A business plan for My Travel Club, an innovate social network built specifically for travelers. Instead of getting reviews and opinions from strangers, get your information from friends and family directly from My Travel Club. Interested in making My Travel Club a reality? Email jonlhussey@gmail.com or find me on Twitter: @GWjonlhussey.
A discussion of how economic development and tourism are related, areas of conflict and how economic development and tourism practitioners can support each other from my presentation to the Economic Developers Association of Canada.
System of Measures for Excellence in DestinationsScott Rains
SYSTEM OF MEASURES FOR EXCELLENCE IN DESTINATIONS (SMED)
Tourism destinations should sustain or enhance the geographical character of a place its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.
To help bring destinations worldwide towards excellence, the World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED) has developed a System of Measures for Excellence in Destinations, or SMED, a unique system that focuses on short-term and long-term goals of sustainable tourism. In implementing a SMED, destinations benefit by receiving concrete and feasible recommendations for strategic interventions and continuous improvement.
Communicating the Economic Value of TourismAileen Murray
Here's a copy of my presentation at the Ontario's Southwest Conference in 2014. Communicating the contribution of tourism to the local economy can be a challenge. This presentation focused on bridging the gap between tourism and economic development including tips and tools to measure and report the value of tourism in Ontario’s Southwest to the decision makers in our communities.
A discussion of how economic development and tourism are related, areas of conflict and how economic development and tourism practitioners can support each other from my presentation to the Economic Developers Association of Canada.
System of Measures for Excellence in DestinationsScott Rains
SYSTEM OF MEASURES FOR EXCELLENCE IN DESTINATIONS (SMED)
Tourism destinations should sustain or enhance the geographical character of a place its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.
To help bring destinations worldwide towards excellence, the World Centre of Excellence for Destinations (CED) has developed a System of Measures for Excellence in Destinations, or SMED, a unique system that focuses on short-term and long-term goals of sustainable tourism. In implementing a SMED, destinations benefit by receiving concrete and feasible recommendations for strategic interventions and continuous improvement.
Communicating the Economic Value of TourismAileen Murray
Here's a copy of my presentation at the Ontario's Southwest Conference in 2014. Communicating the contribution of tourism to the local economy can be a challenge. This presentation focused on bridging the gap between tourism and economic development including tips and tools to measure and report the value of tourism in Ontario’s Southwest to the decision makers in our communities.
A business plan for MyTravelClub.com, an innovate social network built specifically for travelers. Instead of getting reviews and opinions from strangers, get your information from friends and family directly from My Travel Club. Interested in making My Travel Club a reality? Email jonlhussey@gmail.com
We are techies and selling doesn’t come naturally to us. We believe that data and our work should speak for itself. Unfortunately everything cannot be built overnight and as founders we need to articulate what the future holds to the world before it has happened. This is why it is called a pitch.
Pitch is a simple document that shows what the team has done, what it wants to achieve, and how it will go about achieving it. The “how” is super important, especially in today’s capital conscious funding environment. Today no one wants to invest in you figuring it out.
We have been creating pitches for the past few years and have done our fair share of how to pitch videos, message iterations, sentiment analysis, buzz-word stuffing et al. to now finally say this —
“Pitching is an art that only experience can teach”
A business plan for MyTravelClub.com, an innovate social network built specifically for travelers. Instead of getting reviews and opinions from strangers, get your information from friends and family directly from My Travel Club. Interested in making My Travel Club a reality? Email jonlhussey@gmail.com
We are techies and selling doesn’t come naturally to us. We believe that data and our work should speak for itself. Unfortunately everything cannot be built overnight and as founders we need to articulate what the future holds to the world before it has happened. This is why it is called a pitch.
Pitch is a simple document that shows what the team has done, what it wants to achieve, and how it will go about achieving it. The “how” is super important, especially in today’s capital conscious funding environment. Today no one wants to invest in you figuring it out.
We have been creating pitches for the past few years and have done our fair share of how to pitch videos, message iterations, sentiment analysis, buzz-word stuffing et al. to now finally say this —
“Pitching is an art that only experience can teach”
How the Travel Industry Can Take Advantage of the Booming New Membership Econ...customtravelclubs
Travel companies are being continuously marred with escalating distribution & advertising costs, high competition in the market while their margin is on decline.
So, the question arises: How do travel companies earn the loyalty of customers and deliver outstanding benefits without losing margins? One possible answer is: Building loyalty with your customers through a bespoke travel club. According to latest reports, Membership Economy is the new currency for business growth in 2016. The biggest example is Hilton Select Program by Hilton Hotels. Hilton Select is members only savings program offered by the most recognized hotel brand in the world and its huge success is a testament to that.
At Custom Travel Clubs, we provide membership driven organizations the right platform with travel benefits and optional booking technology to build and run their own travel clubs. These travel clubs often operate with 35%-40% margins and create true residual and reliable income.
Guiddoo World FZ LLC is the #1 provider of IOS, Android and Windows Phone app in the world for travelers wanting audio, video or walking tours of Historic, Cultural and Arts Destinations and a Travel Management tool for Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal and 55+ monuments around the world. Besides Guiddoo is a User Engagement, Tracking and Communication Tool for Travel Businesses like Tour Operators and Travel Agents.
At the Core Guiddoo is a Technology driven product with the Team trying to disrupt the Travel Space and The Audio Travel Guide Segment with innovative technology usage like Augmented Reality, Automated GPS Driven Guides and Google Glass to make it a Hands Free and Enjoyable User Experience.
