yerkin Tikenov](/@yerkintikenov) co-leader of Almaty Travel Massive.
Day Two: Travel Tech Day
The topics of the second day were TravelTech startups pitches and a panel discussion about Online travel market development in Kazakhstan.
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*Igor Zabolotskikh is pitching [Resortix](www.instagram.com/bionikkz), a digital ecosystem for resorts and resort areas.*
There were five TravelTech startups selected to pitch their products:
1) [AlfredStay](alfredtheapp.com) mobile app – your personalized companion for an exceptional hotel experience. With AlfredStay, guests like you can seamlessly order room services, indulge in in-room dining, and even book a rejuvenating spa session, all from the convenience of your smartphone. Keep tabs on your orders effortlessly and stay updated on their status in real-time. Plus, explore rental car options, making your entire stay streamlined and hassle-free, all within one intuitive app. On the other hand, meet Alfred Business – the ultimate hotel management solution reimagined for the modern era. With Alfred Business, hotel staff can efficiently manage guest tasks with ease, assigning them to the appropriate personnel in a snap. Track the progress of tasks seamlessly, stay informed about room statuses in real-time, and set deadlines effortlessly to ensure smooth operations. Alfred Business empowers hotel management to deliver unparalleled service, elevating the guest experience to new heights. The project pitched by [Alikhan Tolembek](/@alikhan-tolembek-9158639409)
2) [Poymay.kz](web.poymay.kz/online-buy-fishing) is an electronic platform for fishery subjects and fishermen.
Poymay.kz is the first and the only platform in Kazakhstan aimed at digitalization of relations between fishery subjects, fishermen and state bodies, automating the process of selling fishing permits and using the function of mobile notification of poaching. Launch year 2021. [App is available in Play Store](play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kz.poymay&hl=ru&gl=US). The project pitched by [Farid Khissamutdinov](/@farid-khissamutdinov-1078665567).
3) [Resortix](www.instagram.com/bionikkz) – digital ecosystem for resorts and resort areas. Resort service aggregator aimed at improving customer experience, increasing conversion rates, and creating package offers based on existing resort offers. The service provides businesses with such opportunities as a multilingual content service, a comprehensive analytical part, a B2B partner's cabinet, gamification of purchases and interactions within the ecosystem. Launched June 1, 2023. The project pitched by Igor Zabolotskikh and [Nikita Oleinik](/@nikita-oleinik-6667540903).
4) [Citypass Kazakhstan](Citypass.kz)- a single ticket for tourists, pitched by [Daniyar Omarov](/@daniyar-omarov-1092958879).
5) Tour aggregator – local network of tourists for sharing their tour experiences. Where you can see the experience of another tourist. By his visual posts. Choosing what you liked most and book his tour. Driving the entire route of another tourist, visiting the best places from his trip. Project is going to be launched in 2024. The project pitched by [Mazhit Berniyazov](/@mazhit-berniyazov-7430064658)
[Resortix](www.instagram.com/bionikkz) project was chosen as the winning pitch, by vote of event attendees. The meetup location was Almaty Creative - Center for the Development of Creative Industries of Almaty City Council. There was about 40 visitors. Thanks to the moderator of the Travel Tech Day, Almaty co-leader [Leonid Pustov](/@leonid-pustov).
Credits and thanks:
A big thanks to all the participants who attended, members who presented their projects, mentors, speakers and panelists, and to everyone who supported the event across the two days!
Mentors and speakers:
* Ainur Turezhanova, Head of the Tourism Development Department, Almaty Tourism Bureau
* Inna Yuryevna Rey, Chairman, Corporate Fund "Turistik Kamkor"
* [Dmitry Tin](/@dmitriytin), Center Smart Tourism
* [Alexey Yanshin](/@alexey-yanshin-2240770828), Director of Sabre Travel Network Central Asia
* [Anton Kochergin](/@anton-kochergin-1152945603), CEO of Tickets.kz
* [Oksana Serebrennikova](/@oxana-serebrennikova-3475264354), CEO of International Travel Plus
* [Yana Guryanova](/@yana-aryanova-6116678475), Commercial Director, Moy Agent
Partners:
* [Travel Startups Community](www.t.me/travelstartups)
* [Tourism Technologies Community (tech4travel)](www.facebook.com/groups/tech4travel)
* [Kazakh Tourism](qaztourism.kz/en/)
* [Almaty Tourism Bureau](visitalmaty.kz)
* [1hub.kz](taplink.cc/1hub) co-working network of Almaty
* [Almaty Creative](almatycreative.com) for providing the venues.
Other links:
* [Almaty Travel Massive 2024 meetup agenda](www.travelmassive.com/events/almaty-travel-massive-3-2024-7163006190)
* Join [Almaty Travel Massive telegram group](www.t.me/travelmassive_kz) to chat with chapter members.
If you are interested to host an event or have any questions, please, contact leonid@travelmassive.com
Our Almaty Travel Massive "mini conference" had great interest from participants across the tourism industry in Kazakhstan, who wanted to learn about new projects and network with other members.
Hosting this kind of event demonstrated that tourism projects in Kazakhstan need a regular platform for presenting, receiving expert feedback, sharing experiences, and developing partnerships.
We look forward to the local community in Almaty actively participating in future events!
Please feel free to contact any projects mentioned above directly via their links, or leave a comment here if you need assistance with an introduction :)
At this week's meetup in Melbourne we met a student who writes a travel journal on his own Discord server, and shares it with a small group of close friends.
If you're not familiar with Discord, it's an instant messaging service similar to Slack, where you can host your own "server" to chat with your group or community. Discord is primarily used by gamers and live-streamers, but people are using it for other forms of communication, including travel blogging!
Do you write a travel journal? And if so, what platforms or apps do you use?
I tried journaling but it didn't stick, so now I mostly write down observations in my phone notes app. Though the romantisism of journaling does cross my mind every now and then, especially when looking at pretty notebooks :)
I have written thousands of pages in my travel journals and I work exclusively in hard copy. It feels more satisfying - in terms of both creativity and tactile sensation - to compose my thoughts and record my observations by putting pen to paper rather than typing on a device. Plus this platform is free from the bonds of electricity and connectivity. In this moment where so many people feel an urge to share everything with everyone, analog writing for an audience of one is an act of rebellion.
