PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Triptrotting Inc., an online service that matches travelers to like-minded local hosts, announced today the launch of www.triptrotting.com, a verified community of students, alums and professionals. Triptrotting uses a proprietary matching algorithm to match their travelers with locals to create unique travel experiences. The Triptrotting network gives travelers a far less “touristy” travel experience while providing an opportunity for locals to expand their global footprint and network without ever leaving their city. The Triptrotting service has already successfully matched students in 35 cities and more than 100 universities from all over the world and, with the launch of its new site, offers travelers and local hosts an even more robust and intuitive user experience.
“We are very excited to be able to share our vision with other like-minded travelers and hosts alike around the world,” said Shana Zheng. “Triptrotters no longer have to experience that clueless tourist feeling while visiting a new and unfamiliar place. You can make a friend in another part of the world and keep that friendship when you go home,” adds Aigerim Duiseneyeva, both Co-Founders of Triptrotting.
With the help and expertise of Galen Buckwalter (former Chief Scientist at eHarmony), Triptrotting’s community includes functions that help match travelers and local hosts based on compatibility, measuring dimensions ranging from personality to professional interests. Whether it’s meeting for a meal or a tour of the town, being matched with someone who is like-minded helps enhance the experience for both the traveler and host, allowing both parties not only share their cultures, but expand their international networks.
After a trip, Triptrotting travelers are required to rate and review their host and determine if they should receive a tip for a satisfactory rating. Hosts are able to keep the tip or donate to one of a number of high impact nonprofit organizations.
“I wanted to see the spots where the locals go and try the foods that the locals like,” said Annie Gillman, a Triptrotting user from Los Angeles, California who visited Budapest, Hungary and Taipei, Taiwan. “Especially when there’s a language barrier, it really helps when there’s a local to show you around. Now that I’ve had the Triptrotting experience, I can’t imagine traveling any other way.”
Triptrotting is currently searching for the “Ultimate Triptrotter,” giving the individual an Ultimate Summer Experience to travel internationally and meet up with local Triptrotters. Why sit in a cubical all summer when you can have the experience of a lifetime? The selected individual will use the Triptrotting website to connect with and then meet up with like-minded locals from all over the world. This ultimate Triptrotter will write regular blog posts and create video blogs of his/her experiences to share with the community. The search is sponsored in conjunction with Air Berlin, Tripfilms, Urban Adventures and The Travel Word. More details at: www.facebook.com/triptrotting
Triptrotting is partnering with companies including HousingAnywhere.com, The WHL Group and Urban Adventures; nonprofit organizations including The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Teach for America (Los Angeles), Wokai, Flying Kites, B1G1, Give Running as well as various universities and professional organizations.
About Triptrotting
Triptrotting was started by Aigerim Duiseneyeva and Shana Zheng, two avid travelers and graduates from the University of Southern California (USC), who realized that traveling is about the experience and the people you meet. Quickly with their vision, they found other like-minded students all over the world looking to discover their own travel experiences beyond the tourist path. Triptrotting is based in Pasadena, California and was recently funded by Idealab (www.idealab.com), a creator and operator of technology companies.
Triptrotting is a trademark of Triptrotting, Inc. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2011 All rights reserved.