Company:ViaHero

From HandWiki
ViaHero
IndustryTourism, Travel, Technology
Founded2015
FounderRachel Hawkes
HeadquartersNew York, New York
Websitehttp://www.viahero.com

ViaHero is a travel planning platform that allows travelers to curate personalized trips[1] with the help of local experts.[2][3][4][5] Founded in 2015 by Greg Buzulencia and Rachel Hawkes, ViaHero is based in New York City.

ViaHero was part of the AlphaLab accelerator in Pittsburgh,and[6][5] had received a funding of $25,000.[4]

Overview

ViaHero, through their website, asks users for their travel preferences and matches them with a local resident of the area which the user is planning to travel.[7][3][8] The local, also called a Hero, creates a custom guidebook[9][10][11] which can be accessed both online and offline through the ViaHero app.[1][7][12][8][6] The user can also contact the Hero[13] who will provide assistance in travel consulting including transport, accommodation, airport transfers, dinner reservations, bookings with tour guides, etc. for a pre-decided fee.[2][13][3][8][11] The Heroes are carefully selected and are given training on a standardized trip planning process.[2] ViaHero works on a basic plan and a premium plan model.[13]

Background

Greg Buzulencia was passionate about helping friends in planning trips and discovering less traveled locations.[2] He was an official “TripTik” planner for AAA at the age of 16.[3] Upon continuous requests, he realized that travelers did not have the time or knowledge to plan personalized vacations.[2] Greg then launched ViaHero in 2016 with Cuba as their first destination,[13] to help create authentic international trips with guidance from local residents.[2][10] Greg, along with Rachel Hawkes built ViaHero to modernize the current travel agent offerings while including end-to-end trip planning.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lyons, Kim. "Pittsburgh startup ViaHero personalizes travel" (in en-US). https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/12234365-74/pittsburgh-startup-viahero-personalizes-your-trip. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 ""ViaHero Is A New Of Traveling", Says Co-Founder Ben Preston" (in en-US). StartUs Magazine. 2018-02-22. https://magazine.startus.cc/viahero-new-way-traveling-co-founder-ben-preston/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Press, Associated. "A new model for travel? Pay a local $25 a day to plan a trip" (in en-US). chicagotribune.com. http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/travel/ct-viahero-trip-planner-20180405-story.html#. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "ViaHero lets locals plan your trips abroad" (in en-US). TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/02/viahero-lets-locals-plan-your-trips-abroad/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2017/05/03/pittsburgh-travel-startup-to-offer-curated.html". https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2017/05/03/pittsburgh-travel-startup-to-offer-curated.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Startup Pitch - ViaHero focuses on planning trips to Iceland and Cuba - tnooz" (in en-US). tnooz. https://www.tnooz.com/article/startup-pitch-viahero/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 https://plus.google.com/+travelandleisure/posts.+"This App Will Hire a Local to Plan Your Entire Trip – for Only $25 a Day" (in en). Travel + Leisure. https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/viahero-local-plan-trip. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "This New Travel App Hires a Local to Plan Your Vacation for $25" (in en-US). Tasting Table. 2018-04-09. https://www.tastingtable.com/travel/national/best-travel-app. 
  9. ↑ "'An invisible tour guide': Pa. startup connects travelers with locals for custom vacations" (in en-US). PennLive.com. https://www.pennlive.com/life/2017/05/viahero_travel_planning_locals.html. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Pay a local to plan your trip? This new service may change travel bookings forever" (in en). https://www.hindustantimes.com/. 2018-04-05. https://www.hindustantimes.com/travel/pay-a-local-to-plan-your-trip-this-new-service-may-change-travel-bookings-forever/story-YZhfA3KQ5YL1jXht7Pfl4O.html. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Service Connects Travelers With Local Experts For Authentic Experiences" (in en-US). PSFK. 2018-05-10. https://www.psfk.com/2018/05/viahero-travelers-local-experts-authentic-experiences.html. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "STARTUP STAGE: ViaHero pairs travelers with local experts who plan their trips | PhocusWire" (in en). https://www.phocuswire.com/Startup-Stage-ViaHero. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 "ViaHero: How to Have a Local Plan Your Personalized Trip" (in en-US). SmarterTravel. 2017-09-06. https://www.smartertravel.com/viahero-personalized-trip/. 




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