Elsewhere
Elsewhere (Lonely Planet Journeys) is a direct-to-consumer travel marketplace that matches individual travelers with vetted local experts to plan and book customized international trips across 100+ destinations, operating as a brand within Red Ventures.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Elsewhere does
Elsewhere operates a direct-to-consumer travel marketplace branded as Lonely Planet Journeys, connecting individual travelers with a vetted network of local travel agencies and destination experts to design and book customized international trips. The platform follows a four-step workflow: travelers submit a destination request, are matched with a certified local expert, collaborate on a personalized itinerary (gated by a non-refundable $100 crafting fee), and then book the trip with a 20–40% deposit. Coverage spans 100+ destinations across six global regions, with per-traveler pricing typically between $2,520 and $21,600 depending on destination and duration.
The underlying technology is a web-based two-sided marketplace with no public API or SDK; integrations include Google sign-in and an exclusive insurance partnership with World Nomads. Product differentiators are a local expert matching system, a custom itinerary builder, and a 24/7 concierge support layer that handles pre-trip, on-trip, and post-trip interactions. AI capabilities support destination and activity recommendations, chatbot-driven planning assistance, anomaly detection for fraud prevention, and NLP-based review screening.
The business model is primarily transactional: commission revenue on completed bookings routed through local agencies, supplemented by the upfront $100 crafting fee and potentially the World Nomads insurance referral. Go-to-market relies on the established Lonely Planet brand and Red Ventures' owned-media distribution (The Points Guy, Bankrate, Lonely Planet), combined with organic social, destination content marketing, email, and press coverage in major publications. The company is privately held as a brand within Red Ventures LLC, headquartered in New York with 11–50 employees.
Elsewhere firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Elsewhere
- Legal name
- Red Ventures LLC
- Website
- https://elsewhere.io
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Elsewhere (Lonely Planet Journeys) is a direct-to-consumer travel marketplace that matches individual travelers with vetted local experts to plan and book customized international trips across 100+ destinations, operating as a brand within Red Ventures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Elsewhere industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Travel Marketplace
- NAICS
- Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (561520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Custom Itinerary Planning with Booking & Fulfillment (Full-Service) (THAKAOAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry) (THAJALAG)
Keywords
Where Elsewhere is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Elsewhere business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Trip Booking Commission: Marketplace commission on completed trip bookings. The platform connects travelers with local travel agencies who provide services including accommodations, flights, transportation, and excursions. Revenue is generated through transaction fees on booked travel services.
- Trip Crafting Fee: $100 crafting fee charged to receive a personalized trip proposal. This fee is non-refundable and serves as a qualification step before the full itinerary is presented.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Custom Tailored Trips - Variable Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Elsewhere product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Elsewhere operates Lonely Planet Journeys, a direct-to-consumer online travel marketplace that connects individual travelers with a curated network of vetted, award-winning local travel agencies and destination experts who design and book personalized international trips. The end-to-end service covers trip request, expert matching, itinerary crafting (with a $100 non-refundable fee), deposit-based booking, and 24/7 pre-trip, on-trip, and post-trip concierge support, with sustainability commitments such as carbon offsetting and tree planting embedded in each booking.
Product overview
Lonely Planet Journeys is a single, unified travel marketplace — not a modular platform — that connects travelers with certified local travel agencies and destination experts to plan and book fully personalized international trips. The product encompasses trip discovery, expert matching, itinerary design, booking facilitation, and 24/7 concierge support as one integrated service. The platform covers destinations across South America, Europe, Africa & the Middle East, Oceania, Asia, and North & Central America, with pricing ranging from approximately $2,520 to $21,600 per traveler depending on destination and trip duration. Trip planning follows a four-step workflow: (1) make a trip request and get matched with a local expert, (2) collaborate with the expert to craft a personalized itinerary (a $100 crafting fee applies), (3) book the trip by submitting a deposit (typically 20–40%), and (4) travel with 24/7 on-trip support. The company also embeds sustainability commitments — including carbon offsetting for all trips, plastic cleanup, tree planting, and support for local economies (84% of trip revenue goes directly to destinations) — into its core service offering.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lonely Planet Journeys Travel Marketplace An online travel marketplace that connects individual travelers with a curated network of vetted, award-winning local travel agencies and destination experts who design and deliver personalized international trips across 100+ destinations. Covers trip request, expert matching, itinerary crafting, deposit-based booking, and 24/7 concierge support as one integrated service.
