PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MODERN ADVENTURE announced today that it has completed a US$1 million seed round led by Seal Rock Partners and including top executives and angel investors from the hospitality, media and travel tech industries. The funds will be used to expand the company’s rapidly scaling partnership base, and to accelerate product growth and customer acquisition.
MODERN ADVENTURE is the first experiential travel company to empower brands to capture the hearts and minds of customers, creating rich content, deeper engagement, and unprecedented loyalty. The company partners with chefs, winemakers, craft brewers, hoteliers, and mission-driven companies to bring each brand to life through curated, immersive travel experiences.
“We believe the scarcest resource of the 21st century is human attention,” says Luis Vargas, CEO and founder of MODERN ADVENTURE and a pioneering executive in the adventure travel industry. “In an increasingly noisy world, there is no better way to cut through than with an extraordinary travel experience that brings the passion and mission of a brand to life, creating lasting bonds and ardent evangelists for many years to come.”
“Personal, authentic, local - the trends are consistent across all age groups and demographics,” notes Scott McNeely, COO and co-founder of MODERN ADVENTURE. “Travelers want authenticity and are seeking immersive, curated experiences in growing numbers. For savvy brands, experiential travel is the key to unlocking accelerated growth in customer lifetime value.”
“MODERN ADVENTURE is redefining how brands engage with customers,” says Vargas. “We exist to translate the beating heart of a brand into extraordinary experiences, leveraging our worldwide network of local travel partners and content creators.”
Bill Fradin, Managing Partner of Seal Rock Partners, adds, “We are passionate about investing in adventure travel, which is a US$300 billion market and the fastest-growing segment of the industry. We are thrilled to support such a talented management team as they build MODERN ADVENTURE into the premiere provider of experiential travel for brands and consumers. Luis and Scott will also be instrumental in how we make future investments as we actively look to grow our travel portfolio.”
MODERN ADVENTURE
Founded in 2017 and based in Portland, Oregon. CEO Luis Vargas brings over 15 years of travel experience as an executive for brands including REI, Disney, Backroads and The Clymb. He currently serves as president of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Watch Vargas’ recent TEDxPortland talk, “Travel More, Buy Less.” COO and co-founder Scott McNeely brings more than 20 years of media and e-commerce experience as an executive at industry-leading companies including TripAdvisor Media Group, Viator, Lonely Planet and Penguin Random House.
