Some travel trends come and go, but it seems one is here to stay: Working from anywhere has opened the world to us beyond merely seeing it on a vacation—but it's also made us even more tied to our tech.
There's always opportunity in crises: Some nimble startups and tech companies flourished with new ideas during the pandemic, while some were already ahead of the game with a innovative concept. From booking platforms to apps to data-driven technology, here are the ones leading the way.
WINNERS
Cooler
I Like Local
KindTraveler
Peek
ViaHero
Innovation through startups is the key driver to promote a more sustainable, social impact and tech tourism sector. Thanks to the tourism innovation ecosystem, more than 35 percent of startups are led by women, millions of added value jobs are created for youth with digital skills, and nonconventional ways of making tourism are booming to interact between destinations and travelers.
Natalia Bayona Director of Innovation, Education and Investments, United Nations World Tourism Organization
FINALISTS
Scott's Cheap Flights — Curating the best flight deals, along with necessary safety protocols during the pandemic
Local Purse — Offers live virtual shopping experiences that support local vendors
RVshare — First and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace
KindTraveler — Enables travelers to donate to communities while booking hotels
Peek — Offers new Peek Virtual experiences for team building to personal relationships from a distance
Fluenz Language Learning — Simulates a live one-on-one language lesson
ViaHero — Connects you with locals who will plan your trip
GeoSure Global — Empowers travelers with a gender-specific, data-rich safety score
Native Land — Maps indigenous territories
I Like Local — Connects travelers with local communities that provide immersive travel experiences
Autocamp — Hosts travelers in custom Airstream travel trailers
GivingWay — Connects volunteers and nonprofits directly
Cooler — Tracks emissions from your businesses' travel to help make all the trips carbon neutral
Gala 360 — Enables you to experience unique travel with virtual reality
OUR PANEL OF ADVISERS SELECTED FINALISTS IN THESE CATEGORIES:
