A startup focused on travel, which could have been negatively impacted by the COVID pandemic, has instead experienced growth. TravelJoy, a company that offers tools for travel entrepreneurs and operators, now facilitates over $1 billion in annual spend for its clients. The resurgence of interest in travel post-pandemic in the U.S. has contributed to its success. The company is now focusing on leveraging AI to drive its next phase of growth.
Co-founder and CEO Dayo Esho drew inspiration for TravelJoy from his upbringing in the travel industry, where he supported his mother’s travel agency business.
Working alongside co-founder CTO Chris Kline, Esho embarked on the project after the conclusion of their previous startup, Shelf. The duo had previously collaborated at companies like LiveRamp and Rapleaf. Their longstanding partnership has spanned 17 years, creating a strong foundation for TravelJoy.
Image Credits: TravelJoy; founders, Chris Kline and Dayo Esho
From its inception in 2018 during NFX’s accelerator program, TravelJoy has aimed to empower travel entrepreneurs in competing with major travel planning platforms. The software offers a comprehensive dashboard for managing trips, CRM tools, messaging functionality, and support for payments. Recent integrations with Faye and Viator further enhance the platform’s capabilities.
Image Credits: TravelJoy
TravelJoy’s all-in-one solution streamlines workflow for travel entrepreneurs, offering tools for CRM, messaging, payments, proposals, itineraries, and group trip management. Priced at $30 per month (or $25 per month when paid annually), the service also generates revenue through partnerships with Stripe and upcoming booking integrations.
Following a challenging 2020, TravelJoy persisted through the pandemic by supporting its clients through cancellations and rescheduling. The company’s resilience paid off with a $10 million Series A funding round, enabling further expansion and innovation in the travel industry.
The software now serves thousands of travel entrepreneurs and is actively recruiting talent to support its growth trajectory. Plans for AI integration are underway to enhance planning workflows, promising a blend of expert curation and modern technology for a competitive edge in the market.
Esho expresses optimism for the future by focusing on providing exceptional service and support through advanced technology, setting TravelJoy apart in the evolving landscape of travel industry solutions.
