Explore Travel

What Explore Travel does

Explore Travel is a privately held Brazilian luxury travel agency headquartered in São Paulo's Itaim Bibi district, founded in 2011 by Philippe Takla. The firm designs and books bespoke high-end leisure itineraries for affluent individual clients and, separately, runs a corporate travel management vertical for Brazilian businesses. Its destination footprint spans all seven continents, including niche experiential segments such as Antarctica, the Arctic, African safaris, Patagonia, and Polynesia, alongside traditional European, North American, and Asian luxury circuits. The company is positioned as a curated, consultant-led alternative to mass-market OTAs rather than a self-serve platform.

On the supply side, Explore Travel maintains a dense partnership roster with 50+ premium hotel groups and consortia — including Marriott STARS, Oetker Collection, Mandarin Oriental, IHG, Hyatt, Leading Hotels of the World, Belmond, Rosewood, Aman, and Four Seasons — and is a member of the Serandipians and Traveller Made luxury travel agency networks. These partnerships provide preferred-agent rates, amenity inclusions, and curated content that underpin the leisure proposition. For corporate clients, the firm operates 'Reserva Fácil', a mobile application that handles reservations, approvals, and expense workflows.

The business model combines B2C fee- and margin-based luxury trip curation with B2B managed-travel services for corporate accounts. No revenue, headcount, funding, or valuation figures are disclosed, and the firm has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, patents, awards, or regulatory actions on record.

Name

Explore Travel

Legal name

Explore Travel

Website

https://exploretravel.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Explore Travel is a São Paulo-based, founder-led luxury travel agency founded in 2011 that designs bespoke leisure itineraries for affluent Brazilian clients and provides corporate travel management, supported by 50+ premium hotel partnerships and two global agent networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Travel Agencies (THAKAFAA)

Keywords

• Luxury travel planning
• Bespoke travel itineraries
• Corporate travel management
• Travel concierge services
• Luxury hotel partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Luxury Travel Planning and Booking Services: The company generates revenue through planning and booking fees for customized travel itineraries including flights, hotels, experiences, and ground transportation. Services are provided through dedicated travel consultants who curate and book travel arrangements for affluent clients.
2. Corporate Travel Management: Revenue from managing corporate travel accounts with services including ticket issuance, hotel reservations, vehicle rental, receptive tourism, and travel reimbursement management. The company offers negotiated rates and strategic agreements with carriers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Explore Travel is a luxury travel agency that designs and books fully personalized international travel experiences for affluent Brazilian clients, including flights, hotels, ground transportation, cruises, train journeys, and curated activities. For corporate clients, it provides managed corporate travel services via the Reserva Fácil app, including ticketing, hotel reservations, vehicle rental, receptive tourism, travel policy enforcement, and expense reporting. All services are delivered by dedicated travel consultants through direct consultation, with pricing provided on a customized quote basis per itinerary.

Product overview

Explore Travel is a luxury travel agency offering fully personalized travel planning services, operating as a single unified offering with dedicated travel designers. The portfolio includes personalized travel planning (core service), corporate travel management via the Reserva Fácil digital platform (app, portal, and email-based approval system), and curated cruise and train experiences through various partner brands. The company maintains extensive partnership programs with major hotel groups (Marriott, IHG, Hyatt, Oetker Collection, Shangri-La, Mandarin Oriental, Jumeirah, Design Hotels, Preferred, Leading Hotels) and membership in Serandipians and Traveller Made networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Reserva Fácil: Corporate travel management app for booking and expense control

