Travelling is one of the best ways to experience what the world has to offer. However, visiting a new place can be easier said than done. Tickets for some of the world’s most popular attractions tend to be sold out in advance, and long lines may discourage travellers from experiencing a new event at all. Tourist attractions that don’t show up on popular websites or top ten lists are often ignored. Scammers, both online and off, take advantage of unsuspecting tourists and sell overpriced or fraudulent tickets.
The founders of Tiqets, a travel startup based out of Amsterdam, want to take the frustration out of travelling and make culture more accessible. Through the platform, users can find and book tickets—including many “skip the line” and “fast track” offers—to the world’s most renowned destinations and hidden gems in over 60 countries. All that’s needed is a smartphone.
“Our unique technology is a direct response to consumer demand for last-minute tickets to museums or attractions both at home and abroad,” Tiqets CEO Luuc Elzinga said in a 2017 statement. “Our customers love the convenience of instant delivery without needing to print anything.”
The startup also partners with about 2,500 travel agencies and portals, including Google’s Reserve platform.
Tiqets has raised $60 million in Series C funding in a round led by AirBnb with participation by HPE Growth and Investion, bringing the company’s total funding amount to $100 million.
Although this is just a financial investment for AirBnb for the time being, Elzinga is hoping to learn more about AirBnb’s rise from a small marketplace for people to rent out spare sofas and rooms to a massive travel startup, he told TechCrunch.
“Travelers are seeking out a diverse range of experiences when they visit a new city,” Airbnb Art and Culture Director Philippe Magid said in a statement. “The Tiqets team has effectively used new technology to connect travelers to communities and we are excited to support their work.”
Tiqets plans to expand to more attractions and to smaller towns, enhance its self-service technology platform and increase translation and localisation services.