When I want to share my adventures and insights from my travels, I have a wealth of raw material from which to draw in composing my magazine articles, blog posts, and social media content. For my expeditions in the arctic my platform is Rite In The Rain journals paired with the Fisher Space Pen. I have never run out of batteries and never had to rely on an internet connection. It's a delightfully pure connection between thought and word, transmitting from the mind to the physical world.
I'm using the Day One app for general purpose journalling, and have made it a pretty solid habit for at least 3 months now. Prior to using the app I was using pen and paper which is also very enjoyable. The main thing I like about using an app is that I can attach a photo to each entry.
For travel journalling, I'd be using the blogging platform on my own website Travellerspoint, though in the past I've never been particularly good at keeping the habit. Now that I've developed a daily journalling habit though, I think it will be a breeze next time around.
My main aim with journalling is to have a record to look back on later.
I have played at the thought of using Discord for travel blogging, but never did get around to attempting it. However, I'm a huge fan of Polarsteps - I'm an early adopter of the app. I simple create my trip, let it track where I go, and then come back later to add photos and my thoughts. Everything appears on a beautiful map, and I get to go back and retrace my steps on each trip, which I actually do pretty often!
I do have a blog website too (which I have revamped under a new domain name), but I'm a little slow to update that one because of the care with words and design.
1) For myself: I use just a normal paper notebook I take everywhere with me – only writing there when it's something more significant, not all the time.
2) For friends and family: I also post on social media some travel updates every now and then and I include my impressions. I also have a family group chat where I share more instant impressions and photos.
3) For everyone else: And travel blog for more structured way of sharing information / travel experiences.
The east African nation of Ethiopia (ኢትዮጵያ) is known for its ancient history and rich cultural heritage. The north of Ethiopia is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lalibela (ላሊበላ), a holy town renowned for its eleven rock-hewn churches, and the Timket celebration.
Lalibela's eleven rock-hewn churches are incredible monolithic structures that have served as active churches since they were carved out of solid rock in the 12th and 13th Century AD. Symbolically, Lalibela is deemed to be the second Jerusalem for Ethiopia's Christians.
Timket (Feast of Epiphany) is one of the most important religious festivals in Ethiopia. Also written as Timkat, (‘ጥምቀት’ in Amharic) the festival commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ at the symbolic stream named after the River Jordan. This celebration at Lalibela is considered to be similar to Hajj for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.
The Timket celebration occurs on January 18 and 19 every year at Lalibela, North Ethiopia. Did you know that Ethiopia uses a different calendar system to the western world? The Ethiopian calendar consists of 13 months, with 12 months comprising 30 days each and the 13th month consisting of 5 or 6 days, depending on whether it's a leap year or not.
What happens at Timket?
The deeply spiritual celebration of Timket involves colorful processions, chanting and prayers. Pilgrims come to seek blessings and renewal of their faith in this sacred communal baptism.
The processions include priests carrying Tabots (replicas of the Ark of the Covenant) from churches to nearby bodies of water. Tabots are replicas of the Ark of the Covenant which every Ethiopian church keeps.
The climax of Timket occurs as pilgrims receive a splash of holy water which is considered as cleansing of one’s sins and a renewal of faith. In addition to its religious significance, young men and women often meet their future partners on occasions like Timket. It is a social show up where everyone is dressed to their best.
A popular Ethiopian saying goes, “Letmket Yalhone Kemis Yibetates (ለጥምቀት ያልሆነ ቀሚስ ይበጣጠስ)” literally meaning “a dress not worn for Timket should be torn down” — the best dress you have should be worn for Timket!
How to reach Lalibela, Ethiopia?
The easiest way to get to Lalibela is using the one hour local flight of Ethiopian Airlines from Addis Ababa.
Where else is Timket celebrated in Ethiopia?
Gondar, also in North Ethiopia, is where Timket is celebrated most colorfully. But because of its popularity, it is considered too crowded by many pilgrims. Addis Ababa is also another option to experience Timket festival.
Hello everyone,
I'm Muluken from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I’m the founder and tour operator/guide at Merit Ethiopian Experience Tours [MEET].
Learn more about our tours at www.meetmule.com
Since 2004, I've had the pleasure of arranging hundreds of private tours and guiding travelers from all over the world to interesting sites of Ethiopia.
At MEET, we specialize in crafting personalized tours, from city tours in Addis Ababa to breathtaking day trips and multi-day excursions across Ethiopia.
Ethiopia's rich history, unique culture, and stunning landscapes never cease to amaze me. Lalibela, with its remarkable rock-hewn churches carved centuries ago, is a personal favorite.
That brings me to my first post here at Travel Massive! I want to share my insights on a truly must-experience cultural and religious festival Timket (or Ethiopian Epiphany).
Please read, leave any comments, questions, or reviews you may have – I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Thank you!
Muluken Girma
PS: Dreaming of an Ethiopian adventure? Would you join us on a journey including Ethiopian Epiphany (Timket) at Lalibela? Ask us anything about planning your trip in the comments!
Hi Muluken, thanks for sharing about Ethiopia on Travel Massive!
A few quick questions:
1. How many people attend Timket in Lalibela?
2. Do many tourists visit Lalibela outside of Timket? Are there things to do, and see?
3. What are the main countries of origin (ie. nationality) of tourists who visit Ethiopia?
I also found it interesting to learn about the different calendar system in Ethiopia! Does this lead to much confusion when doing business with people from other countries?
Hello Ian,
Thank you very much for your questions!
1. How many people attend Timket in Lalibela?
While I don't have precise figures on the exact number of attendees at Timket in Lalibela, my estimate is that over 100,000 local Ethiopian Orthodox Christians on pilgrimage and international visitors to experience this cultural and religious celebration.
Lalibela itself is a small town of about 50,000 people. But, during Timket, the churches, hotels, streets, Timket celebration areas are quite crowded. So, to ensure a smooth experience of Timket at Lalibela, it's vital to arrange flights, accommodation or ground transportation well in advance.
