Sagar Guha’s Post

Following up on my previous post about disruptive travel tech models, I was fortunate to connect with several innovative founders shaping the future of travel in India. In particular, some of the interesting ideas include- 1. AI based travel assistants- AI powered chatbots which learn an individual’s travel style and recommend personalized itineraries, answer traveler queries 24/7, handle bookings and reservations while adjusting plans on the fly based on weather, events, or flight delays. AI-powered location-based services can also suggest nearby attractions, restaurants, or hidden gems based on current location and travel preferences. 2. Operations management- SAAS platforms helping hotels and vacation home owners with front-to-back end operations offering convenient digital journeys like a personalized virtual reception for their guests. These platforms streamline communication management, addressing guest inquiries such as housekeeping requests and checkin/checkout convenience. Additionally, they facilitate upselling of both in-house and third-party ancillary services such as spa treatments, airport pickups, currency exchange, vehicle rentals and local activity bookings. 3. Luggage transportation- Innovative companies offering door-to-door luggage transportation services between home/hotel and the airport with a range of pricing options based on weight, destination, transit time and additional services like express delivery. These companies manage the entire process, handling check-in and retrieval, customs clearance, special packaging and labelling requirements for a hassle-free experience. 4. Social media platforms- Tailored specifically for travellers and influencers allowing them to connect with fellow individuals with similar interests and share their unique experiences while seeking inspiration for their next travel destination. Classic amalgamation of visual appeal of Instagram and storytelling aspect of traditional travel blogs enabling travellers to encapsulate their trip in a digital timeline with the help of photos, videos, descriptions, and geo-tagged locations. 5. B2B distribution- Integrated SAAS platforms helping travel agents with white labelled customizable solutions. These platforms offer a range of features including website builders, API integrations for accessing supply-side inventory, personalized on-the-go itinerary builder for their end customers, streamlined finance and payment management as well as valuable data and insights on customer preferences. The travel industry is undergoing a paradigm shift with new business models emerging fueled by powerful technologies enabling hypergrowth. Indian founders are poised to capitalize on this opportunity building meaningful and impactful businesses. Would love to connect with more founders building in the space. tushar@peercapital.in PeerCapital Ankur Pahwa | Karthik Prabhakar | Rohit M A

Story of TravelTriangle : Travel Triangle, founded in 2011 by Sankalp Agarwal, Sanchit Garg, and Prabhat Gupta 💻 emerged as a disruptor in India's travel industry. The startup's innovative approach aimed to revolutionize how travelers plan and book their trips by connecting them directly with multiple local travel agents. At its core, Travel Triangle's concept was simple yet powerful: provide a platform where travelers could describe their trip preferences, and local travel agents would compete to offer personalized itineraries and quotes. This approach offered travelers a diverse range of options and competitive pricing while empowering local agents to reach a broader audience. Early on, Travel Triangle focused on building a robust technological infrastructure to support this model. They developed algorithms to match travelers with suitable agents, streamlined the booking process, and facilitated seamless communication between parties. This tech-driven approach not only enhanced user experience but also increased efficiency for agents, leading to a win-win situation for all stakeholders. As Travel Triangle gained traction, it attracted attention from investors eager to support its growth. Funding rounds from prominent investors like Sequoia Capital, SAIF Partners, and Bessemer Venture Partners injected capital into the startup, enabling it to scale operations, expand its team, and invest further in technology and marketing. The startup's growth trajectory was impressive. It quickly became one of the leading players in India's online travel space, capitalizing on the trend of travelers seeking personalized experiences rather than off-the-shelf packages. Travel Triangle's platform offered not just convenience but also a level of customization and flexibility that resonated with modern travelers. Building on its domestic success, Travel Triangle ventured into international markets, catering to travelers from around the world. Strategic partnerships with hotels, airlines, and other service providers bolstered its offerings, ensuring a comprehensive and competitive travel ecosystem. Travel Triangle's success story is a testament to its ability to tap into evolving consumer preferences, leverage technology for efficiency and innovation, and forge strategic alliances to create value in the travel industry. For more such stories follow Tarundeep Singh💡and don't forget to hit 👍 and comment to make the LinkedIn Baba happy :) Atendra Singh Tanishk Rohit Manish Akshay Nitin Soumya Nikita

