Your Local Cousin @your-local-cousin

Startup, New York, NY – 1/10/2017 employees

Your Local Cousin adds the most human element to travel planning – communicating with an actual person who understands the traveler’s interests during the planning stage of a trip.

A family owned business founded by three cousins, we have several hundreds of locals (local cousins) in over 80 countries worldwide. Travelers get customized advice from like minded locals at price points that are affordable. Our travelers get the "inside scoop" on where to find all the cool places locals love to visit and avoid tourist traps. Travelers looking to get a local perspective on where to find the most secluded beaches in Thailand, shop for antiques in the Grand Bazar, Istanbul or the best boutique hotels / spas for honeymooners in Playa del Carmen can choose to text, speak or ask a local for customized itineraries and travel maps. We pay our locals 70% of the revenue.January 2015We launched at the end of January 2015 and within a day had our first paying customer. During the next few weeks we had several more clients, some paying. We then went to a "free trial model" and now have hundreds of clients. We have also recruited around 700+ locals who we vet via Skype to ensure travelers speak with a knowledgable expert. Our customers age from 28 - 55, are mostly busy working professionals and are looking to 'travel like a local'. We have also been approached by travel companies who see us a value added service for their wealthy clients, making us also B2B.Our customers thus far have come from press coverage, social media, word-of-mouth and alumni networks. We have also found customers through unconventional methods - eavesdropping on conversations, interacting with them in the travel section of bookstores etc. We are at a stage were we are focusing on customer service to ensure all traveler and local interactions meet our high quality standards.