2. Do many tourists visit Lalibela outside of Timket? Are there things to do, and see?
Yes, Lalibela is the most visited tourist destination in Ethiopia, even outside of Timket. Lalibela’s main attraction is the eleven churches which date back to the 12th and 13th Century AD which are carved by hand from a living stone. These unique underground rock-hewn churches are the first sites of Ethiopia to be recorded by UNESCO as World Heritages (1978).
Apart from the 11 rock churches in the town of Lalibela, there are some interesting monolithic, semi-monolithic and cave built up churches which were established before, after and during the times Lalibela churches were carved. In addition to religious sites, visitors can take trekking trips to enjoy scenic mountains and valleys near Lalibela. Trekking to Mount Abune Yosef (4,260 meters above sea level) is the best option for trekkers as visitors can spot local wildlife, including the Ethiopian endemics – Simien Fox (Ethiopian Wolf) and Gelada Baboons, along the way.
3. What are the main countries of origin (nationality) of tourists who visit Ethiopia?
United States, China, UK, Germany, Italy, and France are some of the top tourist origin countries to Ethiopia.
Yes, Ethiopia is still following the ancient Julian calendar (currently 2016). It might feel it is 7 or 8 years ‘behind’ the Gregorian calendar. As locals have it, visiting Ethiopia might make you feel 8 years “YOUNGER”.
While the Ethiopian government offices, local businesses, the media, etc. use the Julian or Ethiopian calendar, almost all individuals working with international businesses or people in a different country use a dual calendar showing both the Julian and Gregorian dates, months, and years. So, with the dual calendar, many Ethiopians are comfortable with both calendars and can easily switch between them.
I hope an answered your questions.
Thanks a lot again!
Best regards,
Muluken Girma
Thank you for sharing. Fascinating, there's so much I don't know about this remarkable country.
Hi Neil,
Thank you for your comments!!
I'm glad you found it fascinating! Yes, Ethiopia truly is a remarkable country with so much to discover.
I'll continue sharing posts about Ethiopia's rich attractions, culture, and experiences.
Stay tuned for more insights on Ethiopia!
Thanks again, Neil!
Best regards,
Muluken Girma
I have been to Lalibela, but unfortunately not during this celebration
Hello Ric,
Thank you for liking my post and your comments!
It's wonderful to hear that you've had the opportunity to visit the rock churches of Lalibela. I think you can imagine how lively and memorable the experience would be during the Timket Celebration.
Best wishes,
Muluken Girma
I'm planning a road trip through Kentucky and would love any tips and or suggestions. :)
the bourbon trail! there are distilleries all around the state, though mostly in the northwestern part around Louisville & Lexington. visit the smaller, local distilleries too. keeneland & churchill downs for horse races. mammoth cave national park. the random life-sized noah's ark near lexington. muhammad ali musuem in louisville. it really is a beautiful state to drive around. i lived in louisville for 4 years so happy to give more recs.
Trip planning startups are once again the subject of lively debates, this time fueled by a new wave of AI-powered solutions. On one hand, entrepreneurs persist in their efforts to improve the trip planning process, fully aware of the many predecessors who have attempted and failed. On the other hand, seasoned travel professionals argue that trip planning is not fundamentally problematic, as evidenced by the current graveyard of trip planning startups.
What's striking is that both sides recognize the current way of planning trips is cumbersome and inefficient. Yet, the common argument against these startups is that people enjoy planning their trips. I think it’s important to remember that many of these startups are founded by travel enthusiasts who themselves love to plan trips but have personally encountered pain points firsthand. As much as consumers enjoy planning trips, no one enjoys needless friction and they would welcome a solution that genuinely improves the existing trip planning experience.
Article image #0
*Travel planning apps try to simplify complexity, but it's harder than most people think.*
I believe past solutions simply failed at providing a better experience (trying to replace the planning process rather than improving it) and it can be attributed to a combination of poor understanding of the real issues and inadequate product design, all compounded by a challenging market environment.
👇 My thoughts below:
Part 1: Why People Plan Trips
When I try to approach trip planning from first principles, my first question is: What motivates so many travellers to meticulously plan their journeys and what are their desired outcomes? In my opinion, there are 3 primary drivers behind the urge to plan a trip:
1. Access and Cost-Effectiveness: Travelers plan to secure availability and best prices. Booking in advance often ensures both.
2. Fear of Missing Out: Many travelers visit a destination only once and want to make sure they see all the important things. Nothing is worse than the feeling of realising you missed out on key sights and activities after you get home.
3. Maximizing Enjoyment (the most important in my opinion): most people travel 2 to 3 times a year. Since travel is infrequent and a high stake purchase, they want to make sure every trip is worth it. Planning helps in several ways:
* Making the most of the trip: Time optimisation allows travellers to see and do as much as they possibly can
* Peace of mind: By handling most logistical aspects before departure, travellers can relax and enjoy their experience without the stress of last-minute arrangements
* Informed Decision-Making: Conducting thorough research helps manage expectations, tailor experiences to personal interests, and minimize potential disappointments
Part 2: What Does The Typical Trip Planning Process Currently Look Like?
The typical trip planning process is often outlined by the industry in the following stages:
1. Inspiration: You are constantly in that phase. Every day, you get served with travel content relentlessly whether through ads, TV shows, social media posts, or conversations with family and friends. It’s a constant call to start planning your next getaway which leads you to start creating your bucket list, though you haven’t necessarily decided on your next destination yet.
2. Research / Discovery: You’re nearing the burn-out at work and realise it’s time for a holiday. You actively explore your options, gather information and narrow down your choices. You prioritize destinations based on personal interests, budget considerations, and time constraints. You might spend hours switching between different websites to gather information. This leads to the most commonly used problem statement in travel start-up pitches: “Travelers visit 38 different websites on average to plan their trip” (Traveltech entrepreneurs love Expedia for this precious piece of research!). By the end of this phase, you have chosen a destination and have a rough understanding of what to expect, along with unorganised notes scattered in your phone or on scraps of paper.