This comprehensive guide discusses strategies for startup success, focusing on the travel industry and partnerships formed by Expedia Group to stimulate growth and innovation. The article elaborates on the necessity for startups to understand the unique challenges of the startup ecosystem, embrace innovation, forge strong partnerships, implement growth hacking strategies, and cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship for consistent learning and growth. One of the focal points is Expedia Group's expansion in the Asia Pacific region, where it has formed strategic partnerships with several tourism boards and agencies to promote sustainable tourism and highlight the cultural and natural attractions in Australia. These partnerships aim to provide travelers with unforgettable experiences, leveraging Expedia Group's extensive network and resources to unlock growth opportunities. The article also highlights partnerships designed to enhance the luxury travel experience. For instance, Expedia Group's collaboration with Ikyu, a Japanese booking service, enables access to over 20,000 luxury properties worldwide, showcasing the commitment to providing luxury travelers with unparalleled experiences. Similarly, the partnership with Top Town Travel aims to enrich travel experiences in China through Expedia Group's hotel supply, offering diverse accommodations to meet travelers' needs. Moreover, the collaboration between Expedia Group and Alaska Airlines through the Alaska Vacations platform integrates flights, car rentals, and accommodations into customizable packages, rewarding travelers with mileage points. This partnership exemplifies the mutual benefits of strategic collaborations, enhancing the travel booking experience and offering mileage rewards. Expedia Group's role as the Official Travel Partner for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival showcases its commitment to enhancing travel experiences, providing a platform for festival-goers to plan their trip seamlessly while also promoting local businesses. The article underscores the benefits of collaborations with entities like Stockotels in Brazil, improving professional travel services through access to a global network of accommodations. Furthermore, the partnership with UNAV helps Brazilian travel agents access Expedia Group's comprehensive travel offerings, streamlining the booking process and offering diverse travel options globally. In summary, Expedia Group's strategic partnerships across various segments of the travel industry exemplify its approach to business development, innovation, and customer satisfaction. These partnerships cater to a wide range of travel needs, from luxury accommodations and sustainable tourism to professional travel services, demonstrating the power of collaboration in achieving startup success and enhancing travel experiences worldwide.

What do German travellers prefer in 2025? According to SiteMinder's new “Changing Traveller Report", 2025 will mark the rise of the "Everything Traveller" – a versatile, tech-savvy, and budget-conscious traveller. This profile is also common among German travellers, as the study, which features insights from 12,000 travellers worldwide, including 870 from Germany, reveals. Our Ronnie Kohler dived into the key findings:   💵 64% of German travellers plan to stick to last year’s budget, with only 26% willing to increase spending on accommodation. 🛏️ Standard rooms remain the top choice for Germans (53%), presenting a challenge for hotels to provide both affordable and high-quality options. 🤖 63% of German travellers are open to using AI for trip planning, booking, or during their stay, below the global average of 78%, driven mainly by Asia and Mexico (up to 98%). 🖥️ 62% of German Gen Z travellers abandon online bookings due to poor usability. 🔍 38% of German travellers start their travel research with a search engine, up 11% from last year. For booking, 37% prefer booking platforms. 🏨 24% choose holiday rentals, 19% opt for budget hotels or guesthouses, 16% select hotel chains or resorts, and 10% favour boutique or luxury hotels.   📊 What does this mean? Accomodation providers and other tourism businesses, like tour operators, must offer flexible, cost-effective, and digital-friendly options with seamless booking experiences to attract German guests. While not all German travellers have fully embraced AI, most are open to its use. With AI tools advancing rapidly, we’ll soon see how search and booking behaviours evolve. Could tools like ChatGPT replace Google as the primary travel research tool? 🤔 What do you think? Are these results surprising? How do you see these travel trends evolving in the coming years? Photo: View from Ronnie's rented holiday home in Spain in October. Anke Jobs Belinda S.