Guiddoo not only presents a well researched and detailed audio and video tour of monuments, it also includes history and trivia, interactive GPS enabled horizontal and vertical site plans, Historic timelines and the Key tourist information for the given attraction including hotels, restaurants and shopping.
Something that has been especially added to Guiddoo is the Social Interactivity and the Image Galleries of the users using Guiddoo keeping in mind the growing social connectivity in todays mobile and Internet users.
Currently Guiddoo has 40,000+ downloads across Android, iOS and Windows platforms with 120-150 new organic users on a daily basis and 300-400 sessions with above average engagement in the Travel App Segment as well as high concentration of Business Travellers, Leisure Travellers and Opinion leaders across the target Geographies.
Guiddoo has been well covered in Media and has been featured on CNBC Young Turks, Bloomberg Business Week, Times of India, Bangalore Mirror, Times of India, Tnooz, NextBigWhat, Your Story, Technode (China), Wamda (Middle East) among others and is being highlighted as a industry leader and a partner of choice for projects like Google Culture and their Monument mapping.
If you’re coming to Australia to study, get ready for an awesome adventure! We’ve put together this collection of free apps to help you make the most of your time in Australia. From currency converters and translation apps to virtual tour guides, we’ve got all your bases covered! For even more great tips and resources to help you enjoy all that Australia has to offer during your studies, visit us on Social Hub.
Final Project - Marketing Plan for Mobile App (Shoppers Way)Anugrah Nimavat
This Final Project on Marketing Plan for mobile app (Shoppers Way) is created by me Anugrah Nimavat (NIT-Surat) during marketing internship under the guidance of Prof. Sameer Mathur (IIM Lucknow).
Mobile App Company Business Plan Template at http://fiverr.com/jssnetbay/supply-a-mobile-app-company-business-plan We offer a business plan template for a company that develops smartphone / mobile apps This is a high quality MOBILE APP BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE that comes in Word & Excel for easy edit. Investor ready and friendly. Start your app business by just typing in your company, your management and specifics on your apps. This business plan has a lot of graphics and charts to explain the market, which makes for an easy lender/investor presentation. A full narrative description of the business, market, promotion strategy, etc... are included.
The plan has a full set of financial statements in the Word document that may need to be adjusted for your specific venture.
These are easy to use intuitive documents that can be used to create a full business plan and start-up package for launching a mobile app in very little time.
An extensive Excel financial workbook with worksheets to create all required financial projections is available. Sample financial numbers are included as a guide.
A PowerPoint Pitch Deck Presentation, great document to approach investors / lenders and make a quick professional pitch is available
The business plan template covers the following sections with extensive narrative analysis on each:
Executive Summary
Objectives
Keys to Success
Company Summary
Start Up
Technology
Strategic Alliances
Human Resources
Management Team
Organizational Chart
Services & Products
Developing the App Entails
Market Analysis
Marketing Strategy
SWOT Analysis
The Financial Statements cover the following:
Revenue Projections
Profit & Loss Projections Year 1
Cash Flow Projections Year 1
Balance Sheet Projections Year 1
Three Year Profit & Loss Projection Summary
Profit & Loss Projections Year 2
Cash Flow Projections Year 2
Balance Sheet Projections Year 2
Profit & Loss Projections Year 3
Cash Flow Projections Year 3
Balance Sheet Projections Year 3
This slide show is a business plan. The bullet points which are underline have some excel sheets, contained detais in numbers. It can be furnished on demand.
Engaging the Long Tail -Part One - FACVBStephen Joyce
An overview of the long tail of travel and travel social media. You\'ll get some insight into what makes social media work, why it has caught on, and how you can use these new tools and technologies to promote your destination.
Social media and user generated content is changing the way the landscape for online travelers. More travelers are relying on the advice and recommendations of fellow travelers over professional marketers. Destinations, travel providers, and agents all need to be aware of these trends and adapt their online marketing appropriately. This presentation is a brief overview of the why social media is so powerful and effective and how you, as a marketer, can start taking advantage of this powerful trend.
Content Marketing is key and king and should be channeled well to see robust awareness spread round for both new and existing clients to stay with the business. clients wants things they can trust and build confidence around, these and more will make them look out for best content that will give value.
Reactive is a digital agency specialising in strategy, creative, technology and marketing with over 150 staff across our five offices in Melbourne, Sydney, London, Auckland and New York.
Our reputation is one of excellence and innovation in the online channel — evidenced not only by the quality of work we do but also by the results we achieve for our clients.
Over the past sixteen years, we have designed, built and marketed hundreds of websites for some of Australia, New Zealand, America and Europe’s most prestigious clients including blue-chip corporate, retail and travel brands, B2B companies across all industries, as well as Local, State and Commonwealth Government.
Clients we have created websites and performed online marketing for include Rip Curl, British Airways, Cervélo, Sydney Airport, Coles Group, ANZ, Nissan, Tesco and Amnesty International Australia. Our focus is on planning and implementing engaging online experiences that fuel profitable growth for our clients. We work with you to unearth the most effective methods and solutions to fulfill your business objectives online.
Reactive is a digital agency specialising in strategy, creative, technology and marketing with over 150 staff across our five offices in Melbourne, Sydney, London, Auckland and New York.
Our reputation is one of excellence and innovation in the online channel — evidenced not only by the quality of work we do but also by the results we achieve for our clients.
