Stride Travel Launches as the Largest Search & Reviews Site for Multi-Day Guided Tours & Adventure Travel Packages

23 February 2016
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Tour Operators Acquire Customers and Enhance Their Brand With New Low-Cost Distribution Channel

Stride Travel recently announced the public launch of its online marketplace for multi-day tours and organized travel packages. Users can search and read reviews for all multi-day adventure trips plus browse and compare thousands of trips worldwide from hundreds of operators. It is currently the most comprehensive search engine for all types of ‘pre-planned’ active vacations, offering the most extensive selection of tour operators and small ship cruise lines for every budget on every continent.  Homepage

Stride has commercial agreements with many adventure travel companies - from the largest global brands like Intrepid Travel and Explore Worldwide to smaller, specialized operators like Rothschild Safaris and Exodus Travels.

Stride is an investor-backed startup headquartered in San Francisco.The company recently closed a Seed round, led by TDG Ventures and including travel industry veterans Adam Goldstein, Co-founder/CEO of Hipmunk, John Owen, Co-founder of JetBlue Airways, Baris Gultekin, Co-founder of Google Now, and others.

“Today’s consumers expect to be able to read reviews and easily compare options on any major purchase. Adventurous, international vacations are no exception,” said Gavin Delany, Stride’s Co-founder & CEO. “Yet today, the major travel review websites, such as TripAdvisor do not have a category for reviews on multi-day tours and operators.

There are many frustrated travelers and tour operators who want a third party to provide this service and Stride is filling this void. Stride is uniquely positioned as a third party to provide credible reviews and ratings that validate suppliers’ strengths and differentiation.”Trip Search Results

Focusing on the rapidly expanding adventure travel market, Stride provides leisure travelers with a time-saving resource for choosing their perfect trip. Travelers can search and compare thousands of tour options from over 400 global travel companies. Users also love reading credible reviews from a community of travelers and experts, comparing itineraries, and booking directly with a preferred travel supplier. Stride recognizes that travelers want reviews from a third party, however, also realizes that consumers often get both better service and prices when they book directly with the supplier.

Tour operators view Stride as a unique marketing distribution channel. Unlike online travel agencies and packagers, Stride’s platform highlights travel brands rather than hiding them. Delany adds “Stride’s open business model aligns our interests with those of operators and travelers by transparently matching travelers with their perfect tour company.” Sarah Fazendin, Director of Business Development at leading safari outfitter

Rothschild Safaris says, “We decided to work with Stride because their business model has no up-front costs and provides significant upside in driving new customers. We’re excited to be an early partner.”

Jared Alster, Stride’s Co-Founder & VP of Marketing says, “I experienced first hand the challenges of building a tour operator brand in today’s fragmented digital world. Our platform provides value to both large and small operators by helping them to efficiently acquire new customers, while enhancing their overall brand awareness and perception.

Stride is excited to partner with the adventure community to not only grow their bookings, but to raise awareness of the entire category.”

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