One of the most fascinating recent observations has been that though the 30-thousand-feet-view of the Indian travel industry looks like a massive red ocean, there's one theme that's promising pockets of high-energy, glistening blue streams amidst the red waters - Premiumisation. We read a lot about 'Premiumisation' taking prominence in several consumer product categories in India but one service sector where it's taking the most exciting shape is Travel & Tourism. While India's travel market is huge with a TAM of ~$30B, certain factors make the mass travel opportunity a little less lucrative for market entrants - 65-70% online penetration leaving less room for tech-led disruption, low CAGR for the past 4-5 years, highly fragmented & complex supply of buses, hotels & local tour agents, and a cluttered OTA space with several large-scale and resource-rich platforms such as MakeMyTrip (including Goibibo, redBus), Cleartrip, Booking.com, ixigo, Agoda, Yatra Online Ltd., EaseMyTrip.com, et al jostling for market share. Here is where the premium travel trend is cutting through the challenges and opening up appealing avenues for investors and operators to still create new winners and reap outsized returns from their ventures. Through personal experiences and reading a few recent market analyses, the below trends and the players capturing them seem most interesting to me: 🔵 Quite naturally, India's top 5% (~70M Indians with the highest purchasing power) who drive 40-50% of India's consumption are providing the biggest fillip to premium travel with their rapidly rising number of international trips and weekend getaways. Luxury and boutique villa chains including SaffronStays, StayVista, EKOSTAY, etc have riden the weekend getaway trend well 🔵 They also now expect platforms to help them with certain core as well as peripheral travel services such as at-home visa assistance, one-click forex cards, concierge services, high-fashion travel accessories such as bags and luggage (guilty of including one product category 😄), rewarding air loyalty programs, etc. Brands such as Mokobara, Atlys, Teleport, Niyo Solutions Inc., Scapia, etc are among the ones to watch out for servicing this space 🔵 India's premium travelers are seeking such unique platforms that provide them control over curation/planning but take the hassle of executing these complex plans off their tables. Hence, control, curation and convenience is the holy grail that will let the growth plans of travel platforms take flight in India 🔵 Indians increasingly consider the journey an integral part of their overall experience rather than perceiving it as simply a functional/utility benefit that enables one's movement from point A to point B. They expect consistent, high-quality and white-glove service even while sitting in a bus, train or airplane/airport. Flix and DreamFolks are salient players in this space Keen to know others' recent observations on India's travel market :)

One of the most fascinating recent observations has been that though the 30-thousand-feet-view of the Indian travel industry looks like a massive red ocean, there's one theme that's promising pockets of high-energy, glistening blue streams amidst the red waters - Premiumisation. We read a lot about 'Premiumisation' taking prominence in several consumer product categories in India but one service sector where it's taking the most exciting shape is Travel & Tourism. While India's travel market is huge with a TAM of ~$30B, certain factors make the mass travel opportunity a little less lucrative for market entrants - 65-70% online penetration leaving less room for tech-led disruption, low CAGR for the past 4-5 years, highly fragmented & complex supply of buses, hotels & local tour agents, and a cluttered OTA space with several large-scale and resource-rich platforms such as MakeMyTrip (including Goibibo, redBus), Cleartrip, Booking.com, ixigo, Agoda, Yatra Online Ltd., EaseMyTrip.com, et al jostling for market share. Here is where the premium travel trend is cutting through the challenges and opening up appealing avenues for investors and operators to still create new winners and reap outsized returns from their ventures. Through personal experiences and reading a few recent market analyses, the below trends and the players capturing them seem most interesting to me: 🔵 Quite naturally, India's top 5% (~70M Indians with the highest purchasing power) who drive 40-50% of India's consumption are providing the biggest fillip to premium travel with their rapidly rising number of international trips and weekend getaways. Luxury and boutique villa chains including SaffronStays, StayVista, EKOSTAY, etc have riden the weekend getaway trend well 🔵 They also now expect platforms to help them with certain core as well as peripheral travel services such as at-home visa assistance, one-click forex cards, concierge services, high-fashion travel accessories such as bags and luggage (guilty of including one product category 😄), rewarding air loyalty programs, etc. Brands such as Mokobara, Atlys, Teleport, Niyo Solutions Inc., Scapia, etc are among the ones to watch out for servicing this space 🔵 India's premium travelers are seeking such unique platforms that provide them control over curation/planning but take the hassle of executing these complex plans off their tables. Hence, control, curation and convenience is the holy grail that will let the growth plans of travel platforms take flight in India 🔵 Indians increasingly consider the journey an integral part of their overall experience rather than perceiving it as simply a functional/utility benefit that enables one's movement from point A to point B. They expect consistent, high-quality and white-glove service even while sitting in a bus, train or airplane/airport. Flix and DreamFolks are salient players in this space