Over the past sixteen years, we have designed, built and marketed hundreds of websites for some of Australia, New Zealand, America and Europe’s most prestigious clients including blue-chip corporate, retail and travel brands, B2B companies across all industries, as well as Local, State and Commonwealth Government. Clients we have created websites and performed online marketing for include Rip Curl, British Airways, Cervélo, Sydney Airport, Coles Group, ANZ, Nissan, Tesco and Amnesty International Australia.
Our focus is on planning and implementing engaging online experiences that fuel profitable growth for our clients. We work with you to unearth the most effective methods and solutions to fulfill your business objectives online.
Invite Ideas Consulting, the owner of all rights associated with Choice N Cheers mobile app and choicencheers.com is in the process of getting a Series A round of equity capital in the amount of $100,000.
The company has developed a minimum viable product featuring 90+ Indian cities nightlife and hangout places. We intend to release iOS and Android Wearable version of the App this coming quarter and reach new markets like Americas and Europe. Based on the initial conceptualization and a successful web application having already achieved over 10,000 hits, the mobile version of the Choice N Cheers total system has been designed to provide travelers, tourists and locals in unknown locations world-wide with market leading functionality and values. Choice N Cheers plans to introduce new excellent features like Pool Party, Cashless Payments, Online Ordering, Chair Reservations, unique Rating System, and Engaging Alcohol Games; over the time.
The overall size of the world market for this type of bar searching system has been estimated to be more than 100 millions. Management will focus on an initial target market of individuals aging 21+. This target is estimated to include over 4.2M users in the US alone and over 14.5M accessible target market worldwide.
The company is forecasted to obtain profitability in year 2, over $75M in revenue in year 3 with anticipated growth to over $200M in year 5.
Capital will be used in the following manner:
Development of future versions of mobile and wearable app ; IPR and Patent – 20%
Post-launch marketing – 25%
Infrastructure development – 10%
New hiring’s and team expansion – 10%
Partial salary for full-time Co-Founders – 20%
$15K cushion – 15%
Exploring Montreal's Artistic Heritage Top Art Galleries and Museums to VisitSpade & Palacio Tours
Montreal boasts a vibrant artistic heritage, showcased in its top art galleries and museums. From the expansive collections at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to the cutting-edge exhibits at the Musée d'art contemporain, discover the city's rich cultural landscape. Experience dynamic street art, indigenous works, and contemporary pieces, reflecting Montreal's diverse and innovative art scene.
Its running cost is among the diverse vital aspects you must consider before buying an electric scooter. Calculate the cost of getting e-scooter charge for your regular usage to calculate its economic efficiency, similar to people who investigate the mileage of petrol or diesel-driven scooters.
Antarctica- Icy wilderness of extremes and wondertahreemzahra82
In this presentation, we delve into the captivating realm of Antarctica, Earth's southernmost continent. This icy wilderness stands as a testament to extremes, with record-breaking cold temperatures and vast expanses of pristine ice. Antarctica's landscape is dominated by towering glaciers, colossal icebergs, and expansive ice shelves. Yet, amidst this frozen expanse, a rich tapestry of unique wildlife thrives, including penguins, seals, and seabirds, all finely attuned to survive in this harsh environment. Beyond its natural wonders, Antarctica also serves as a vital hub for scientific exploration, providing invaluable insights into climate change and the Earth's history
Discover Palmer, Puerto Rico, through an immersive cultural tour that unveils its rich history and vibrant traditions. Experience lively festivals, savor authentic cuisine, and explore local markets. Visit historical landmarks, museums, and stunning colonial architecture. Engage with friendly locals, enjoy live music, and hike scenic nature trails, all while participating in cultural workshops and discovering unique artisan crafts.
TRAVEL TO MT. RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK WITH NILE ABENTEUER SAFARIS.docxnileabenteuersafaris
Let’s explore the captivating Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda with Nile Abenteuer Safaris. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon,” offers unparalleled beauty and diverse ecosystems. 🌿🏔️
Key Features of Rwenzori Mountains National Park:
Majestic Peaks:
Mount Rwenzori, Africa’s third-highest peak, dominates the landscape. Its snow-capped summits and glacier-draped slopes provide a challenging yet rewarding adventure for trekkers and climbers.
Ascending these peaks allows you to witness breathtaking vistas and experience the thrill of high-altitude trekking.
Biodiversity:
Explore the park’s rich biodiversity, which includes montane forests, alpine meadows, and towering cliffs.
Encounter rare and endemic species such as the Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori red duiker, and Rwenzori three-horned chameleon.
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Embark on immersive trekking experiences along a network of trails. Choose from leisurely walks to multi-day expeditions.
Traverse verdant valleys, moss-draped forests, and marvel at cascading waterfalls as you ascend toward the summit.
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Engage with local communities of the Bakonjo and Bamba people. Gain insight into their traditional way of life and cultural practices.
Discover the rich history and folklore surrounding the Rwenzori Mountains.
Planning Your Visit:
Trekking and Climbing:
Select from various trekking routes tailored to different skill levels and durations.
Experienced guides and porters ensure a safe and enjoyable journey to the summit.
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Embark on guided nature walks to spot diverse wildlife, including primates, birds, and endemic plant species.
Keep an eye out for the Rwenzori hyrax, blue monkeys, and various bird species.
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Rest and rejuvenate in comfortable lodges, campsites, and guesthouses within and around the park.
Experience warm hospitality amidst the tranquility of nature.
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Support conservation efforts by adhering to park regulations and practicing responsible tourism.
Your visit contributes to preserving this pristine wilderness for future generations.