Products and services

• Personalized Travel Planning Bespoke travel planning service in which dedicated travel consultants align with the client, design a customized itinerary, handle all reservations (flights, hotels, transfers, experiences), and provide concierge support through the return home, aimed at affluent individuals and families seeking personalized international travel.
• Corporate Travel Management (Reserva Fácil) Managed corporate travel solution for Brazilian companies that includes ticket issuance, hotel reservations, vehicle rental, receptive tourism, incentive and group travel, policy enforcement, and bi-weekly financial reporting, supported by a mobile app, online portal, and email-based approval workflow, with 24-hour emergency assistance and a stated up to 30% cost reduction versus market prices.
• Cruise & Navigation Experiences Curated booking service for luxury cruises and navigation experiences including yachts, expedition ships, river cruises, and ocean liners from brands such as Amandira, Aqua Expeditions, Crystal Cruises, Explora Journeys, Silversea, Swan Hellenic, and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, intended for affluent travelers seeking premium sea voyages.
• Train Travel Experiences Curated booking service for luxury train journeys including the Andean Explorer (Peru), La Dolce Vita Orient Express (Italy), Rovos Rail (Africa), and Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, designed for affluent travelers seeking iconic rail experiences.
• Experiências (Curated Travel Experiences) Portfolio of curated, bookable travel experiences across global destinations including wine tasting in South Africa, hot air ballooning in Saudi Arabia, helicopter tours in Botswana and Brazil, samurai culture in Japan, sound bath therapy in Bhutan, Vatican after-hours tours in Italy, perfume workshops in Florence, Machu Picchu ceremonies in Peru, and Swiss watchmaking masterclasses in Geneva, designed to be incorporated into customized itineraries.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SerandipianscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal network of custom travel specialists that provides Explore Travel clients with exclusive access to experiences, special rates, credit during stays, daily breakfast, room upgrades, and priority early check-in/late check-out.
• Marriott STARS and LuminouscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive benefits program for prestigious brands including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Bulgari, W Hotels, and The Luxury Collection. Benefits include USD 100 credit, welcome amenity, and VIP treatment.
• Oetker Collection (Pearl Partner)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMembership in the Pearl Partner program providing exclusive advantages at iconic properties like Le Bristol Paris and Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Features guaranteed room upgrade at reservation time.
• The Leading Hotels of the World (VITA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMembership in the VITA program offering preferred treatment and exclusive benefits at authentic and exceptional independent properties worldwide.
• Mandarin Oriental Fan ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFan Club membership providing exclusive benefits, priority service, and tailored experiences at Mandarin Oriental hotels known for impeccable hospitality.
• Jumeirah Passport to LuxurycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive benefits program for selected agencies providing USD 100 credit during stays at Jumeirah properties across Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
• IHG DestinedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive program for selected agencies offering special benefits at Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, and Kimpton properties. Over 600 hotels in the IHG Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio.
• Design Hotels CollectivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with 300+ independent hotels featuring strong aesthetic identity, signature architecture, and unique cultural proposals. VIP service and special credits for stays.
• Hyatt PrivécoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProgram offering advantages at Park Hyatt, Alila, Miraval, and Andaz brands. Benefits include hotel credit and priority for connecting rooms.
• Shangri-La Luxury CirclecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive benefits and VIP service at Shangri-La hotels translating Asian hospitality sophistication across Asia, Europe, Middle East, and North America.
• Preferred PlatinumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred Platinum Partner status offering benefits including USD 75 credit during stays and upgrades at properties in the LVX and Legend collections.
• Traveller MadecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive network membership providing exclusive conditions for travelers including unique experiences, differentiated amenities, and preferential access to the world's best hotels.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• TCS World Travel: Luxury expedition travel company offering high-end, all-inclusive guided trips worldwide. Comparable to Explore Travel's expedition and adventure offerings (safaris, cruises, remote destinations) at the premium end of the market.
• Black Tomato: UK-based luxury travel agency specializing in bespoke, experience-led itineraries for affluent travelers. Closely aligned with Explore Travel's consultant-led, relationship-driven model and focus on transformative experiences rather than commodity booking.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Global luxury tour operator offering bespoke, end-to-end itineraries with private guides and exclusive access — directly comparable to Explore Travel's curated luxury individual travel model, though operating at significantly larger scale internationally.
• Voyageurs du Monde: France-based specialist travel agency offering customized, high-end itineraries with cultural immersion focus. Comparable positioning to Explore Travel with strong overlap in cultural/heritage travel and bespoke design.
• Cazenove + Loyd: Boutique luxury travel company designing tailor-made itineraries with a small, expert team — mirroring Explore Travel's boutique consultant model, target customer (HNW individuals seeking unique experiences), and curated approach to destinations.
• Quintessentially: Global luxury concierge and travel services firm serving HNW clients with personalized travel planning, exclusive access, and VIP treatment — a direct functional peer to Explore Travel's luxury individual segment, with broader concierge scope.

Others

• Traveller Made: International network of bespoke luxury travel designers that Explore Travel is a member of. Not a competitor but an ecosystem player; relevant for benchmarking because membership confers similar supplier relationships and networking access.
• Serandipians: Global hotel consortium connecting travel advisors with luxury hotel partner programs. Acts as an enabling network for Explore Travel rather than a competitor, but defines the supplier-access landscape the company competes within.

Regional players

• BeFly (Bancorbrás Viagens): Major Brazilian travel group operating across leisure and corporate segments. Competes in the same Brazilian geography but at a different price tier; relevant for understanding corporate travel competitive dynamics in the domestic market.
• CVC Brasil: Brazil's largest travel agency serving mass-market and middle-class outbound travel. A regional competitor in Brazil but serving a different price point; useful as a benchmark for Brazilian travel market scale and corporate account penetration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/exploretravel
• Instagraminstagram.com/exploretravelviagens

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Explore Travel