In Bangladesh's vibrant travel industry, a groundbreaking newcomer is making its mark: AV Travel, the innovative startup poised to revolutionize how travel services are accessed and enjoyed. Combining state-of-the-art technology with a profound understanding of the local market, AV Travel is committed to democratizing travel services, ensuring they are accessible, efficient, and inclusive for all Bangladeshis. With Bangladesh's rapidly expanding economy and a population increasingly adept in technology, the conditions are ripe for Fintech innovation. AV Travel recognizes this potential and endeavors to bridge the gap between conventional travel services and the evolving needs of consumers in the digital era. At the heart of AV Travel's mission lies a dedication to harnessing technology to simplify travel transactions and empower both individuals and businesses. Whether it's booking flights, accommodations, or managing travel expenses, AV Travel's range of services is designed to streamline processes and offer convenience at every stage. A standout feature of AV Travel is its cutting-edge mobile app, serving as a comprehensive solution for all travel-related needs. Through this app, users can efficiently plan trips, book tickets, manage reservations, and access personalized travel recommendations. With its user-friendly interface and robust security measures, the AV Travel app is reshaping how Bangladeshis engage with travel arrangements. Beyond catering to consumers, AV Travel is also making significant strides in the corporate sector by providing tailored solutions for businesses of all sizes. From expense management to corporate travel planning, AV Travel's Fintech solutions are enabling enterprises to optimize their operations and enhance efficiency in a competitive market environment. However, AV Travel's impact extends far beyond financial gains. By advocating for financial literacy and inclusion, AV Travel is empowering individuals and communities to pursue a more prosperous future. Through strategic partnerships with local organizations, AV Travel is working to expand access to travel services, particularly among underserved populations, thereby fostering economic development and social progress throughout Bangladesh. As AV Travel continues to grow and innovate, it remains steadfast in its commitment to driving positive change in Bangladesh's travel industry. By leveraging technology and fostering collaboration across sectors, AV Travel is paving the way for a more inclusive and resilient travel ecosystem for all Bangladeshis. In an era of rapid digital transformation, AV Travel stands as a beacon of innovation and progress, reshaping perceptions of travel and empowering individuals to realize their travel aspirations. As Bangladesh embraces the digital age, AV Travel is at the forefront, leading the way towards a brighter and more prosperous future for all.

The Growing Impact of OTAs in 2024 📈 Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) are continuing to shape the global travel industry in 2024, leveraging technological advancements and consumer behavior shifts to stay ahead. The OTA market is projected to reach over $1.2 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 12.27% from 2023 onwards. This growth is driven by factors like increasing internet penetration, rising demand for personalized travel experiences, and the widespread use of mobile devices for booking Key Trends in 2024: 1. Mobile Dominance: Over 66% of millennials now use their smartphones to book trips, making mobile optimization a top priority for OTAs. Seamless, user-friendly mobile experiences are a key differentiator. 2. Personalization through AI: OTAs are harnessing the power of AI and machine learning to deliver tailored travel recommendations, which enhance customer satisfaction and drive repeat business. Personalization is no longer optional—it’s expected by today’s tech-savvy travelers. 3. Domestic Travel Boost: Domestic travel continues to dominate the market, accounting for 71% of OTA bookings in 2023. This trend is expected to grow as more travelers opt for local destinations, encouraged by flexible cancellation policies and the promotion of sustainable travel 4. Sustainability and Responsible Tourism: With the growing emphasis on sustainability, OTAs are focusing on promoting eco-friendly travel options and supporting local communities. This shift aligns with consumer preferences for responsible travel, further boosting OTA relevance The Business Case for OTAs in 2024: OTAs offer businesses a scalable and efficient way to connect with millions of potential customers, streamlining the booking process while providing valuable insights into consumer preferences. Their ability to provide a personalized, tech-driven experience keeps them competitive in a fast-evolving market. As OTAs continue to innovate, businesses looking to expand their reach and provide seamless travel solutions can greatly benefit from integrating OTA platforms. We offer full-service solutions for companies, covering everything from branded platform development to personalized software services, helping businesses tap into the massive growth potential of the OTA sector. Stay tuned for more insights on the growing influence of OTAs and how they can transform your business.

