The future of travel isn’t just about where you go — it’s how you experience it.
The post-pandemic traveler doesn’t want packages; they want personalization. Every itinerary, recommendation, and booking is becoming context-aware — powered by AI, traveler behavior, and emotional data.
The platforms leading this charge are turning static bookings into living journeys — built around your preferences, history, and even your mood.
Here are 10 travel experience platforms across the world — including India, Europe, and the U.S. — that are shaping the way travelers plan, book, and live their adventures.
1. Klook (Hong Kong / Global)
Tagline: “Discover, book, and experience — anywhere.”
What they do: Klook started as an activity-booking platform and grew into a full-stack travel experience engine covering tours, attractions, and unique local experiences.
Founders: Ethan Lin, Eric Gnock Fah.
Funding: Over $900M raised from Sequoia Capital, Matrix Partners, and Goldman Sachs.
Why it stands out: Klook personalizes journeys based on location, traveler intent, and interest — recommending hidden experiences instead of generic tours.
Next move: Building AI-powered dynamic itineraries and integrating local merchants across Europe and the Middle East.
2. GetYourGuide (Germany)
Tagline: “More than tickets — experiences that stay.”
What they do: A global marketplace for tours and attractions that connects travelers to verified local operators.
Founders: Johannes Reck, Tao Tao, Martin Sieber, Tobias Rein.
Funding: Raised over $1.5B from SoftBank Vision Fund, Temasek, and others.
Why it stands out: Their “Originals” program curates premium experiences, often with exclusive access — blending personalization with authenticity.
Next move: Expanding into dynamic travel planning and direct booking with airlines and hotel APIs.
3. Headout (India / USA)
Tagline: “Book your city in seconds.”
What they do: An experience marketplace that blends entertainment, events, and destination discovery — aimed at young travelers.
Founders: Varun Khona, Vikram Jit Singh, Suren Sultania.
Funding: Around $42M, backed by Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India), Accel, and Nexus Venture Partners.
Why it stands out: Hyper-local personalization — the platform adapts its suggestions based on the traveler’s real-time location, mood, and even weather.
Next move: Expanding into Europe and AI-curated micro-itineraries for same-day travel.
4. Hopper (Canada / USA)
Tagline: “The travel app that predicts the future.”
What they do: Uses predictive algorithms to forecast flight and hotel prices, offering recommendations on the best time to book.
Founders: Frederic Lalonde, Joost Ouwerkerk.
Funding: Over $740M raised, with investors including Capital One and WestCap.
Why it stands out: Hopper’s personalization is rooted in predictive behavior — using data to make travelers feel in control of timing and spend.
Next move: Expanding its “Hopper Cloud” API for travel partners and embedding personalization into fintech-style travel protection products.
5. Ixigo (India)
Tagline: “Smarter travel for every Indian.”
What they do: An Indian platform that unifies flight, train, and bus bookings while providing itinerary recommendations and smart alerts.
Founders: Aloke Bajpai, Rajnish Kumar.
Funding: Over $100M, with investments from Sequoia Capital, Elevation Capital, and GIC.
Why it stands out: Ixigo uses AI to predict train confirmations, suggest travel routes, and create “trip personalities” based on user history.
Next move: Deep integration with AI for conversational planning and in-app trip assistance.
6. Culture Trip (UK)
Tagline: “Travel that feels personal.”
What they do: A hybrid travel discovery and content platform that pairs curated editorial recommendations with booking options.
Founder: Dr. Kris Naudts.
Funding: Around $140M, with PPF Group and other European investors.
Why it stands out: It humanizes AI — blending storytelling with personalization, turning destination research into emotional connection.
Next move: Introducing AI-curated stories and immersive AR recommendations tied to user journeys.
7. Roadtrippers (USA)
Tagline: “Every journey deserves a map.”
What they do: Focuses on road travel — providing personalized route planning, scenic detours, and hidden-gem recommendations.
Founders: James Fisher, Tatiana Parent, Chris Dwyer.
Funding: Acquired by Togo Group (Thor Industries); previously raised from Drive Capital.
Why it stands out: Combines data + creativity — using user-generated content to recommend experiences that fit each traveler’s personality.
Next move: AI-driven “vibe itineraries” — building trips around music tastes, travel pace, or even favorite snacks.
8. KKday (Taiwan)
Tagline: “Local experiences, global travelers.”
What they do: A platform for unique, locally hosted tours and cultural activities — expanding heavily into B2B white-label solutions for airlines and OTAs.
Founder: Ming Chen.
Funding: Raised over $95M, backed by Alibaba, LINE, and Cool Japan Fund.
Why it stands out: KKday’s personalization engine clusters travelers into interest groups (foodies, adventurers, cultural enthusiasts) and tailors offers accordingly.
Next move: Deepening AI itinerary creation and partnerships with major travel loyalty programs.
9. Thrillophilia (India)
Tagline: “India’s biggest experiential travel platform.”
What they do: Specializes in offbeat adventure and local experiences across India and Asia.
Founders: Abhishek Daga, Chitra Gurnani Daga.
Funding: Self-funded with strategic investments from angel investors; in talks for expansion capital.
Why it stands out: Local-first personalization — combining regional content, language localization, and curated itineraries for domestic travelers.
Next move: Global partnerships for inbound travel and immersive experience booking for Gen Z.
10. Traveloka (Indonesia / Global)
Tagline: “Travel, simplified — your way.”
What they do: A Southeast Asian super-app offering flights, hotels, experiences, and financial services.
Founders: Ferry Unardi, Derianto Kusuma, Albert Zhang.
Funding: Raised over $1.2B, backed by Expedia Group, Sequoia Capital, and GIC.
Why it stands out: Traveloka’s personalization isn’t just about destinations — it matches offers to wallet health, loyalty tiers, and traveler goals.
Next move: Expanding its Traveloka Xperience division — integrating immersive AR experiences and cross-country travel insurance products.
How These Platforms Redefine Personalization
- Data as empathy: The new personalization goes beyond algorithms — it predicts travel emotion, not just behavior.
- Dynamic recommendations: AI now adapts itineraries mid-journey — your next activity might change if your flight delays or it rains.
- Local-first thinking: Platforms are shifting from mass-market tours to “community-driven” experiences that uplift local operators.
- Cross-platform integration: Fintech, travel, and entertainment are merging — creating seamless ecosystems of discovery, booking, and storytelling.
Final Thoughts
Every startup on this list is building towards one truth — personalization is the new loyalty.
The more a platform understands travelers, the longer they stay within its ecosystem.
And that’s where companies stumble — personalization isn’t just tech, it’s translation: turning complex traveler data into emotional connection.
At McArrows, we help travel and experience platforms do exactly that — shape their story, product, and strategy around personalization that actually scales. From go-to-market to platform positioning, we align narrative with product value — so the next time a traveler searches, it’s your name they see first.