3. Planning: Now, you start putting together the details of your trip. You take the information gathered during the research phase, collate the pieces together and organize them in what is commonly called an itinerary. This process involves lining up activities and logistics in a logical sequence, balancing what you want to do with your time and budget constraints. An itinerary is often the result of hours of iterations and comparisons as you fine-tune each step (”What if we fly out on Monday morning to enjoy one extra day?”, “I am not sure we should stay 3 days there, let me check what else we could do around”, etc.).
4. Booking: This step is straightforward. Once your itinerary is set, you book your flights, accommodations, and any other necessary reservations to finalize your trip plans.
Part 3: Is Trip Planning Even a Problem to Be Solved?
Opinions vary, but many agree that a significant number of (most?) travellers actually enjoy planning their trips. Some studies suggest that the anticipation and planning phase can be as fulfilling as the trip itself. Here are a few reasons why:
* Researching a destination allows you to explore its beautiful landscapes and unique cultures even before you arrive. This is a form of virtual exploration that adds to the excitement and anticipation of your journey
* Trip planning can feel like a treasure hunt (”What if on website #17, I find this hidden gem that nobody else is talking about?”). This search triggers a rush similar to scrolling through social media, where the next discovery is just a click away.
* The process of putting all those pieces together is intellectually engaging and once completed, it brings a sense of achievement and satisfaction
Is it a time-consuming process? Absolutely. Isn’t this process messy and fraught with friction? Totally. Then the natural conclusion for many entrepreneurs is that trip planning is broken and needs fixing. But few take the time to deeply understand why travellers are willing to endure the hassle of visiting 38 different websites. Below some thoughts:
* No existing website provides a complete, reliable source of travel information. Most travel websites are designed for conversion, not to make your life easier. They push you to browse through endless lists in the hope of making a sale. As a result, you hop from one site to another, continually searching for new information until the next website does not teach you anything new and you feel you have a complete understanding of all your options. The only standalone product that will provide you with this confidence that you are getting a comprehensive view of your destination without necessarily having to visit another source remains the traditional guidebook. This reliability is the result of years of dedicated effort to ease the traveller's research burden and establish a trustworthy brand.
* Travelers feel compelled to cross-verify information to confirm its reliability. Additionally, gathering different perspectives is important to build confidence they are making the right choices. And while we hate reading the same stuff over and over again, repetition from multiple sources reinforces the idea that a place might be of particular significance and should probably not be missed.
Based on the above, it seems like a successful trip planner would need to:
1. Preserve the enjoyable aspects of trip planning
2. Offer comprehensive and reliable information to eliminate the need for other sources (otherwise you become website #39)
3. Streamline the process to reduce friction and enhance user experience.
And, of course, it must also find a way to make money, but that's a topic for another discussion.
Part 4: Why I Think Trip Planning Start-Ups Have Struggled to Gain Traction
Over the past decade, numerous start-ups have attempted to revolutionize the travel planning process without success. The typical solution is a web / mobile app that combines 1) curated or user-generated content (like articles and points of interest on a map), 2) search & filtering capabilities for easier discovery and personalisation and 3) planning features (such as saving and organizing by day).
Here is my take on where they fall short (focusing here on the product itself):
* Relying exclusively on user-generated content: It can take years to amass a comprehensive collection of points of interest, especially without strong incentives for users to contribute. Result: the content often isn't comprehensive enough and users treat the product as website #39, where they might pick up a few tips and then leave. A variation of this is an app built around friend recommendations since it is the most trusted source of information a traveller could possibly use. However, this requires a critical mass of friends who 1) are using the app, 2) have travelled to your intended destinations and 3) spent the time to comprehensively cover those destinations with their insights. It seems like a lot of conditions to be met before new users can get any value out of such a product.
* Not providing contextual depth: Simply displaying collections of places as lists or map points without context is hardly enough. Travelers want to grasp the essence of their destination and this is actually part of what makes trip planning time-consuming (“What makes this place unique?”, “What are the vibes?”, “What should not be missed?”, etc.). Without providing deeper insights and answers to these questions, users inevitably seek information elsewhere
* Imposing a rigid way to plan: Each traveller has a different way to approach trip planning and by forcing them to organize their plans in a specific way rather than adapting to their natural planning styles, they are creating more friction than they are removing.
Significant market challenges further complicate the picture:
1. User acquisition is highly competitive and expensive. If you don’t have a unique cost-effective growth strategy (community, virality on social media, strong brand, etc.), you’ll be competing with the big guys on paid advertising. Guess what, Booking spent $6.8bn in marketing alone in 2023. Good luck competing with that!
2. Established travel companies have built brand loyalty over decades. Gaining the trust of consumers to the extent that they're willing to share their credit card details with a new platform is an uphill battle. This leads me to believe that building an all-in-one platform for booking every aspect of a trip is unlikely to succeed as it requires to fight several battles at once and surpass each competitor in areas such as pricing, inventory, user experience, etc.
3. The most common business model relies on affiliation where you get a cut from any hotel / flight / activity bookings you generate (building your own inventory is generally not on the roadmap). Since rates are relatively low as an affiliate (~10%), it requires massive scale (back to challenge #1) and a decent conversion rate (back to challenge #2). On top of that, you are actually competing for user acquisition with the same people who pay you those fees.
A common argument against the viability of trip planning apps is that consumers go on a trip only 2-3 times per year on average and since it’s an infrequent problem, they’ll likely forget about your app. It is total non-sense to me and I’ll give an example. I’m a hiking enthusiast and I probably go on a hike 4 to 5 times a year. One day, I discovered Alltrails. For those who don’t know Alltrails, it is an app providing detailed information, maps, and user reviews for hiking trails and outdoor routes around the world. Pretty simple product if you ask me but it excels at making it incredibly easy to access all the information I need to choose the best trail. Before Alltrails, my only other option was to search through Google and various blogs. Because Alltrails offered immediate value from the first use, it has become my go-to resource for planning hikes. Last time I checked, they had over 45m users worldwide. Be more like Alltrails, delight your users the first time by delivering tangible benefits, and they will keep coming back.