Embark on an Unforgettable Adventure:
Whether you seek the thrill of summiting Africa’s legendary peaks or the serenity of exploring remote landscapes, Mount Rwenzori promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of nature’s majesty. Start planning your expedition today and unlock the secrets of this captivating natural wonder!
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The Cherry Blossom season in Hunza begins in the second week of March and lasts until the end of April, varying with altitude. During this enchanting period, tourists from around the world flock to Hunza Valley to witness its transformation into a vibrant tapestry of white, pink, and green. The valley comes alive with cherry blossoms, creating a picturesque and mesmerizing landscape that captivates visitors.
About the Company:
The Cherry Blossom season in Hunza starts in the second week of March and extends until the end of April, depending on the altitude. During this enchanting period, tourists from around the globe travel to Hunza Valley to witness its transformation into a vibrant tapestry of white, pink, and green. The valley comes alive with cherry blossoms, creating a picturesque and mesmerizing landscape that captivates all who visit. For the best experience, join Hunza Adventure Tours, the top tour company in Pakistan, and immerse yourself in this breathtaking seasonal spectacle.
Discover the wonders of the Wenatchee River with a variety of river tours in Monitor, WA. Whether you're seeking thrilling whitewater rafting, peaceful kayaking, family-friendly float trips, or scenic sunset cruises, there's something for everyone. Enjoy fishing, wildlife spotting, bird watching, and more in this beautiful natural setting, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and families alike.
During the coldest months, Italy transforms into a winter wonderland, providing visitors with a very unique experience. From the Settimana Bianca ski event to the lively Carnevale celebrations, Italy's winter festivities provide something for everyone. Enjoy hot cocoa, eat hearty comfort foods, and buy during winter deals. Explore the country's rich cultural past by participating in Settimana Bianca, and Carnevale, sipping hot chocolate, shopping during winter deals, and indulging in winter comfort foods. Visit our website https://timeforsicily.com/ for more information.
London Country Tours, the foremost travel partner offers customized Stonehenge tours from London coming with private tour guides and direct access to the inner circles. Visit: https://www.londoncountrytours.co.uk/tour/tours-to-stonehenge-oxford/
4 DAYS MASAI MARA WILDEBEEST MIGRATION SAFARI TOUR PACKAGE KENYABush Troop Safari
Join our 4-day Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration Safari in Kenya. Witness the incredible wildebeest migration, enjoy exciting game drives, and stay in comfortable lodges. Get up close and personal with one of nature's most amazing exhibits! Book Your Safari Today at - https://bushtroop-safaris.com/
MC INTERNATIONALS | TRAVEL COMPANY IN JHANGAshBhatt4
Experience the world with MC Internationals travel and tourism. From foreign getways to cultural concentration, we tailor unforgettable journeys for every traveler. Let us turn your dream into reality and create lasting memories. Explore with us today. #TRAVEL,COMPANY #BEST,TRAVEL,COMPANY #VISIT,VISA #EMPLOYMENT,VISA #STUDY,VISA #HAJJ,AND,UMRAH
How To Change Name On Volaris Ticket.pdfnamechange763
How to change name on Volaris ticket? This is one of the most common questions asked by travelers flying with Volaris Airlines. The mentioned details can help you with your name rectification on the airline ticket. If you are still facing difficulties call the consolidation desk at +1-800-865-1848.
1. My Travel Club: A Business Plan
Jon Hussey 1507 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC T 781-799-6280 jonlhussey@me.com jonlhussey.com/blog
2. My Travel Club Business Plan
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................2-3
Business Description and Vision ...................................................4-6
Definition of Market ........................................................................7-9
Competitive Analysis.......................................................................10-11
Description of Products and Organization....................................12
Marketing and Sales Strategy.........................................................13-14
Prospective Financials.....................................................................15-16
My Travel Club Business Plan
1
3. My Travel Club Business Plan
Executive Summary
My Travel Club is a social network designed for travelers. It is a place to document every aspect of your
travels through photos, videos, maps, blogs, virtual check-ins, top 10 lists, ratings, reviews, and travel
planning. Best of all, it’s a place where you can plan your future trips using information you trust from people
within your existing social networks. No more choosing hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions based on
reviews by people you’ve never met. My Travel Club will synch with your existing social networks (Facebook,
Twitter, Foursquare). When you begin planning a trip, My Travel Club will alert you of your friends who have
been there and provide you with their photos, reviews, lists, and maps to help you make a decision based on
information from people you trust. Want to take that information with you? My Travel Club will print a custom
travel guide for you.
Mission
My Travel Club’s mission is to be the first site a user visits when planning a trip and the first site they visit
upon returning.
Vision
Travel is a fun, memorable, and often powerful experience that people want to share with their friends and
family. My Travel Club aims to capture that fun, those memories, and that sharing experience in one easy-to-
use, enjoyable online platform.
Competition
With more travelers finding their information online, in the past decade, travel booking and review sites have
become some of the most popular online. The most popular site, TripAdvisor.com, is the 153rd most popular
site on the Internet among U.S. users, according to the online audience site Quantcast.com.
The Advantage
No previous online product provides travelers with a single place where they can document and share their
travel experiences, get advice on where to go, places to stay, eat, drink, and visit. Tourists spend billions of
dollars every year on travel and are forced to make important decisions based on reviews by strangers. But
as recent research by Nielsen (Figure 1) shows, 90 percent of consumers trust recommendations from
people they know. My Travel Club will deliver travelers those trusted reviews, providing a valuable service to
its users and an opportunity for businesses to advertise to users who are more likely to spend.
