FoundersWe’ve had lots to be grateful for this summer solstice. Travel has returned. Elsewhere is 2 months in business. Life finally feels like it’s getting back to normal!
The irony of launching a travel company during a pandemic was not lost on us, yet we knew there would be a moment when light would appear at the end of the tunnel. This came to us with the announcement of border reopenings, widespread distribution of vaccines, and the change of seasons. It was the perfect time to launch.
With only 2 months under our belt and little paid marketing, we’ve had a strong start. We’ve been embraced by travelers and industry professionals as the fresh face in an all-too-traditional space. We’ve hit enough bookings to cover our monthly operating costs. We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming home our first groups of travelers.
And although we celebrate each milestone and welcome every trip booking, we’re keeping our eye on the road ahead and are always planning our next step. We knew the changes to the travel industry would not be temporary or short-lived and we are working every day to embrace these new realities. We’re keeping a sustainable roll-out and focused strategy. We’re purposefully staying nimble.
The response has been clear and universal: our clients have yearned for a new perspective. And traveling through the eyes of a local allowed them to see beneath the surface of the destination in a way they never thought possible.
What has been the feedback from our first clients, you may ask? The response has been clear and universal: our clients have yearned for a new perspective. And traveling through the eyes of a local allowed them to see beneath the surface of the destination in a way they never thought possible. They understood the direct-to-local experience would mean a trip built on local insight, with hyper-personalized recommendations and curated experiences. But what impressed them most was the deep connection they had with their local expert and how it transformed their journey into a richer experience as a whole. This beautiful bit of feedback reiterated the value of this human-to-human and truly local service that we provide.
So, on that note, we’ll leave you this gem from Andrea, our local expert in Turin, Italy. The perfect example of how to slow down and enjoy a moment as the locals do.
Happy travels,
The Elsewhere Founders