Part 5: Why Simply Incorporating AI May Not Solve Trip Planning Challenges
Following the recent advancements in AI, there is not a single day without the launch of yet another trip planning app. Current AI solutions generally take the form of a chatbot which, after indicating your destination, travel dates and some high level information (you are travelling with your partner, you like museums & nature and you are vegetarian), will generate a day-by-day itinerary with ‘personalised’ suggestions. The most advanced tools even populate a map with all the suggested places.
I see a couple of issues with this approach:
* AI offers this unique ability to generate an itinerary in a matter of seconds. As a result, 90%+ of those AI trip planning apps use the same tagline “Save hours on research and travel planning”. Is it really what consumers are looking for? Because I’m not. I personally want to feel confident that the choices I make during planning will lead to a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will remember for years (remember the 'maximizing enjoyment' driver?). If a product can't help achieve that, then it might be missing the mark. Takeaway: aim for a more efficient and exciting trip planning process, not a faster one.
* Why even start with an itinerary? Suppose you come across a stunning beach photo from Thailand on Instagram and want to explore what the broader area has to offer. But before you know it, you're presented with a complete two-week itinerary. Imagine sitting down at a restaurant and being served a random meal before you even have a chance to glance at the menu. That’s how I feel when I use those products. An itinerary is usually the culmination of hours of thorough research, iterations, and adjustments. Suggesting that this entire process can be condensed into seconds is a bit of a stretch. What these products often end up doing is removing an important and enjoyable part of travel planning, which does not seem like a great user experience to me. Takeaway: focus on facilitating exploration first, and let the itinerary formation follow organically as a secondary phase.
* A chat interface works well when users know exactly what they're looking for. However, when it comes to planning a trip, many users are explorers at heart—they may not have precise queries but rather a desire to discover what's available and decide what suits them best. Besides, users are generally bad at expressing what they want. Since the quality of AI-generated responses heavily depends on how good and specific the prompt is, I question whether a chatbot is the most appropriate tool for this task. Takeaway: UI plays a critical role and may need to go beyond chat-based systems to better accommodate the exploratory nature of travel planning.
Don’t get me wrong, AI is remarkable and offers the unique ability to converse with unstructured data and generate content at scale. It holds the potential to significantly improve the trip planning experience. But, unless products are adapted to what users truly need and want, trip planning startups will continue to fail, AI-powered or not.
What are your thoughts?
Hi Benoit,
This is a very thoughtful article with lots of great insights, so thanks for sharing this with the Travel Massive community.
Here's a few thoughts and reflections on your article (no particular order):
1. Simplicity and focusing on "doing one thing". Rome2Rio (co-founded by @bernie) is a great example of simplicity — they help you look at multiple ways of getting from A to B. In their early days they *could* have added a lot more features to their product, but chose to focus on the core utility of multi-modal search and left the rest of it (such as booking) to affiliate partners. Simplicity is one thing that led to Rome2Rio's success.
2. Maps. Google Maps is probably the most under-rated trip planning apps, probably because we take it for granted. How often have you been on an OTA website (either flights, or hotel) and had a second tab with Google maps open as a cross-reference? A good example: you want to find a hotel close to the convention centre, which is not displayed on the OTA map. I still think Google Maps has the potential to be a super-app.
3. On the flipside, I blame Google for the decline in quality of search results over the past decade. imo, Google is responsible for the arms race of "Top 10 Things to Do in X" articles that require the reader to run a gauntlet through intrusive mediavine ads, interstitial pop-ups and affiliate links to find any helpful content. Trip planning on many travel blogs can often feel like wading through a tar pit (wind down the ads a notch, please!) which is a real shame because bloggers are great sources of travel knowledge but get the short end of the revenue straw in the online travel food-chain.
4. Travel advisors. I bet you that any travel agent reading this article is screaming through the screen "what about me!" — and I tend to agree. Trip planning can get so complicated that you want someone else to do it for you. You'll still find FlightCentre stores around Australia and the UK solving the trip planning problem for people in stores. This leads me to believe there will always be a human element to trip planning, that can't be replaced by traveltech or AI (but will be supported by these things).
Hope these ideas are helpful!
Dog Travel Gear features a diverse array of products aimed at ensuring bark worthy and tail wagging explorations, from essentials such as crates, treats, travel bowls, and toys, to crucial items like dog first aid kits, a selection of collars and leashes and doggie seat belts, and much more.
Additionally, for fashion-forward furry friends, the site offers a range of adorable hoodies, ensuring that every aspect of your pet's journey is met with comfort, safety, and style. Every product featured on Dog Travel Gear undergoes rigorous testing to ensure a successful and enjoyable pet-friendly journey.
As a dog-centric author, dog travel expert, and advocate for pet-friendly adventures, I recently launched Dog Travel Gear, a one-stop destination for all things essential when traveling with your canine companion: dogtravelgear.com
Our vision is a world where every journey is filled with dog-friendly adventure—a future where dogs are welcomed with open arms in all destinations.
Here are just a few of our featured products:
Pet Life ‘PYURE’ Handheld Travel Filtered Water Feeder — Keep your furry friend hydrated on the go with this convenient water bottle designed specifically for dogs.
Cruising Companion On The Go Food Bag — The travel-ready pouch has a zipper top to help you quickly fill and dispense food on the go.
Dog Baxter Backpack — Get Fido packed up and ready to go with the lightweight, tough, custom-fit Baxter Pack.
Dog First Aid Kit — Be prepared for any mishaps with this comprehensive first aid kit designed specifically for dogs.
Pendleton National Park Pet Beds — Inspired by vintage Pendleton Woolen Mills®patterns, this collection takes us on a journey of the beautiful landscapes of our great National Parks enjoyed by millions over the years.
Paws On The Go Blog: Your Guide to Canine Adventures 🐾 🚗
The site’s blog, "Paws on the Go," serves as a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise in dog travel. Drawing from my lifelong love for dogs and extensive experience in pet-friendly travel, the blog offers invaluable insights on destinations, tips, and resources to make every adventure unforgettable.