My Travel Club Business Plan
2
4. My Travel Club Business Plan
Financial Projections
Year 1 Year 3
Revenue
Display Ads $110,000 $258,930
Affiliate Marketing w/ Living Social $90,360 $210,000
Business Listing Program $90,000 $270,000
Travel Guide Printing $172,620 $402,780
REVENUE TOTALS $462,980 $1,141,710
Expenses
Development $80,000 $10,000
Staffing $205,000 $300,000
Marketing $67,800 $150,000
EXPENSE TOTALS $352,800 $460,000
NET EARNINGS $110,180 $681,710
My Travel Club Business Plan
3
5. My Travel Club Business Plan
Business Description & Vision
My Travel Club is a social network designed for travelers. It is a place to document every aspect of your
travels through photos, videos, maps, blogs, virtual check-ins, top 10 lists, ratings, and reviews. Best of all,
it’s a place where you can plan your future trips using information you trust from people within your existing
social networks. No more choosing hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions based on reviews by people
you’ve never met.
Mission
My Travel Club’s mission is to be the first site a user visits when planning a trip and the first site they visit
upon returning.
Vision
Travel is a fun, memorable, and often powerful experience that people want to share with their friends and
family. My Travel Club aims to capture that fun, those memories, and that sharing experience in one easy-to-
use, enjoyable online platform.
Values
My Travel Club is rooted in the love of travel. The idea for My Travel Club was spawned during a two-week
vacation to Thailand. It was the brainchild of two couples with a love for travel who formed their own travel
club while sipping bad beer in a bar in Brooklyn, New York. My Travel Club is about those simple values:
people who love to travel sharing their experiences with people they know will appreciate them.
Product
A social network cannot be built without an audience. Or as our software engineer put it, “Nobody’s going to
come to the party if it’s not cool.” My Travel Club’s first goal is to create a platform for travel documentation
that is the kind of party you want to be invited to. Every aspect of your travel experience—photos, video, day
planning, blogging, ratings, reviews, and tips on eating, sleeping, or tourist attractions—it’s all part of My
Travel Club’s website:
Maps
An interactive travel map will be the first thing a user on My Travel Club is invited to fill out. It’s a virtual map
on the wall with pins where you’ve been. But even better, the map comes to life with interactive components
allowing you to post photos, videos, and add reviews to each of the places you’ve been. New GPS
technology in most digital cameras allows photos to automatically be attached to the exact spot where they
My Travel Club Business Plan
4
6. My Travel Club Business Plan
were taken. Travel plans can also be added to the map, including flight and hotel information synched
through booking confirmations and daily plans at restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions.
Ratings & Reviews
Users of My Travel Club can rate hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions, stores, and neighborhoods with star
ratings and provide detailed tips and reviews
Top 5/Top 10 Lists
Everyone loves creating lists. My Travel Club allows you to document each trip with Top 5 or Top 10 lists: Top
5 bars in Prague, Top 5 clubs on Miami Beach, Top 10 bites of food in New Orleans.
Blogs
Have more to say about your trip than you can through reviews or Top 10 lists? Start a My Travel Club blog
of your trip and share it with your social network. Maybe it will even be featured on the My Travel Club
homepage.
User-Generated Content
The My Travel Club homepage will feature valuable travel tips, reviews, blog posts, and Top 10 lists
generated by its users and curated by the My Travel Club staff.
On Demand Travel Guides
Using photos, maps, lists, and reviews from people within your travel social network, My Travel Club will print
on-demand travel guides for members who want to have a handy, and trusted, guidebook for their trip.
Social Networking
Once the party has started, through the development of a robust community of travelers sharing photos,
videos, reviews and lists, My Travel Club’s greatest feature—its ability to connect friends and family through
existing social networks—will begin to revolutionize how users plan their travel.
• Friend Notifications: Planning a trip to Berlin? Enter your plans into My Travel Club and you’ll get a
messaging you alerting you which friends have been there. If your friends have posted photos, reviewed
restaurants or hotels, blogged, or created lists, all of that content will be highlighted on your customized
homepage.
• New Friends: Even if you’re not connected to a person through one of your social networks, My Travel
Club can help. Say you’re planning a trip to London and your coworker has a friend who lives in London.
My Travel Club will email your friend and ask if they would like to introduce you to the friend in London.
• Mobile Check-ins/Gaming: If you have a smart phone—and most of us do at this point—download the My
Travel Club app to check-in at hotels, restaurants and other locations around the world. Add reviews, tips,
photos, and video, all of which will automatically be added to your travel map. Best of all, you can compete
within your social network for coveted titles like: most countries visited, biggest foodie, and more.
• Facebook Integration: Update your My Travel Club map, ratings, reviews, lists, and blogs without leaving
Facebook and share your content instantly.
My Travel Club Business Plan
5
7. My Travel Club Business Plan
The Advantage
No previous online product provides travelers with a single place where they can document and share their
travel experiences, get advice on where to go, places to stay, eat, drink, and visit. Tourists spend billions of
dollars every year on travel and are forced to make important decisions based on reviews by strangers. But
as recent research by Nielsen (Figure 1) shows, 90 percent of consumers trust recommendations from
people they know. My Travel Club will deliver travelers those trusted reviews, providing a valuable service to
its users and an opportunity for businesses to advertise to users who are more likely to spend.
