the world's smartest travel social network
2009.10.23
Tripatini
José Balido
Jose@Tripatini.com
786-282-7838
www.Tripatini.com
WITH TRAVEL MEDIA AND INDUSTRY INSIDERS, REBRANDS AS TRIPATINI.COM
New name & look offer fun, friends, free professional advice, and value at all price points
MIAMI ̶ OCT. 22, 2009 ̶ David Paul Appell, co-founder and CEO of EnLinea, LLC, a Miami-based developer of innovative social networks, today announced the rebranding of formerly budget-oriented travel social network Go-Lo.net as Tripatini.com to reflect a broader concept focusing on travel at all price points. Launched in summer 2009, Tripatini breaks down the traditional barriers that have stood between travelers and travel journalists, publicists, agents, vendors, and anyone else with good, actionable info.
Appell, a longtime travel journalist and former travel magazine editor, explained: "We're getting fabulous response from both the travel media and trade as well as the general public, but our original name, reflecting a focus on budget travel primarily, was proving too limiting. Today we choose "Tripatini" not just because it sounds more fun -- a potent, sophisticated cocktail of travel -- but because it more clearly telegraphs "travel" and is more welcoming, inclusive, and versatile."
Adds EnLinea President José Balido, "Our slogan, 'Mix It Up With the Travel Experts,' means that members get to 'hang out' online not just with other travelers (there are other Web sites for that), but also with industry insiders, whether a travel journalist from New Delhi, a world-renowned adventure tour operator, a high-powered travel agent specializing in honeymoons, or representatives from major hotels, airlines, and tourist boards that presently include Britain, Colombia, Israel, Minnesota, and Toronto, among many others."
With a user-friendly interface, the online travel community the New York Post recently dubbed "Facebook for travelers" combines fun content ̶ destination spotlights; user-generated photo and video galleries; travel news feeds; an events calendar; weekly polls; world music videos with commentary; and a far-ranging weekly travel blog ̶ with a smart, eclectic and fast-growing network of members from more than 65 countries/territories around the world thus far, including Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Dubai/UAE, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, St. Kitts/Nevis, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad/Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. They're all travel enthusiasts, but many are also travel journalists, travel agents, tour operators, airline reps, hoteliers, and marketers.
Members participate in more than 270 groups dedicated to all 50 U.S. states and most countries around the world, as well as travel topics including eco/sustainable tourism, family travel, honeymoons/weddings, gay/lesbian, movies & travel, travel with pets, wine, foreign-language and culture clubs, history/archaeology, singles travel, and much more. Most of these groups even list specific members qualified to advise on that destination or topic. What could be cooler than getting up-to-date info from an Auckland journalist about your upcoming trip to New Zealand, a couple of tips from a fellow traveler, and a rundown of fare options from a Kiwi-specialist travel agent, all in one place? And you might even make a friend or two along the way!
Tripatini also has dedicated groups for travel media, travel agents, tour operators, and travel publicists, and a random sampling of other members includes representatives from: Colombia Tourism, Finnair, German National Tourist Office, Kimpton, Lufthansa, Air Seychelles, Mandarin Oriental, Minnesota Tourism, Mississippi Tourism, Netherlands Tourist Board, NYC & Company, Portugal Tourism, Ritz-Carlton, SAS, South Carolina Tourism, Visit Britain, and Visit Florida, among others. All are ready and willing to help fellow members upon request.
Says Appell, "In an age when both travel and the print media are facing enormous pressures, we hope to create new outreach opportunities for both ̶ and help people keep exploring their world."
Editor's Notes: Interviews available upon request.
Arthur Frommer on www.frommers.com / New York, NY
"FACEBOOK for travelers. That's the aim of Tripatini, a social networking site of, for and by travelers - from writers to flight attendants and travel agents - focusing on over 250 global locations."
New York Post / New York, NY
"I love Tripatini better than Trip Advisor!"
Nayaz Noor, CEO, Safirtours.biz / Secunderabad, India
"Potentially a fantastic backdoor route for scoring expert advice from the people who travel and explore for a living!"
Alistair Wearmouth on Away.com, Travel Editor / Washington, DC
"By the time they reach their first million members, [Tripatini] can become a good promotional vehicle."
Chris Robles, Director of Marketing for the Brunei Tourism Development Department / Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
"Fantastic concept for the travel industry - will be sure to invite all our colleagues in Australia and NZ."
Tess Willcox, Senior Account Manager at World Resorts of Distinction / QLD, Australia
"I love Tripatini and always get great travel ideas from your fabulous site!"
Sharon Spence Lieb, Travel Journalist / Charleston, SC
"Much cooler than 90% of new travel sites..."
Max Hartshorne, Editor of GoNomad.com / South Deerfield, MA
"Great idea and vision, for everyone who travels....anywhere."
Patricia Aitken, Travel Agent / Eagle Point, OR
"It's great to see someone doing something proactive instead of just whining about the state of the travel industry!"
Alan Solomon, Travel Journalist / Chicago, IL
"I am very excited about this site and am looking forward to participating."
Carol Fravel, Travel Agent / San Jose, CA
"This is a beautiful website (if that's the right word). I'll use some of the information in my Travel Tips column."
Betty Austin-Ware, Travel Journalist / Fort Mill, SC
"A great organization for quality travel & culinary connections."
Leigh Cort, Publicist / Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
"I am a hold-out -- have resisted joining any other online networking site -- no MySpace or Facebook for me. :-) "
Sharon Rooney, Publicist / Windsor, CA
"What a great site for resources!"
Tanja Rieck, Travel Agent / Redwood City, CA
Videos
Badge
© 2013 Created by EnLinea Media.
