Start Travel

What Start Travel does

Start Travel MMC is an Azerbaijan-based Destination Management Company (DMC) founded in 2015 that delivers inbound tourism to Azerbaijan and outbound tour packages to a broad set of international destinations. The company operates from a headquarters in Baku and a branch office in Tbilisi, Georgia, and is affiliated with the global Lufthansa City Center network. Its service portfolio spans the full travel value chain: IATA-accredited air ticketing (#61320140), hotel booking with direct contracts in multiple countries, visa support, travel insurance, ground transfers via an owned Mercedes and Volkswagen fleet (sedans to 55-passenger buses), MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events) for corporate groups of 20 to 380 participants, and curated tour packages to destinations including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Morocco, Thailand, Bali, Cyprus, and several European countries. Source markets for inbound tourism span CIS countries, India, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Europe.

The underlying technology is a website-based booking and inquiry platform (starttravel.az) supported by an in-house digital customer satisfaction survey tool and downloadable brochures/catalogs via Dropbox; no APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed. The business model combines transaction-based revenue streams (airline ticketing commissions, hotel booking fees, visa and insurance fees, transfer charges) with packaged tour sales priced per person and ranging from approximately $195 to $2,110. Installment payments are offered through Birbank. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via the website and physical offices for individual travelers, supplemented by enterprise field sales targeting corporate MICE accounts in medical, educational, economic, and technological sectors. Named corporate clients include Pinar, Gigabyte, Spectrami, ACDelco, Pyramid Scientific Office, RBL Bank, Akumentis, and Micedge, alongside airline partnerships with AZAL, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways, Aeroflot, and others. The company is privately held with no disclosed funding, parent entity, or financial metrics.

Name

Start Travel

Legal name

Start Travel MMC

Website

https://starttravel.az

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Start Travel is an Azerbaijan-based Destination Management Company, founded in 2015 and IATA-accredited, providing inbound tourism to Azerbaijan and outbound tour packages worldwide. It serves individual travelers and corporate MICE clients through offices in Baku and Tbilisi and a Lufthansa City Center affiliation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Agency and Destination Management Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (56151), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHADAA

Full-Service Destination Management (Ground Handling & Onsite Operations)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Destination Management Companies (DMCs) & Incentive Travel Specialists

SECONDARYTHAKAEAA

Inbound DMCs (Full-Service Ground Handling)

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Local Tour Operators & Destination Services (DMCs)

SECONDARYTHAKAMAA

Managed Corporate Travel Programs (End-to-End TMC Services)

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Corporate Travel Management Services

SECONDARYTHAHADAF

Experiential & Cultural Programming (Tours, Activities, CSR/Voluntourism)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Destination Management Companies (DMCs) & Incentive Travel Specialists

SECONDARYTHAHANAE

Destination & Itinerary Management (DMC-Led Experiences, Excursions, VIP Access)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Incentive Travel Programs

Keywords

• Destination management services
• Inbound outbound tourism
• Corporate travel services
• MICE event organization
• International air ticketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Baku

HQ country

Azerbaijan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tour Packages: Organized tours to various destinations including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Morocco, Thailand, Bali, Cyprus, and European countries. Packages include accommodation, transport, guide services, and meals.
2. Airline Ticketing: IATA-accredited company (№61320140) authorized to sell international and domestic tickets. Partnerships with AZAL, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways, and other airlines.
3. Hotel Booking: Hotel reservations through B2B, online, and direct partner channels. Contracts with hotels in different countries offering competitive rates and group discounts.
4. MICE Services: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events organization. Completed 41+ projects serving groups from 20 to 380 participants.
5. Visa Support: Visa application assistance for travelers to any destination worldwide, including support for tourists visiting Azerbaijan.
6. Insurance: Travel insurance providing medical assistance and expense coverage for sudden illness or accidents during international travel.
7. Transfers: Hotel, airport, and car transportation services. Fleet includes Mercedes and Volkswagen vehicles from sedans to 55-passenger buses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Start Travel is a Destination Management Company (DMC) providing inbound and outbound tourism services, including IATA-authorized air ticket sales, hotel bookings, visa support, travel insurance, transfers, and packaged tours across Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Morocco, Bali, and other destinations. It also offers corporate MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events) services for groups of 20 to 380 participants, having completed 41+ MICE projects for companies in medical, educational, economic, and technological sectors.

