Top Travel startups to watch in 2023

Shackle is used by hotels to provide and maintain hassle free hospitality services in a digital way to guests and travellers. The platform can be used to support everything from check-in (turning the physical desk check into a few clicks of the screen) to opening the room door and even ordering room service.

We love Shackle’s unique approach to customer relations as it ensures a seamless experience for travellers again and again. Shackles clever technology plugs directly into a hotel’s existing backend systems, bringing them all together in its guest-facing app. Over time the app builds guest profiles meaning users can enjoy a customer experience tailored exactly to them.

Airalo is the world’s first-ever eSIM store. It allows travellers to access over 200+ eSIMs, offering users connectivity and freedom so they never have to carry multiple SIM cards or change their number again.

We all know how unreliable hotel wifi can be which is why we love Airalo. It's interesting proposition allows individuals to remain contactable throughout their travels, removing the pain points associated with keeping in touch overseas. Plus it is a much more affordable option than buying an international roaming plan or a decent local SIM.

Elude is a budget-first search engine that shows people how far their money will take them. The platform analyses a users budget and availability then generates a list of cities around the world they can travel to. The app aims to enable spontaneous travellers to find the perfect break - fast.

When we plan a holiday we often begin with a desired location. We love Elude’s ambition to turn this concept on its head by encouraging travellers to search for a holiday based on their budget. Afterall, affordability is the number one reason people choose not to travel abroad. We also love the platform’s ability to help users discover something new while reducing the time spent scrolling for a good deal.

Origin is a tech-first travel company that helps users to plan private, luxury trips. The unique platform focuses on creating trips that suit a users' tastes while also encouraging them to explore new countries and enjoy new experiences.

We’re excited about Origin because they go above and beyond to ensure travellers enjoy incredible trips every time. For example, all of the travel curators have diverse international backgrounds and unmatched local expertise, meaning every destination is personally vetted and explored (what a job!). We also love that everything is taken care of so travellers can properly relax, unwind and live in the moment.

Sēkr is making outdoor travel easier, safer and more connected. The app has the largest database of campsites and makes it easy for travellers to plan the best last-minute adventures.

Since the covid-19 pandemic there has been a notable increase in the number of active and prospective campers according to Statista. We love Sēkr because it makes booking a camping holiday easier than ever by ensuring travellers find safe and social destinations. It’s also exciting to see the camping industry adopt a technology-first approach as it is one of the only hospitality verticals yet to do so. Plus 40% of the Passionfruit team is female so we’re delighted to be championing a female-founded business.

Point.me is an online search tool that makes it easy to discover real-time reward flight options. The platform searches routes on more than 150 airlines to uncover reward travel options that would otherwise be difficult to find. It also provides information on how to maximise airline miles and points.

With so many different types of airline miles and points out there, it can be difficult for travellers to keep track of their rewards. As a result, they often end up losing out on benefits. We love Point.me because it scours the internet for travellers, to help them find the absolute best deals and get the most from each and every point.