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Group travel site launched for planning, booking and organizing
Former Expedia and Microsoft executive creates new site with backing from venture capital firm that made early bets on Internet pioneers such as Amazon.com, Classmates.com , VacationSpot.com and ShareBuilder Inc.
Josh Herst, founder and CEO of TripHub, said he wants to “create the single best place for group travel planning, purchase and coordination to anywhere in the world” during a recent interview with TravelMole.
As anyone who has planned a reunion, wedding, get-away with friends, retreat, or any other group trip or event know “the process takes the joy out of it” said Herst referring to the “organizational challengers involved in keeping track of who’s coming, making group decisions, and coordinating plans.”
“The initial release focuses on small and mid-size groups” Herst told TravelMole. Consumers or travel agents can use TripHub simple but full features to organize or manage their group, and book air, hotel, car, and activities – booking is not mandatory.
While there are other successful group travel sites such as Groople, GroupTravelPlanet.com, etc. “they focus on aggregating hotel group inventory and are not looking at the planning experience, purchase, sharing of itinerary – just the transaction.”, explained Herst.
“We are looking and listening carefully what is the planning experience. It is not similar to an online FIT booking, which is ridged. It’s more of a shop, discuss, debate, shop more, discuss, shop…decide, collaborate…” explained Herst.
Mr. Herst helped launch Expedia in 1996 and during his three years there, he led product planning, demand generation and business development for the travel service. He spent over eight years at Microsoft where he held several management positions including leading the launch of Passport and marketing for MSN’s e-commerce properties. Previously Josh was a member of the Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 product management teams.
Most recently Josh was a Venture Partner with Madrona Venture Group, who is funding TripHub and also currently funding Farecast Inc., whose technology helps predict airline ticket prices. Modrona is also know for their early bets on Internet pioneers such as Amazon.com, Classmates.com , VacationSpot.com and ShareBuilder Inc.
Reported by Charles Kao
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