(Figure 1) Source: The Nielsen Company
My Travel Club Business Plan
6
8. My Travel Club Business Plan
Definition of Market
My Travel Club aims to become a valuable resource for travelers as they decide where to travel and how to
spend their money during vacations. In the first year, My Travel Club will market to a United States audience
and will expand to a global market in years two and three. According to a United States Department of
Commerce report, 61.5 million Americans traveled overseas in 2009, spending $99.2 billion. Globally, 880
million tourists spent $887 billion in 2009, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization
(Figure 2).
(Figure 2) Source: United Nations World Tourism Organization
Demographics
The target audience for My Travel Club, leisure travelers, is between the ages of 30-60 (average of 43-years-
old) and earns an average of $100,000 per household, according to statistics from the United States
Department of Commerce (PDF) (Figure 3). As the report also finds, 43 percent of U.S. travelers get
information about their travel through their personal computer, 15 percent get information from friends and
relatives, and 5 percent get their information from travel guides.
My Travel Club Business Plan
7
9. My Travel Club Business Plan
(Figure 3) Source: United States Department of Commerce
My Travel club aims to improve the quality of information for the 43 percent who get their travel information
online, make the 15 percent of information received from friends and family available online in the same
platform, and provide a custom travel guide service to those who want information in a printed format. This
strategy has the potential to reach 63 percent of travelers looking for information about their trips with the
potential for further growth as the social network and online trust expand.
Competition
With more travelers finding their information online, in the past decade, travel booking and review sites have
become some of the most popular online. The most popular site, TripAdvisor.com, is the 153rd most popular
site on the Internet among U.S. users, according to the online audience site Quantcast.com. TripAdvisor is
the clear frontrunner in the market with 7.4 million U.S. visitors per month, but there are several other
prominent sites, including trusted names in travel guides that have built an online presence. My Travel
Club’s goal will be to capture 3 percent of the competitor’s 13.7 million monthly U.S. visitors for a
total of 411,000 monthly U.S. visitors.
• TripAdvisor.com: With close to 8 million visitors and nearly 24 million visits per month from U.S. users,
TripAdvisor.com has become the main source of travel information for much of the country. The site
provides reviews on millions of hotels, restaurants, and tourist destinations and has recently integrated with
Facebook. However, the abundance of reviews has led to a great deal of criticism over the quality of
information and trustworthiness of reviews. As one Washington Post travel writer put it, “TripAdvisor...you
have to wonder sometimes about the (a) motivations and (b) IQs of some of the reviewers.”
• Fodors.com: One of three prominent travel guide publishers to jump into the online scene, Fodors.com
receives an estimated 1.3 million monthly U.S. visitors according to Quantcast. Fodors.com is an online
version of their travel guides, providing information about destinations with little focus on user reviews. The
site provides no real opportunity for social media sharing, conversation, or user-generated content.
• Frommers.com: Almost identical to Fodors.com, Frommers.com provides an online version of their
previous print guides. Frommers.com offers little in the way of community or social networking options and
like Fodors.com receives an estimated 1.2 million monthly U.S. visitors, according to Quantcast.
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10. My Travel Club Business Plan
• LonelyPlanet.com: Another travel guide publisher turned online travel site, LonelyPlanet.com has a
greater focus on travel journalism on its website. The site also provides an online platform for its traditional
print guides and a forum for online users to discuss destinations. LonelyPlanet.com receives an estimated
1.1 million monthly U.S. visitors.
• Igougo.com: A travel site that allows users to compare prices of hotels and airfare across multiple
websites (e.g., Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity) and has a community of travelers offering reviews, photos, and
videos. The site also allows users to create a travel journal through a simple interface. Igougo.com has an
estimated 1.1 million U.S. visitors per month, according to Quantcast. Igougo.com’s strange name makes
it hard to remember and its hard-to-navigate website makes it difficult to find some of the best features of
the site.
• Virtualtourist.com: A travel site based on user reviews that allows users to add photos, videos, and fill
out a virtual map of where they’ve been. Virtualtourist.com offers prizes to users to incentivize reviews and
has gaming elements allowing users to earn badges for completing tasks in their travels. Virtualtourist.com
receives an estimated 1.3 million monthly U.S. visitors, according to Quantcast.
• Tripit.com: A relative newcomer, Tripit.com allows users to synch their travel itineraries, including booking
confirmation emails, to the site and build a travel plan. Tripit.com currently receives an estimated 267,000
U.S. visitors per month, according to Quantcast.
Growth of Market
As Figure 2 from the United Nations World Tourism Organization shows, international tourism has nearly
doubled in the last decade. In 1999, just over 600 million tourists traveled internationally, spending $450
billion. In 2009, 880 million tourist traveled, spending $887 billion. While U.S. tourists traveling internationally
fell more than 10 percent in the two years due to the financial crisis, TripAdvisor.com and other travel sites
have continued to gain U.S. followers—growing from just over 1 million monthly U.S. visitors in July 2007 to
7.4 million monthly U.S. visitors in March 2011 (Figure 4).
(Figure 4) Source: Quantcast.com
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11. My Travel Club Business Plan
Competitive Analysis
SWOT Analysis
The online travel review and guide market continues to grow. However, a look at the overall market reveals
that many of the top sites are failing to integrate social media fully, to innovate, and to provide users with a
platform to document and share their travel experiences. A SWOT analysis—looking at My Travel Club’s
strengths and weaknesses and the market’s opportunities and threats reveals that there are jobs to be done
by My Travel Club that are not being done by competitors.
(Figure 5) SWOT Analysis
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12. My Travel Club Business Plan
Jobs to be Done
A platform to document travel
No existing travel site is offering a platform for travelers to document all aspects of their travel experience.