9 out 10 of the travel business owners I met during the Iloilo MICE Conference had this problem - OUTDATED BOOKING METHOD. Don’t let manual processes slow you down. Running a small accommodation business is challenging enough without outdated booking methods adding to the chaos. Let me show you how tools like TALA (Tourism AI for Local Adventures) can streamline your booking process with a realistic—but painfully relatable—scenario. Meet Anna. She manages a small beachfront resort in the Philippines. Bookings come in through email, phone, and social media, all tracked manually in Google Sheets. Here’s the problem: → A guest, Mark, emails to book a family stay for next month. Anna jots it down in her spreadsheet. → Two days later, another guest, Sofia, calls to reserve the same dates. Anna, distracted by other tasks, confirms Sofia’s booking. → When Mark arrives at the resort, there’s no room available. Mark leaves frustrated, and Sofia isn’t happy about the confusion either. Anna spends hours apologizing, refunding, and trying to fix the damage to her resort’s reputation. How TALA Solves This: With TALA (Tourism AI for Local Adventures), Anna replaces her manual process with an AI-powered booking agent that: 👉 Answers availability inquiries in real time, ensuring no overlaps. 👉 Confirms reservations instantly, syncing all bookings into one centralized system. 👉 Integrates with existing workflows (even Google Sheets!) to prevent double bookings and delays. When Mark sends his inquiry, TALA immediately blocks his dates, preventing Sofia from booking them. Both guests receive quick confirmations, leaving no room for error—or frustration. The Impact: ✅ Guests get instant, reliable responses. ✅ Anna’s team spends less time managing bookings and more time on guest satisfaction. ✅ The resort’s reputation for professionalism and efficiency grows, bringing in more referrals and repeat guests. Manual processes may feel manageable for now, but as your bookings grow, so will the mistakes. Tools like TALA make scaling simple, efficient, and stress-free—for you and your guests. Curious how TALA can help your tourism business? DM me for a FREE AI audit. Let’s make your bookings as smooth as your beachfront views.

ANALYSIS OF TRAVEL AGENCIES Q3 RESULTS DECEMBER 2023 3 EASY TRIP PLANNERS LTD PART 3 Offers “End to End” travel solutions which include air tickets, hotels and holiday packages, rail tickets & bus tickets as well as ancillary value-added services No external equity infusion since inception. Managed growth through internal accruals & sustained profitability EBITDA for Q2FY24 stood at INR 676.5 million Business requires minimal capex for growth. The online share of the Travel sector has grown from 46% in 2018 to approximately 52% in 2020. This is expected to further grow and reach 56% by 2024. Indian Travel & OTA Market: Headroom to grow further The travel industry is expected, to be broadly driven by the development of tourism infrastructure, increase in connectivity across means of transport, rising income levels, etc Ticketing across segments has changed thanks to higher internet penetration, greater affordability of smartphones, user-friendliness of online platforms, etc Going forward, online air ticketing is expected to grow further as more travelers (retail as well as corporate) migrate from offline to online platforms In the hotel industry, customers from tier-II and tier-III cities are expected to also start booking rooms online on account of the convenience offered online services Strong tailwinds for Indian Aviation Industry Increasing air travel penetration, pent-up demand, and improved per-capita income post-pandemic revival. Furthermore, the UDAN scheme is connecting unserved and underserved airports Increasing no. of operational airports across India Increasing international operations by Indian LCCs1 and under-penetration of international trips per capita for India compared to other developing countries • Furthermore, increasing FTAs1 due to tourism, VFR1, and business opportunities in India, by 2032, air passenger numbers are expected to grow at ~2.2x Indian Hospitality Industry FTAs are expected to reach 30.5 mn tourists by 2028E, from 6.2 in mn tourists in 2022P. The increasing number of FTAs also increases the foreign exchange earnings in the country. FEE in 2022 doubled to US$ 16.93 bn from US$ 8.8 bn in 2021 • Indian Hotel companies are witnessing a strong recovery in demand, to cater to which 166 new hotels with 14,885 rooms were signed in 2022, while 90 hotels with 5,702 rooms were rebranded The Govt. is promoting the inflow of Foreign Direct Investments in the tourism and hospitality industries, which is visible from the FDI equity inflow of US$ 16.6 bn during April 200 – Sep 2022, which is 3% of the total FDI investments • India is hosting Key global events in 2023 – the G20 Summit and the ICC Men’s World Cup, which will increase the inflow of tourists in India and hence, increase the demand for hotels. UAE Tourism Industry Revenue in Travel & Tourism) is expected to grow at 5% CAGR from US$ 1,285 mn(FY23E) to US$ 1,569 mn.