5 New Travel Startups Helping Travelers Maximize Every Minute of Their Trips

Spontaneity defines travel for a certain set of traveler. This mindset leads travelers to book flights, hotels, and transportation last-minute or on-demand and it’s become universally expected that services be available faster and when it’s convenient.

Being spontaneous can also mean taking a day trip to seaside resort town and indulging in a hotel’s pool facilities for the day.

This week we’re looking at startups that want to help travelers get the most out of every moment of their travel experience, whether it’s a day trip, a time-killer, or a much needed relief from the stresses of a business trip. These companies are focused on a travel market that may not be ready to make the full plunge into booking a stay, for example, but is interested in trying a brand to see what it has to offer and how its amenities fit their needs.

Dip enables non-hotel guests to buy limited access to hotel amenities, enabling locals and travelers to enjoy specific amenities without buying a room. The company is currently working with properties in New York and Los Angeles.

>>SkiftTake: Dip is also working with fashion and lifestyle brands at properties to help it better align itself with travelers who may want to try a lifestyle on for size for a day. Allowing travelers one-day passes may end up generating interest in future stays.

Daycation lets travelers use select hotel amenities and facilities at properties around the U.S., in four hotels so far.

>>SkiftTake: Letting travelers test out a hotel’s facilities always carries the possibility of those travelers becoming future guests and trying out a brand with no strings attached.

Spacily helps travelers rent out meeting rooms in hotels with no booking fees. It currently has about 200 spaces in and around London.

>>SkiftTake: This could help hotels maximize revenues by letting the outside world, or non-guests, into their properties to use spaces that may otherwise be unused several days throughout the year.

Planspa helps travelers find spas in their destinations.

>>SkiftTake: We’ve all been in situations when we’re trying to kill time on the road or find a way to rejuvenate ourselves, and what solves both of those problems better than a spa treatment?

Guestnet is a digital guest directory with a bevy of functions, including integrating social media engagement and calculating a hotel’s reputation measurement.

>>SkiftTake: Guestnet helps hoteliers better understand the connections between sales and reputation management but it also helps the guest make the most of their stay. Guests can instantly communicate with staff to book services and activities and let them know how their experience can be improved.

For all of our SkiftSeedlings collection, check out our archives here.