Travel’s Fastest Growing U.S. Small Businesses Offer a Glimpse Into These Emerging Trends
Photo Credit: A short-term rental apartment with hotel-style amenities bookable in Columbus, Ohio, from Frontdesk, a startup based in Milwaukee. It's the fastest-growing of more than a dozen U.S. private companies in travel, according to Inc. magazine. Frontdesk
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The pandemic catapulted a few niche innovations into widespread use, benefiting a few fast-moving travel businesses. Lists come and go, but pay attention to the underlying trends that will last after the crisis passes.
Though the pandemic has hammered much of the travel sector, a handful of fast-growth companies powered through somewhat undiminished. Apart from the worst lockdowns, 16 U.S. private companies in travel emerged in good enough financial health to be counted as among the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America.
The track record of these travel businesses reflects broader trends that undergird the entire sector's phased recovery. The pandemic in many ways re-prioritized what people want from travel suppliers. Some interests and behaviors that used to be specialized transformed into more widely popular options. Vacation rentals, outdoor travel, and experiences are some of the categories to benefit.
The list from Inc. assessed companies by their revenue growth between 2017 and 2020. Like every list, it isn't perfect. This one suspiciously neglects startups, such as recreational vehicle marketplace Outdoorsy and outdoor adventure booking service Hipcamp, which seem to be grow
