Sustainable travel in high demand: Travelise ceases flight destinations

Since its inception in 2016, Travelise has been on a journey of transformation and growth, redefining the way people travel. With the introduction of surprise travels, the startup ignited a new and exciting way for teams and individuals to discover new places together. Catering to groups ranging from 5 to 300 people, the startup has access to a network of carefully selected service providers.

So far, more than 10,000 Swiss private clients and over 100 companies have used the services. The startup has also been generating an annual revenue of CHF 2 million. The driving force behind this growth has been the trust placed in Travelise by its travellers and the strong partnerships formed with various service providers, including restaurateurs, hoteliers, winemakers, guides, and artisans. With 350 destinations, Switzerland and Europe remains the primary playground for short getaways. The startup is continuously growing its destinations across Europe.

While several businesses in the travel industry struggled or succumbed to the global pandemic, Travelise came through thanks to several factors. The support of loyal clients and new customers who embraced the concept of exploring Switzerland while supporting the local economy played a crucial role. Travelise's innovative project, Swiss Tours Surprises, received support from Innotour, allowing the startup to continue developing without restricting its investments. The team's agility and creativity were also pivotal in adapting to the challenges posed by the pandemic.

End of air travel
Travelise has observed a significant shift in the preferences of its clients towards sustainable tourism. Corporate outings and seminars focusing on sustainable travel have seen a remarkable uptick over the past two years. In response to the changing consumer behaviour and pertaining to its commitment to sustainable travel, the startup has decided to move away from air travel, becoming the first Swiss agency to do so. Moving forward, Traevelise aims to promote train travel as a convenient and enjoyable alternative.

In addition to trains, night trains and buses, travellers can also use their private cars during surprise road trips. E-bikes, sailing boats, and other modes of transportation are also employed during their personalised activities. With the new changes, Travelise has expanded the number of destinations since train and bus journeys offer more flexibility for exploring lesser-known places and stopping along the way.

With 11 people currently employed, the startup continues to welcome new people. Bootstrapped and supported by the Valaisan ecosystem from the beginning, Travelise seeks no external capital, but it remains open to collaborating with individuals who can contribute expertise to support its growth and future business development activities. A significant new project in partnership with an iconic Swiss company is on its roadmap.

(Ritah A Nyakato)