5 New Travel Startups That Target Specific Customer Sets

This week’s roundup of travel startups looks at businesses building on top of specific customer needs, from hotel engagement to historic endeavors.

The companies’ focus will give them direction as they market and build their user base.

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>> Amigo App Systems creates customized apps for hotel properties that want to share content with customers as well as solicit feedback in the form of surveys and requests. Hotels can track feedback via a content management dashboard designed specifically for each property.

SkiftTake: Content is king and hotel brands that build a base of creative meaningful content will be able to engage and learn more from their guests. The platform over which the content is shared should be design-aware and the technology should function seamlessly from personalized platform to social networks.

>> The Explorer’s Passage is a new adventure travel company that offers trip itineraries based on historical events. The company launched last month with three expeditions in Asia and the Americas ranging in price from $4,000 to $9,000 for a week or longer.

SkiftTake: From food to culture, travelers are looking for meaning when they travel so creating itineraries based completely on historical events gives the company a growing group of educated and curious travelers to go after.

>> I Fly First Class is travel concierge company that finds last-minute and discounted business- and first-class fares within the U.S. and abroad. The company claims to save flyers up to 50 percent off published fares using its database.

SkiftTake: We searched for a specific upcoming flight and the site’s fare was significantly lower than other nonstop fares we found; however, there is an extra step for individual flyers that need to request a quote for their specific flight rather than search and book on their own.

>> Skypoint is platform where private jet operators can search and order catering for trips around the world. The service is free for operators and the company makes money from vendors.

SkiftTake: Private jet customers expect a certain quality of food onboard and the website is a fast and web-based solution for operators. The business is well-positioned as corporate travel rebounds worldwide.

>> Globe Hop is an app that helps travelers discover where locals hangout and the stories that happen in those places. The app has not yet launched so little information is shared on its website.

SkiftTake: Sharing platforms like Instagram make personal experiences public information, but the challenge is organizing and cataloging that data so it becomes useful to others. A site that does it well will become popular among the growing number of travelers seeking authentic local experiences.