TripAdvisor.com and Virtualtourist.com offer maps where users can mark the countries they have visited or
lived in, but that is as far as their platforms will let you go with your documentation. My Travel Club’s platform
will allow a user to create a map, attach photos and videos, blog about their experiences, write reviews,
create lists and attach all of that to their interactive map. The map can then easily be shared on social
networks for friends and family to see.
Reviews from people you trust
Rather than depend upon the reviews of strangers—which is the only option on other travel sites, My Travel
Club will work with your social networks to identify your friends and family and provide you with travel
reviews, tips, photos, and videos from people you know and trust. As the Nielsen survey in Figure 1
demonstrates, 90 percent of people trust the opinions of friends and family versus 70 percent who trust
information they find online. That extra 20 percent makes a big difference when you’re talking about $887
billion in annual travel spending. For advertisers, it means a 20 percent higher chance that a user will book a
room in your hotel, visit your museum, or eat at your restaurant.
Better advertising opportunities
A recent analysis of hotels participating in TripAdvisor.com’s Business Listings advertising service found that
only 1 percent of traffic to the hotel websites came via TripAdvisor.com. The analysis finds that the business
listings only pay off if your site has great reviews. It’s about trust. My Travel Club will provide users with
nothing but trusted reviews, providing advertisers with only high-quality visits likely to become bookings.
(Figure 6) Source: Hotelmarketer.com
Customized travel guides
Not every country will have Internet availability and some people still love to carry a handy print
travel guide with them. My Travel Club will provide users with the opportunity to create their own
travel guides using the photos, tips, reviews, and lists of their friends and family. We will let you
build the guide and we will print it and ship it to you, a service provided nowhere else. Guides will
sell for $10 for up to 25 pages and will also include a PDF download.
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13. My Travel Club Business Plan
Products & Organization
Staff/Vendor Product Cost
Jon Hussey, The CEO and Founder is responsible for finding the initial funding for $75,000
CEO and Founder My Travel Club and the management of staff members and vendors.
CEO and Founder is also responsible for the mission and vision,
brand identity, and continuing development of My Travel Club.
Vendor: nClud WEBSITE: nClud, a prominent web and design development firm that $40,000
has developed websites for Mashable and The National Journal will Estimated
be responsible for all website design and development.
INTERACTIVE MAPS: Built by nClud using Google Maps API, the
interactive maps will allow users to mark the places they’ve visited
and attach photos, videos, reviews, blogs, and lists to their travel
map.
BLOGS & LISTS: nClud to develop a simple content management
system to allow users to enter quick lists and travel journal blog posts
within seconds.
Vendor: nClud MOBILE APPLICATION: A mobile application will be created by nClud $20,000
to match the look of the My Travel Club website and provide access Estimated
to the travel map, trip planning, reviews and ratings. The mobile
application will utilize the Foursquare API to allow users to check in at
locations, which will automatically be added to your travel map.
Vendor: DigiJeff FACEBOOK APPLICATION: Discovered through a search of “Where $10,000
does a start up find a facebook app developer?” on Quora, Digi Jeff is Estimated
a Facebook developer who has developed complex Facebook
applications for many vendors.The My Travel Club application will
allow users to manage their map, photos, videos, lists, and reviews
directly from Facebook and share them instantly.
Marketing Staff Two marketing staff members will be responsible for building brand $70,000
recognition through viral marketing efforts, social media, and travel Annually
trade shows. They will also be responsible for finding advertisers.
Digital The digital communications manager is responsible for social media $60,000
Communications strategy, outreach, and customer relations. This person will work Annually
Manager closely with the marketing team in early stages to spread brand
awareness through social media. This person will also curate all user-
generated content on the My Travel Club homepage.
Vendor: Dog Ear Dog Ear Publishing will print full-color, paperback travel guides (up to $5 per
Publishing 25 pages) built by My Travel Club users online. unit
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14. My Travel Club Business Plan
Marketing & Sales
Social Media & Viral Marketing
The first step in making My Travel Club a success is building an audience to that will begin uploading photos
and videos, add reviews and lists and become the foundation for a travel social network. Social media and
viral marketing provides a fitting first step in developing that audience.
Facebook
My Travel Club will create a Facebook Fan page and begin to populate the page with the map, photos,
videos, lists and reviews created by the four founding members of My Travel Club. Using Facebook
advertising, My Travel Club will target key demographics with advertising highlighting the first social network
developed specifically for travelers ($1,500 per month). The founding members will use My Travel Club’s
social media sharing capabilities to share all of their content with a combined network of more than 2,000
people. The ease with which new members can share their maps and other content through Facebook will
allow My Travel Club to grow with each new member who shares their content with their social network.
Twitter
My Travel Club will start a Twitter account and begin to use the original member’s content as well as
marketing messages to drive interest and traffic to the site. By using popular hashtags for travel such as
#travel, #TNI, #TravelTuesday, #RTW, and #LP, My Travel Club can reach a growing audience of travelers
looking for information through Twitter.
#JumpingPictures
Once My Travel Club’s online and social media presence has grown, we will launch a viral campaign around
photos of travelers jumping. A throwback to a Toyota commercial where happy owners jumped with joy, a
trend has recently started where travelers take jumping photos wherever they go. My Travel Club will
capitalize on this burgeoning trend by making the jumping picture a part of its brand. My Travel Club will
solicit travel jumping photos from places around the world through Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag
#jumpingpictures. One photo will be selected every month to be featured on the My Travel Club homepage
and the first winner will win an iPad 2.