- Custom Trip Crafting Service
Quantifiable outcome
- 84% of trip dollars go directly to local destinations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Elsewhere
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Elsewhere technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability6 records
Feature3 records
Elsewhere partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- World NomadssupportingExclusive travel insurance provider partner offering coverage options for travelers. Referenced as recommended insurance provider on the platform.
- Plastic BankcoreEnvironmental partnership removing 2.2lbs of plastic (equivalent to 50 plastic water bottles) from the ocean for every Lonely Planet Journeys trip taken. Part of sustainability commitments.
- Eden ProjectcoreReforestation partner planting 10 trees through the Eden Project for every traveler that takes a trip. Supports environmental restoration and carbon offset initiatives.
- Climate NeutralsupportingClimate certification partner ensuring carbon neutrality commitments are verified and maintained.
- AllysupportingFinancial services partner referenced in sustainability and commitment initiatives.
- Local Travel Agencies NetworkcoreNetwork of vetted, award-winning, and certified local travel agencies and experts operating in destinations worldwide. These agencies provide actual travel services including accommodations, transportation, excursions. They have signed the Lonely Planet Journeys Charter committing to responsible travel practices.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Elsewhere competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Viator: Tripadvisor-owned experiences marketplace aggregating tours and activities globally. Overlaps at the experiences/inventory layer but operates at much larger scale with self-serve booking.
- TourRadar: Multi-operator tour marketplace aggregating thousands of itineraries from local suppliers. Broader, multi-supplier marketplace with overlapping supplier-vetting model, but not bespoke/concierge-led.
Direct peers
- Audley Travel: UK-based bespoke travel company that pairs travelers with destination specialists to craft custom international trips. Closest direct peer to Lonely Planet Journeys' concierge-style, expert-led custom itinerary model.
- Intrepid Travel: Adventure-focused tour operator running small-group experiential trips with local leaders. Comparable on adventure/off-the-beaten-path positioning and sustainability commitments.
- G Adventures: Small-group adventure tour operator partnering with local suppliers worldwide. Comparable on experiential/adventure focus and local-supplier model.
- Responsible Travel: Marketplace of vetted local holiday providers curated around sustainability and local-benefit criteria. Directly parallels Elsewhere's direct-to-local, conscious-travel value proposition.
- Exodus Travels: Adventure tour operator running active, expert-led trips in 90+ countries. Comparable destination breadth and adventure-led positioning.
- Wild Frontiers: Specialist operator of off-the-beaten-path adventure and cultural travel with local guides. Strong overlap with Elsewhere's adventure/expedition specialist positioning.
- Kensington Tours: Luxury custom tour operator with a global network of local destination experts creating private, fully-tailored itineraries. Directly comparable high-end, advisor-driven offering.
- Scott Dunn: Luxury tailor-made tour operator creating bespoke multi-destination holidays. Comparable premium, fully-customized private travel product.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Elsewhere social profiles
Digital presenceElsewhere financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Elsewhere leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Elsewhere funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Elsewhere M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Elsewhere
What does Elsewhere do?
Elsewhere operates Lonely Planet Journeys, a direct-to-consumer online travel marketplace that connects individual travelers with a curated network of vetted, award-winning local travel agencies and destination experts who design and book personalized international trips. The end-to-end service covers trip request, expert matching, itinerary crafting (with a $100 non-refundable fee), deposit-based booking, and 24/7 pre-trip, on-trip, and post-trip concierge support, with sustainability commitments such as carbon offsetting and tree planting embedded in each booking.
Is Elsewhere a public or private company?
Elsewhere is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Elsewhere founded?
Elsewhere was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Elsewhere based?
Elsewhere is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Elsewhere make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Trip Booking Commission is the primary driver. The others are trip Crafting Fee.
Who are Elsewhere's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Viator and TourRadar. Direct peers are Audley Travel, Intrepid Travel, G Adventures, Responsible Travel, Exodus Travels, Wild Frontiers, Kensington Tours and Scott Dunn.
Does Elsewhere have an API?
No public API is recorded for Elsewhere.
What industry is Elsewhere in?
Elsewhere's product category is Online Travel Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKAOAO, Custom Itinerary Planning with Booking & Fulfillment (Full-Service), with a secondary code of THAJALAG, Private Adventure & Expedition Experiences (Custom Hikes, Safaris, Backcountry). Its NAICS code is 561510.