👉 Read the blog at dogtravelgear.com/paws-on-the-go/
Some of the stories you’ll find on "Paws on the Go" include:
• Essential Packing Tips for Dog-Friendly Road Trips
• The Importance of Crate Training Your Dog: Creating a Safe Haven
• Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
• Essential Items for Your Dog's Travel First Aid Kit
• Celebrate National Parks Week With Your Dog
Thanks for taking a look!
Dog Travel Gear thank you! Love your site and your articles!! also love your pet friendly adventure advice!! The first aid kit is a must have for every pet owner!!
Thanks!
If you are a dog owner who loves to travel, Dog Travel Gear is the perfect place to find virtually anything you need!
Love to hear that! Woof!
Some cool products! I travel with my dog. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comment! Happy Tails!
Great information and very timely with summer travel season just around the corner. I checked out the dogtravelgear.com website and love the curated selection. Thanks so much for sharing, Susan!
Happy Trails, Happy Tails!!!!
Sigmund's Request for Proposal (RFP) HUB helps tourism professionals find new business, contracts, and projects.
New business opportunities are organized by deadline and are presented in concise headlines and quick summaries, e.g. "Japan seeking marketing", "Visit California seeking social media management", "World Bank seeking consulting", "Belgium seeking research." with AI providing additional insights into each tender or RFP.
The RFP Hub is for Professionals who provide the following services:
• Consulting (Sustainability, Accessibility, Development)
• Marketing (Web, Social, App, Advertising, PR)
• Research (Branding, Surveys, Data Analytics)
Finding new clients in the tourism industry can be difficult. Wading through government & NGO websites is often overwhelming, time-consuming, and costly. It's a challenge we understand well at The Sigmund Project.
That's why we created Sigmund's Travel & Tourism RFP HUB. Our goal is to simplify the process of finding new business opportunities for tourism professionals of all sizes, making the process more efficient, cost-effective, and accessible.
Why the HUB is different:
✅ The RFP HUB is dedicated to travel and tourism RFPs and opportunities, making it more efficient for tourism professionals to identify relevant opportunities.
✅ A.I.-Powered Platform: Offering detailed insights into any tender or RFP, providing a valuable tool for informed decision-making.
✅ Competitive Pricing: At $129 USD per year it's the most affordable option available.
👉 We are offering a discount to Travel Massive members - use code TRAVELMASSIVE99 at checkout for access to thesigmundproject.org/rfp-hub - $99 for your first year
Very cool!
Thank you~ !
Great idea, looking forward to seeing it come to life!
Thanks, Kate!
Hi everyone,
I am looking for an adequate business plan template more adjusted to the travel industry. I have looked online among the thousands of samples, as well as on Canvas etc but cannot really make up my mind. Before I continue looking for hours...is there anyone here with a suggestion? I am looking for something straighforward, simple, that needs to work mainly for Europe as I am based in Germany.
On the sideline: has anyone gone through using AI to fill administrative papers like that? (obviously by personalizing them and adjusting them as necessary). Can it be recommended?
Thank you!
Dominique
Hello, testing this one: www.enterprisenation.com/learn-something/business-connected-digital-series-ai-tools-to-build-a-marketing-strategy/
Hi Dominique, thanks for asking your question here!
What kind of travel business are you developing? Eg. An inbound tour operator? Who is your target market? Are you looking for investment or business partners?
One way of developing a business plan is with a classic startup pitch deck. This is typically ~10 slides and covers the basics like market size, what problem you’re solving, competitor landscape, “why now?”, and revenue protection. I find the pitch deck a good way to structure and communicate your ideas for the business, and get feedback from others.
Hi Ian!
As a biologist and my love for my Mediterranean home, I have been in the process of developing a project to bridge the gap between conservation and tourism. So it will basically focus on science based travel opportunities that should closely work with academia, research and active contribution towards the environment and people in the Mediterranean (like a large network of projects). Target would be soft adventure, often environmentally conscious travellers who are more likely to be younger generations, such as Millennials and Generation Z, likely with higher levels of education and income. But not only - as families and retired persons could also have an interest and that I do wish to make an impact. To be honest I have not determined yet "what I am" as it´s quite a large project. I am definitely urgently looking for investment and as I am drowning financially ( I have given everything up to do this, but I still have a family to feed and no income at the moment). Business partners - no idea where who how. I know that my project can work (I just got feedback from EVOR to apply as it looks good and I have gotten positive feedback from MEET and other) and I know it is an increasing market. To me..I have been dreaming of doing this for the past 12 years. I know the region as I grew up there 20 years within the tourism industry and I just absolutely breathe the region.
So any support help suggestions is so so welcomed :-) (desperately needed :-))
Thank you :) I will look into it. Had started using notion in the mean time.
Hi Dominique,
I've been writing tourism related business plans for decades and have developed a template with essential content sections. Happy to share the template with headings and content guidance.
For content research and statistical information, Google Bard (Genesis) is a handy tool but instruct the AI to include reference citations to cross-check facts and avoid copying content verbatim (use your own words). Once you have your (usually lengthy) business plan written, you'll find it easier to extract and condense key data to compile a pitch deck. Canva.com has several pitch deck templates that are easy to use.
Presumably, you've already registered the brand domain name, so the next step is to build a minimum viable product (MVP), usually a website (using the business plan for navigation/content guidance) and to test the validity of your concept. An MVP and user feedback is essential if you intend to secure co-founders/investors or apply with start-up incubators. If building a website is not viable at this stage, you could use an idea validation prototype like figma.com, although their Pro version comes at a monthly fee.
Hope the above helps and best wishes on your entrepreneurial journey.
Thank you Travel Massive Saigon members for participating in our engaging panel discussion on Media Engagement Tactics for Travel & Hospitality Industry. The panel discussion and networking took place at YUNKA, a new exciting venue in the heart of Saigon, and was co-hosted by PR Newswire.
Special thanks to our moderator Chris Thompson from Harper's Bazaar Vietnam, speakers Megan Ly from PR Newswire, San Luong from Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, Van Vu from What The Pho Youtube Channel, and Lan Le from Luxperia Travel.
