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GOTRVL: New Way to Build Your Client Base

As part of our inspirational technology features on Travel Massive, we introduce to you Dirk Meiring, owner of GOTRVL and member of Travel Massive Port Elizabeth. Dirk is the founder of GOTRVL which helps tourism businesses gain more clients and grow their brands by using mobile technology. 

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Who is your start up for?

With the rise of mobile apps, the human role in engagement has increased dramatically. In this sense, technology is the opposite of impersonal and anonymous – it is enabling businesses to communicate with and share expertise with more potential customers than ever. This offers the connected traveler a much more rich and dynamic way of finding experiential travel opportunities, while staying in touch in-destination.

Now travellers can connect authentically with tourism businesses. GOTRVL’s apps are ideal for any business looking for an affordable mobile solution. With the high costs and long cycle of app development, it keeps many businesses from embracing mobile fully. Our app platforms cater for small, medium and large companies who need an app.

What is your role in the tourism industry?

GOTRVL helps tourism businesses gain more clients and grow their brands by using mobile technology. The shift to mobile has necessitated the use of apps to engage travellers throughout the travel cycle, capturing their attention during those micro moments when travellers look for information on their mobile devices.

Mobile is still a bit of a minefield for many, so we provide easy-to-digest training to ensure that the travel industry understands the power of mobile. And we provide useful strategies to implement it in a business, affordably and fast.

What inspired you to create this app?

The growth in mobile has been nothing short of phenomenal but it is interesting to observe that the travel industry is slow to adopt the technology. Only 40% of travel websites are mobile responsive! That’s scary.

Two of the reasons why a large part of the industry has held off is due to cost and the time it takes to develop an app. I decided to develop an app that any tourism business can use affordably and fast, by using tools that suit their customers and business model.

The thing that gets me out of bed in the morning is the extraordinary potential of mobile in the travel industry and the need to educate the industry on harnessing the power of mobile to engage the connected traveler and ultimately to grow their businesses.

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How did you build your startup?

Blood, sweat and tears… and bootstrapping all the way! It has been an incredible journey. I’ve met amazing people along the way and am fortunate to have the support of most of my family and friends.

Without going into too much details, it also involved selling homes and scaling down lifestyles to make it happen… 🙂

How is your startup different from others?

GOTRVL is solely focused on the travel industry. The mobile solutions have been developed after 18 years in tourism and digital marketing. We understand the needs of both the industry and the customer.

Our Instant Messaging platform is cutting edge technology now available to the travel industry. The platform makes it possible to engage travellers in a way previously not possible. IM is easy to use and everyone is familiar with it, so there’s no hurdles in getting clients to use it.

How is your app changing the future of the industry?

Mobile is the new frontier. It is where travellers want to be engaged and where they connect with tourism services.

GOTRVL’s apps, especially the Instant Messaging platform allows authentic relationships to be built and brands to engage travellers directly. We’re taking back the ground lost in terms of customer service by allowing travellers and tourism services to talk in a way that builds trust and loyalty.

Our training facilitates an environment where the industry can learn about mobile and stay up to date with the latest technologies. Education is a very important part of empowering the travel industry.

Do you have any tips for new tech entrepreneurs?

GOTRVL is the third business I’ve started, but by far the most exhilarating! I’ve learnt a lot about business along the way. These are some of the tips that come to mind. Stay true to your dream. Don’t loose yourself in the process of building a business.

Start telling the world about your product or service long before it’s finished.

Don’t allow scope creep to delay getting your product out to the market. Start building your list of customers as soon as you can, and stay in touch with them by encouraging authentic two way conversations.

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What was your first job in the travel industry?

Not many people know this, but I am a qualified dental technician and opened a laboratory in London after I finished my studies. My love for the outdoors, Africa and travel made me decide to change careers. After my return, I decided to take a break and figure out what I wanted to do. A friend of mine told me about a tour guide position that opened up at an overland company. I couldn’t think of anything nicer to do – explore Africa and get paid for it! So I jumped at the opportunity and never looked back.

What is the most important aspects of your travels?

I enjoy experiential travel, local cultures and trying local foods. Responsible travel is very important. One of my favourite destinations is the Lower Zambezi Valley. It’s absolute paradise and the people are amazing. Wildlife abounds and the birding is spectacular.

How do you think we can be better travellers?

A connected traveller is an informed traveller. The travel industry changes lives. Some destinations are totally dependant on tourism revenue. We should be careful not to be sucked into the media hype when a crisis hits. The ebola outbreak severely impacted travel to the whole of Africa even though Southern and East Africa were completely safe. If we connect with local experts, we can make informed decisions.

Why do you travel?

I love the outdoors. I’m at my happiest when I sit around a fire under the stars. It can be at a 5 star lodge or camping in a wilderness area. I enjoy photography, so at times I discover destinations through the eyes of a photographer. It helps me to observe in detail, stop to look and really experience the richness of a moment.

As a startup in the travel tech industry, what benefits have you seen from attending Travel Massive events?

The Travel Massive meet ups is a place to gather with a wide spectrum of industry players. I’ve met key people who have opened doors to markets I wouldn’t have had access to.

Travel Massive plays an important role in connecting people in a friendly, informal way. Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?


Tech Startup is a monthly series that profiles unique online travel-tech start-ups in the Travel Massive community around the world. Connect with Dirk Meiring, owner of GOTRVL on Travel Massive.

 

 


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