8 Travel Booking App Success Stories [2024]
The travel industry is a booming business, and it’s only getting bigger. Online booking apps have made it easier for people to book their travel arrangements, and they are becoming more popular each year.
If you want to start a travel booking app, you should have a strong understanding of the travel industry and be experienced in programming too.
The recent trends that are making this business more popular are the growth of the travel industry and the rise of mobile technology. Businesses are looking for ways to offer their customers a convenient way to book travel arrangements.
Starting a travel booking app can be interesting and profitable. It offers a unique opportunity to develop an app that can be used by businesses to reach their customers. This is a great opportunity for those who want to get involved in the travel booking industry and learn more about how it works.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a travel booking app:
1. SkyAlliance ($33.6K/year)
Andrew Norton, an airport security officer at Heathrow Airport, came up with the idea for SkyAlliance while witnessing passengers who had missed their flights and faced exorbitant fees to rebook. Recognizing the need for a solution, Norton built a travel search engine to help people find affordable flights and hotels. Despite facing setbacks and financial constraints, Norton persevered and launched the successful business, generating over £2,300 in monthly income.
How much they make: $33.6K/year
Current team size: 1
An airport security officer built a successful travel search engine, SkyAlliance, generating an average income of £2,300/month and last month welcomed over 3,500 unique web visitors, all from starting with no knowledge of web design, coding, or software development.
2. Tiny Away ($3.54M/year)
included well-known travel bloggers and the local media. This press launch generated significant buzz and media coverage, resulting in a surge of bookings and inquiries. We also strategically partnered with various eco-tourism organizations and promoted our offerings through social media campaigns, resulting in a steady increase in awareness and bookings. Through effective marketing strategies and a unique and appealing offering, we were able to successfully launch Tiny Away and establish ourselves as a leading player in the tiny house hospitality industry in Australia.
How much they make: $3.54M/year
How much did it cost to start: $300K
Current team size: 40
Tiny Away, a network of eco-friendly 'tiny houses' across Australia, has grown to over 75 private locations and brings in an average of $156,000 in monthly rental revenue, appealing to city dwellers seeking unique and comfortable accommodation experiences.
So... can you actually make money with a travel booking app?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Flight Expert Bangladesh ($18M/year)
Salman Rashid, Founder & CEO of Flight Expert, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the potential of online travel agencies in Bangladesh. Seeing the decline in revenue in his family's offline-based travel agency, Salman suggested starting an OTA to his father. Despite initial skepticism, Salman recognized the need for better technology, service culture, and the value of brand trust in the industry, leading to the launch of Flight Expert in 2017.
How much they make: $18M/year
How much did it cost to start: $80K
Current team size: 60
How a first-time founder grew the first-ever online travel agency in Bangladesh to 700+ airlines and one million-plus hotels worldwide, with a 50% increase in revenue in October 2021 compared to pre-Covid sales and aiming to hit break-even by March 2022.
4. RatePunk ($600K/year)
Justinas Albertynas, one of the founders of RatePunk, came up with the idea for the travel-tech startup after realizing the frustration of comparing hotel prices on different booking websites. After experiencing the inconsistency in prices, Justinas saw an opportunity to create a browser extension that would compare prices in real-time, saving users time and money. The product has gained traction quickly, with over 3000 users in just a few weeks and reaching the top of the Apple Store charts in multiple countries.
How much they make: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 20
Travel-tech startup RatePunk created a browser extension that compares hotel prices across different booking websites for free and achieved over 3,000 installs within a few weeks of launch, while learning valuable marketing lessons from social media platforms, micro-influencers, and online communities.
So... can you actually make money with a travel booking app?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Baboo Travel ($600K/year)
Paul Sarfati, the Founder and CEO of Baboo Travel, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing the decline of his previous travel company, Bamba Travel, due to the pandemic. Wanting to create a platform that offers customized trips and connects travelers directly with local experts, Sarfati drew inspiration from companies like Evaneos. With his extensive knowledge of the travel industry and a focus on creating a better business model, Sarfati aims to revolutionize the travel industry and provide customers with personalized experiences at better prices.
How much they make: $600K/year
How much did it cost to start: $515K
Current team size: 5
Baboo Travel's CEO Paul Sarfati successfully launched an easy-to-use travel platform that connects customers with local in-destination travel experts, reaching $180,000 in sales in the first four months of launching through targeted marketing strategies, incorporating growth hacking techniques, and prioritizing content marketing and search engine optimization for long-term success.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