📸 Photos by Fred Wissink
👉 See all photos on the Travel Massive Vietnam Facebook page: www.facebook.com/travelmassivevietnam
Thank you everyone for joining our panel discussion and networking at YUNKA earlier this week. Stay tuned for the upcoming events!
great event! great job!
As always, fantastic photos from the Vietnam Travel Massive community — thanks for sharing!
What was the biggest topic discussed by the panel? Any particular take-aways from the discussion?
Hello everyone! I’m seeking advice on transitioning into a more stable role in digital marketing and content creation within the travel industry. Could you share your experiences or tips on finding job opportunities, especially with small travel companies?
More Details:
I have a solid background in digital marketing and content creation, most recently working for a hostel and tour company with operations across Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and the Philippines. This role involved managing a wide range of promotional and content creation tasks aimed at boosting online presence and customer engagement.
Previously, I collaborated with tour agencies in Austria, contributing to projects in Austria, Serbia, and Hungary. This volunteer work was intended to enhance my portfolio. Currently, I'm freelancing as a social media content coordinator, digital marketer, and content creator for a musician, aiming to build more diverse experiences.
Despite my efforts in leveraging platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and various job boards, I haven’t had much success in landing a new role. It seems these traditional job-finding platforms aren’t yielding the results I expected.
I’m eager to hear from you—how did you secure your position in this field? Any guidance or leads you could provide would be immensely appreciated as I navigate this challenging job market.
Thank you in advance for your help and insights!
Hi Lindsay, Being visible on Travel Massive is a great start!
Have as many conversations as you can. Connect with people, work your network, attend relevant meet-ups and don't be afraid of asking people for help and ideas. I'd recommend not necessarily waiting for opportunities to be advertised. Proactively write to the companies that interest you. Tenacity and persistence —nothing beats it. Don’t dismiss interim opportunities either. They can be a great way of getting into a business.
Keep going. You'll get there!
I look forward to seeing what other tips the Travel Massive community has to share.
Thank you Mathew! I really appreciate the feed back. I already feel connected to so many new people who are related to my field just by being apart of Travel Massive. I think there are so many websites that help with finding jobs and help connect people but it think it gets a little overwhelming with so many different types of websites to be apart of. Im happy to be apart of such a cool network related to travel. Im here to learn from anybody and whoever can point me in a good direction. I love learning from others.
Hi Lindsay!
Have you tried jobs.traveltechessentialist.com/jobs?
I found my current job through Travel Massive, so always worth to keep looking for new opportunities here :)
Hope it helps!
Hey Allen!
Thanks for the advice, I have not tried this website but I will check it out today and see how it goes. I really love Travel Massive as well, it connects the right people and awesome networking for all things travel.
You also might want to check the job board here if you haven't yet :) careers.adventuretravel.biz/jobs
Hey Ally!
Thank you for the advice. I will definitely check it out. :)
HERE'S THE NEXT 5 UPCOMING EVENTS:
Join us in Athens for The Athletic Coup Film Festival: Featuring Untold Stories Of Athletes And Niche Sports From Around The World.
The Athletic Coup was born out of a desire to uncover the hidden gems of the athletic world, including motivational amateur athlete stories and niche sports.
Through the art of film, the film festival brings to life the passion, dedication and triumphs of athletes from all walks of life, inspiring audiences to dream big and strive for greatness.
Travel Massive members are warmly invited to attend the screening which will be held at the Technopolis City of Athens | Gasholder 1 Auditorium «Miltiadis Evert» on Tuesday, 21 May at 19:00. Tickets are only 10€.
We will show five award-winning films that have never been screened in Greece before. From the selection:
REBOUND - Documentary - THE ATHLETIC COUP FESTIVAL WINNER
Sebastien Bellin, a former professional basketball player, is on his way to New York, departing from Brussels Airport. As he was receiving his boarding pass, a bomb exploded in the Brussels airport. As he runs toward security, a second bomb explodes a few feet away. Bellin nearly died in a terrorist attack on March 22, 2016.
With some luck and help, he survives and keeps his legs after 13 surgeries. We see him thanking the Greek doctor who saved him. Six years later, Bellin completes the Ironman Triathlon of Hawaii as a disabled athlete.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov3E5kOiPQ0
Directed by: Tim Vervoort, Vincent Stevens, Gilles Simonet Watertower TV Productions
Country of origin: Belgium
IAN - Short
This short documentary follows the remarkable journey of 72-year-old Australian climber, Ian Elliott. Ian's extraordinary climbing ability defies age stereotypes, showcasing his resilience and challenging societal perceptions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyzzmKhCkJ4
Directed by: Matt Raimondo
Country of Origin: Australia
HOME OCEAN - Short
The story of a man raised by the ocean in Brazil. Ocean athlete Joao Daniel Edde developed a unique connection with the water and developed admirable skills, whether underwater or gliding over it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP9G5FKKMaE
Directed by: Felipe Eisenberger
Country of Origin: Brazil
-
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW (10€)
✅ Award-winning athlete documentaries
✅ International filmmakers present
✅ 5 films
✅ Filmmaker panels
📍 Technopolis City of Athens | Gasholder 1 Auditorium «Miltiadis Evert»
🗓️ Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 19:00
👉 Buy your ticket at coupfilmfest.com
Bristol Travel Massive is back! After a hiatus during the pandemic, we are keen to get everyone together again and welcome new members.
This re-launch event will be hosted at Runway East Bristol Bridge (1 Victoria Street, BS1 6AA). There'll be plenty of space to socialise, network & mingle. We'll be using the modern bar space with free drinks on arrival and a great value bar selection thereafter.
Runway East has been fighting boring offices since 2014. And they’re relentless when it comes to team bliss. Runway East creates countless opportunities to make your team happy all day, every day. Bask in beautiful, customisable office space, where stuff gets fixed by people who care, and you have space to scale. runwayea.st shorturl.at/BDSWX
Towards the start of the evening, we'll be welcoming two local guest speakers: Ben Lynam from the Travel Foundation, a local NGO leading the way on sustainable tourism development, on “Let’s get real about climate change and tourism” and Hannah Cox from betternotstop.com talking about her travels to one of the happiest countries on Earth, Bhutan.
