ToursByLocals Puts Locals First in Company Rebrand That “Keeps Travel Human” While Investing Heavily in Growth
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 9, 2024 – After 15 years in business, Canadian tour marketplace ToursByLocals is poised for accelerated growth while pledging to “Keep Travel Human.” Today the company announced a new site launch and major brand refresh that spotlights the local guides who are at the heart of what they do. In a world that’s racing towards impersonal automation, ToursByLocals is doubling down on marketplace technology that supports their private, and above all, personalized travel experiences provided by local tour guides in over 170 countries around the world; ultimately leveraging technology as a springboard to keep travel human.
WIth an ever increasing number of vacationers keen to personalize their travel experiences, ToursByLocals has re-imagined its entire website and interface, and is focused on being the go-to private tour marketplace, for anywhere in the world people travel.
The company is bringing in industry veterans to lead product and tech development enabling the company to rapidly scale the business. These new hires include Lee Huberman, VP of Product, Doug Schlenker, VP of Engineering and Einat Ifrah, Head of Finance.
“With our investment in new website technologies, a modern re-brand, the injection of investor capital and our robust roster of new hires, we’re poised to accelerate our exceptional growth in the tours and activities sector” says Lisa Chen, ToursByLocals’ CEO and President. “We’re laser focused on a frictionless customer experience as well as the quality and breadth of our product.”
Tritium Partners, who invested $33 million in the company in December 2019, have provided additional series B funding to accelerate the company’s impressive rebound after the pandemic.
“ToursByLocals is dominating the private tour space, and we’re excited to see continued growth of this phenomenal marketplace, as they leverage technology to deliver more personalized travel,” says Brett Schobe, Managing Partner at Tritium Partners. “We know travellers are hungrier than ever before for authentic experiences, and ToursByLocals is primed to capitalize on that demand.”
The demand for these personalized experiences is indeed high: ToursByLocals has sent 2.5 million travellers on private tours since its inception. Evidence of a human touch is everywhere on the new site, from an easy-to-reach customer support team, to a streamlined messaging platform making it easier to facilitate the relationship between travellers and guides as they customize tours. With simplified searches, travellers can quickly find the tour product they’re looking for, whether it’s safaris, shore excursions, private guides or even virtual tours.
“ToursByLocals is a beloved brand, with an incredible Net Promoter Score of 88,” says Chen. “We didn’t want to change anything about what our customers love about the business, like our always-on customer support, or our phenomenal private tour experiences. But we knew it was time for an updated platform with a fresh look and feel that reflects our commitment to the once-in-a-lifetime experiences and memorable moments that we help to create around the world every day.”
About ToursByLocals
ToursByLocals connects travellers to the world in more meaningful ways through local experiences in over 175 countries. ToursByLocals’ private tours are consistently awarded 5-star ratings by the over 3.5 million travellers who have chosen them since 2008.
The guides on the ToursByLocals platform offer city tours, shore excursions, art and history-focused tours, culinary tours and outdoor adventures on six continents. Every tour is private and itineraries are flexible and customisable to every traveller's needs. With over 5000 experienced guides in large and small cities, ports of call and remote destinations, travellers can always find a local expert to meet their needs, whether they are travelling to Amsterdam, Zanzibar or anywhere in between.