Product overview

Start Travel is an Azerbaijan-based Destination Management Company (DMC) founded in 2015, offering a comprehensive portfolio of travel and tourism services. The company operates as a unified service offering centered around inbound and outbound tourism within Azerbaijan and neighboring countries. Core services include Air Tickets (IATA-authorized booking and sales), Corporate Services, Hotel Booking (with B2B and direct partner channels), Visa Support, Travel Insurance, Transfers, and MICE services. The product portfolio spans guided tour packages across destinations including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Morocco, Indonesia, and others. Tour offerings range from single-day excursions (Absheron Peninsula, Gobustan) to multi-day cultural tours (Heritage Tour Azerbaijan, Family Tour Package), adventure packages (Caucasus Mountains Skiing), and international destination packages (Bali, Morocco). The company also provides a custom tour creation service for personalized travel planning. As an IATA-accredited agency (№61320140), Start Travel functions as both a service aggregator connecting travelers with airlines and hotels, and a tour operator creating and managing curated travel experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Tickets International and domestic air ticket booking and sales services authorized by IATA accreditation (№6320140), enabling ticket issuance with airlines worldwide including AZAL, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, and other carriers.
• Corporate Services Corporate travel program designed for businesses and employees, providing high-quality service for business trips and corporate vacations while saving time and money.
• Hotel Booking Hotel reservation services backed by contracts with hotels across various countries, offering competitive rates and group discounts through B2B, online, and direct partner channels. Covers business, sanatorium, resort, and spa hotels.
• Visa Support Visa application assistance for travelers to destinations worldwide, including support for tourists visiting Azerbaijan with standard (3 business days) or express (3 hours) processing options.
• Travel Insurance Travel insurance certificates guaranteeing medical assistance and payment of medical expenses in case of sudden illness or accident while traveling to any country.
• Transfers Hotel, airport, and intercity transportation services on private and SIC basis using Mercedes and Volkswagen vehicles ranging from sedans to 55-passenger buses, operating in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
• MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events) Full range of travel and conference services for groups of 20 to 380 participants. Over 41 MICE projects completed for companies in medical, educational, economic, and technological sectors.
• Tashkent City Tour 3 nights/4 days tour of Tashkent, Uzbekistan with accommodation at Ramada Tashkent 4* or International 5*, city tours, Chimgan Mountains, chair cable-car, Charvak Lake, plus Uzbekistan visa support.
• Heritage Tour Azerbaijan 6-day comprehensive tour covering Baku city, Gobustan National Park, mud volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanardag burning mountain, Shaki city, and the Caucasus Mountains.
• Gastronomic Tour Azerbaijan Cultural and culinary tour featuring traditional Azerbaijani cuisine, visits to Abgora Vinery for wine tasting, local restaurants, and regional specialties.
• Georgia Package 4 Nights/5 Days 4-night, 5-day Georgia tour with 4-star accommodation, Tbilisi city tour, Mtskheta tour, and Gudauri tour starting from $286 per person.
• Family Tour Package (4N/5D) Family-oriented 4-night, 5-day tour including Baku city tour with Deniz Mall, Gabala city tour, Shamakhi Safari Park, Nohurgol Lake, Tufandag cable-car, and Gabaland amusement park.
• Caucasus Mountains Skiing and Hiking 5 nights, 6-day winter adventure (January 5 to March 20) covering Baku, Shahdag ski resort, hiking in Laza and Griz villages, with accommodation at Midtown Hotel 4* and Shahdag Mountain Resort 5*.
• Azerbaijan in 7 Days Comprehensive 7-day tour covering Baku, Absheron Peninsula, Gabala with Tufandag complex and Gabaland, Shaki city, and Gobustan with petroglyphs and mud volcanoes.
• Travel to Morocco (Visa-Free) 8 nights/9 days Morocco tour visiting cities including Marrakech, with accommodation from Riad Godwa 3* ($1,206) to Grand Mogador Menara 5* ($1,352), under visa-free entry.