Look forward to seeing everyone there!
Link to event pageFree event. Let's meet at a nice bar in Malasaña with Craft Beers, Wine, soft drinks and International Food.
Talking about Sustainable Tourism, Latest Trends and Networking. Onwards 8 pm. we will be there until 11 pm.
NANAI Restaurante. Espacio cultural
Calle del Barco, 26, 28004 Madrid Metro: Tribunal / Gran Via Malasaña.
maps.app.goo.gl/pbemh2mfmMBCoShR6
www.nanairestaurante.com
Veniros a nuestro Evento Gratuito. Hablaremos sobre Turismo Sostenible y Nuevas Tendencias. También para Networking y hacer nuevos contactos en NANAI con cervezas artesanales y comida internacional. Podéis llegar desde las 20 h. estaremos hasta las 23 h.
TBEX Europe is coming to San Sebastian, Spain in May 2024 – meet, network and learn the latest trends, strategies and tactics from each other and the world's leading experts. 🎉
TBEX brings together hundreds of travel creators, CVBs/DMOs and brands re-imagining and redefining the travel and tourism industry. A place to build lasting business connections and life long friendships.
Join us for Pre-BEX area tour experiences, beginner to advanced educational sessions, numerous networking opportunities, stunning evening events and Post-conference FAM possibilities.
For more information and to register visit: tbexcon.com
Link to event pageThe Social Entrepreneurship Competition in Tourism is back in 2024 – are you ready to win?
Join us online on 28 May, Tuesday, for an online Info Session and Q&A to learn more:
• What's new in 2024
• Who should apply and why
• Who are the partners and prizes
• How to get the most out of the competition
Meet the Competition team, some of the partners and supporters, and get your questions answered.
• Prof. Dr. Claudia Brözel – Founder of the Competition, prof. at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development
• Maria Stoyanova, PhD – Competition Project Coordinator and Communication Manager
• Rika Jean-Francois – Founder MissionRespo; Head of International Business Relations, Queer Destinations; former Head of CSR ITB Berlin
• Dr. Neal Bermas – Founder & Chairperson, STREETS International
• Stephanie Henicke – Manager Innovation & Sustainability, Lufthansa City Center Reisebüropartner
• Paola Vulterini – founder of Valueable Network (past participant)
• Laura Kromminga – Competition Jury member
... more participants will be confirmed soon.
👉 About the Competition
The Social Entrepreneurship Competition in Tourism is the first worldwide competition focusing on social innovation and entrepreneurship in tourism and hospitality. Deadline for applications is 30 June 2024.
The partners supporting the Competition this year are: booking.com, Amadeus, Lufthansa City Center, Travel Massive, the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, SINA, ITB Berlin, Teejit, and WIIF.
🚀 You can apply in 2 categories:
• LAUNCH Track – for new ideas
• GROWTH Track – for existing businesses
🙋♀️ Who is the Competition for:
You are a social entrepreneur and you have an idea or project that:
✔️ Is related to tourism
✔️ Has social, communal, or environmental mission in its core;
✔️ Support some of the 17 UN's Sustainable Development Goals
🏆 Competition Process:
Ten finalists will receive invaluable 8-week business mentorship from our expert Mentors and will compete at the final Pitch Contest on 28 November 2024.
The winners in each category will receive marketing and business support from our partners, online trainings, feedback from industry experts, event exposure, and many more from our 2024 partners.
Learn more at www.socialtourismcompetition.com
Link to event pageThe ASTA Travel Advisor Conference is coming back in 2024 with more value than ever – join the global travel advisor community on May 29-31 in Dallas, TX.
The ASTA Travel Advisor Conference is the only industry event where you can learn new and innovative ways to sell travel AND get guidance on how to effectively run and grow a travel business.
📆 Dates: May 29–31, 2024
📍 Location: Hilton Anatole, Dallas TX
🎟️ Get 10% discount with code TM10 – grab your ticket at tmsv.co/ASTA2024_Tickets
👉 Educational content via 3 tracks:
• Cultivate (newer to the industry)
• Accelerate (focused on growth)
• Innovate (for mid to large agency owners/managers)
Sessions will be focused on the most critical business issues facing travel advisors. Follow the event agenda at tmsv.co/ASTA2024_Agenda
🎙️ Event Highlights Include:
• Incredible keynote speakers: Venus Williams, tennis champion and entrepreneur; Christine Duffy, President, Carnival Cruise Lines; Christopher J. Nassetta, CEO, Hilton; Chris Voss, negotiation expert and author.
• Specialty areas in the Exhibit Hall: entrepreneurs, technology and more
• Repeated sessions so you don't miss a thing
• Hear directly from top-selling advisors of major brands
• Exciting evening networking events for ALL attendees
...and much more!
🚀 Entrepreneur of the Year Contest 2024 – Apply by March 29
Are you passionate about your new travel endeavor? Do you have an idea that will change the travel landscape?
This is a great opportunity for travel advisors, agency owners, travel technology start-ups, travel suppliers, and more! If you have a dream, we want to help you make it a reality.
Three lucky finalists will appear onstage at The ASTA Travel Advisor Conference to participate in a LIVE competition to see who will win the $10,000 cash prize. Each finalist will have three minutes to make a pitch to the audience. More than 1,000 travel professionals will be watching your presentation and cast their vote to determine the winner.
Apply for the Entrepreneur of the Year Contest by 29 March 2024: tmsv.co/ASTAEntrepreneurContest2024
🤝 About ASTA
American Society of Travel Advisors, Rebranded in 2018 as the American Society of Travel Advisors, ASTA is the leading global advocate for travel advisors, the travel industry and the traveling public. Its members represent 80 percent of all travel sold in the United States through the travel agency distribution channel.
Together with hundreds of internationally-based members, ASTA’s history of industry advocacy traces back to its founding in 1931 when it launched with the mission to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. For more information, visit www.ASTA.org
Link to event pageHere's the 10 latest classified ads:
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