Traditional Marketing
Google AdWords
For an estimated $108 per day, My Travel Club would purchase ads using the keyword “travel,” which would
be seen by roughly 37.2 million monthly users worldwide and would drive approximately 33,000 visitors to
the My Travel Club website per month, according to Google AdWords traffic estimator. For $400 per month,
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15. My Travel Club Business Plan
My Travel Club would would also purchase ads using the keywords “travel reviews,” which would be seen by
135,000 monthly searchers and likely drive at least 600 new users to the site per month, according to
Google AdWords traffic estimator. That effort, combined with high quality Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
and a consistent presence on social media will drive My Travel Club’s search organic search engine results
higher and expose a growing audience to the new company.
Travel Conventions
My Travel Club will attend and exhibit at an international travel trade show like the International Pow Wow
2011 (PDF) in San Francisco, Calif. to show people in the travel industry and travelers the My Travel Club site
and social media potential first-hand (Cost, $5,000)
Once the site has launched and My Travel Club has generated more than 100,000 visitors per month (a goal
for the first six months) and a large social media following, the team will exhibit at SXSW, the annual digital
convention in Austin, Texas. Using tips from other start-ups found on Quora.com, My Travel Club aims to
make an impact at the conference.
Sales
Web Advertising
The marketing staff will work to identify hotels, restaurants, clubs, bars, tourist attractions and tourism
organizations interested in advertising on the My Travel Club website. Ads would be sold on a CPM (Cost Per
Mille) basis at a competitive rate of $7.50. The site would feature three prominent medium box ads would be
available to advertisers along the right-hand side of the My Travel Club website.
Business Listings
Once My Travel Club has a core audience of 100,000 visitors per month and a database of reviews and
ratings, the marketing and sales staff will begin to reach out to businesses in our most popular destinations
to offer business listings services similar to those offered by TripAdvisor. This service, which will be offered for
$750 per year to businesses (almost $3,000 less than what TripAdvisor.com charges), will allow businesses
to include contact numbers, website information, their own photos, and special offers in their My Travel Club
listings.
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Prospective Financials
Revenue
Display Ads
The My Travel Club website will feature three medium box display ads that would be featured prominently on
the homepage. Selling these ads at a CPM of $7.50 with 411,000 projected monthly U.S. visitors will result in
$110,000 in annual revenue
3 ads x 411,000 monthly visitors x 12 months x $7.50 CMP = $110,000
Projected monthly U.S. visitors are based on My Travel Club’s goal of capturing 3 percent of the total monthly
U.S. visitors from its competitors (13.7 million). These numbers are consistent with similar web travel start-
up, igougo.com in its first year, according to Quantcast.com By year three, My Travel Club will aim to take 7
percent of the competition’s monthly U.S. visitors for a total of 959,000 monthly visitors.
Affiliate Advertising with Living Social Escapes
My Travel Club will feature five Living Social Escapes deals per month for two days each (Monday and
Tuesday—high traffic days) through an affiliate advertising agreement. My Travel Club will take 12 percent of
the revenues, consistent with the average affiliate advertising agreement, according to Quora. With an
estimated conversion rate of 2.2 percent (the global average according to research by fireclick.com), Living
Social Escapes will sell 3,014 of their lower-priced escapes ($250 average), which typically are sold to more
than 5,000 people total. By these estimates, Living Social Escapes will make more than $750,000 a year,
giving My Travel Club an annual profit of more than $90,000. In year three, if My Travel Club raises its monthly
visitors to 7 percent of the online travel market, it will make $210,000 from affiliate advertising by Living Social
Escapes.
Business Listing
My Travel Club will offer a Business Listing advertising program similar to TripAdvisor, but at far more
competitive prices. Offering businesses an opportunity to include contact numbers, website information, their
own photos, and special offers in their My Travel Club listings, the business listings program will aim to attract
1 percent of TripAdvisor’s 12,000 registered hotels and restaurants. Signing up those 120 hotels or
restaurants for $750 each, My Travel Club aims to make $90,000 of revenue in its first year. In year three, My
Travel Club will aim to attract 3 percent of TripAdvisor’s 12,000 registered hotels and restaurants.
On-Demand Travel Guide Printing
My Travel Club will work with vendor Dog Ear Publishing to produce full-color paperback travel guides for its
online users. Users will be able to create their travel guides online using maps, photos, reviews, blog posts,
and lists from everyone within their social network. My Travel Club will sell the personalized travel guides,
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which can be up to 25 pages in length, for $10 per unit. Each travel guide will come with a free PDF
download of the guide. Dog Ear Publishing will print the guides in high-gloss, color, paperback form for $5
per unit. WIth $1.50 per unit for shipping, My Travel Club will make a profit of $3.50 If 1 percent of its annual
visitors to My Travel Club buy print travel guides, My Travel Club will make an annual profit of $172,620.
411,000 monthly visitors x 12 months x .01 (1 percent) x $3.50 = $172,620
YEAR 3: 959,000 monthly visitors x 12 months x .01 (1 percent) x $3.50 = $402,780
Financial Projections
Year 1 Year 3
Revenue
Display Ads $110,000 $258,930
Affiliate Marketing w/ Living Social $90,360 $210,000
Business Listing Program $90,000 $270,000
Travel Guide Printing $172,620 $402,780
REVENUE TOTALS $462,980 $1,141,710
Expenses
Development $80,000 $10,000
Staffing $205,000 $300,000
Marketing $67,800 $150,000
EXPENSE TOTALS $352,800 $460,000
NET EARNINGS $110,180 $681,710
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