• Bali, Indonesia Tour 7 nights/8 days Bali tour with accommodation from Melasti Kuta Bungalows 3* ($1,970) to Ibis Styles Bali Benoa 4* ($2,110), with installment payment options.
• Turkey Tours Turkey tour packages including Marmaris (from $725), Cappadocia ($1,350), Antalya-Kemer ($1,329), Bodrum ($1,473), and Kusadasi ($635) with varying hotel categories and meal plans.
• Yessentuki Sanatoriums Package 10 nights/11 days therapeutic vacation to Yessentuki sanatoriums in Russia, including treatment and three meals daily, starting from $972.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41+ MICE projects successfully completed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Lufthansa City CentercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStart Travel is affiliated with Lufthansa City Center network, providing global distribution reach and brand credibility in the travel agency industry.
• AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Azerbaijan's national airline for ticket sales and booking services.
• Turkish AirlinesmajorTechnology or IntegrationAirline partner for international ticket sales to Turkish destinations.
• Qatar AirwaysmajorTechnology or IntegrationAirline partner for ticket sales via IATA accreditation.
• LufthansamajorTechnology or IntegrationAirline partner through Lufthansa City Center network affiliation.
• British AirwaysmajorTechnology or IntegrationAirline partner for international ticket sales.
• AeroflotmajorTechnology or IntegrationAirline partner for Russian routes.
• Hotels in Azerbaijan and internationallycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContracts with many hotels in different countries including corporate pricing agreements with majority of hotels in Azerbaijan, offering competitive rates, group discounts, flexible reservation conditions, and late cancellation options.
• Georgia Partner NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolid partner network built in Georgia for DMC operations in neighboring country.
• Uzbekistan Partner NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolid partner network built in Uzbekistan for DMC operations in Central Asia.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• G Adventures: Global small-group adventure tour operator selling curated itineraries in 100+ countries. Comparable on tour-package design, group logistics, and DMC-like execution across overlapping destinations such as Morocco, Turkey, and Southeast Asia.
• Wild Frontiers Travel: SME adventure tour operator offering small-group tours and tailor-made trips across 60+ countries. Comparable on operationally scaled small-DMC profile, curated multi-country itineraries, and a similar product mix covering heritage, gastronomic, and nature experiences.
• Coral Travel: Major Russian tour operator with deep presence across Turkey, North Africa, and CIS outbound destinations. Highly comparable as a regional DMC with overlapping destination mix (Turkey, North Africa), IATA-style airline distribution partnerships, and B2B/B2C channels serving CIS source markets.
• Intrepid Travel: Global B Corp-certified small-group experiential tour operator operating in 100+ countries. Highly comparable on tour-package design, multi-day itineraries, ground logistics, and DMC-like ground operations across Caucasus-region and emerging destinations.

Broad incumbents

• Abercrombie & Kent: Global luxury DMC offering bespoke private travel and corporate incentive programs. Comparable on MICE/incentive travel, VIP handling, and curated itineraries for both premium leisure and enterprise clients.
• Pegas Touristik: Russia's largest tour operator with broad international presence and significant outbound CIS market reach. Comparable as a much larger regional incumbent offering packaged tours, hotel contracts, and DMC-style ground handling with similar full-service travel capabilities.
• TUI Musement: Global tours, activities, and DMC business within TUI Group serving tens of millions of customers. Comparable on curated experiences, transfers, and MICE/event ground handling across emerging and Mediterranean destinations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/starttravel.az
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/start-travel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Start Travel