New TRVL service offers discounts, commissions

As part of a global roll-out, peer-to-peer travel-booking platform TRVL has launched in Asia, starting with Hong Kong.

After receiving US$3.5 million in funding, the startup will offer travellers access to travel-industry rates and exclusive deals. It also pays a commission of up to 15 per cent to users on every booking, and provides peer-to-peer travel advice.

Founder Jochem Wijnands sold his previous company Prss to Apple for an undisclosed amount. The mobile publishing platform became Apple News.

“We’re living in the DIY age of travel bookings, and TRVL rewards you for acting like your own travel agent,” says Wijnands, who claims TRVL gives access to industry discounts of up to 65 per cent.

During the booking process, users can draw on the destination experience of other travellers. Research by TRVL has found that more than 90 per cent of respondents value personal recommendations highly or very highly.

Entrepreneurial travellers can earn a travel-agent commission on every booking they make, and has been described by Kayak founder Paul English as “TripAdvisor with an earning model”.

One of TRVL’s industry partnerships is accommodation site Booking.com. “TRVL’s peer-based concept is interesting, and we’re happy to offer more than 1.4 million unique places to stay via their platform,” says Booking.com director of partnerships Bryan Batista.

TRVL COO Arthur Hoffman says the choice was easy when deciding where in Asia to launch first. 

“Hong Kong residents are passionate travellers,” he says, citing Euromonitor figures from September that show Hong Kong travellers have made 40 million trips this year, up 6 per cent from last year, while online sales to residents grew by 22 per cent.

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