Trip Merchant

What Trip Merchant does

Trip Merchant is a privately held Canadian membership-based travel services company operating a B2B2C digital platform that connects Membership-Based Organizations, Employers, individual consumers, and Travel Suppliers. The company was co-founded in 2018 by Tom MacLean (Director of Sales & Marketing) and Ryan Mikucki (Director of Business Development) and is headquartered in Lake Country, British Columbia, under the legal entity Trip Merchant Ltd. Its product surface comprises a Trip Merchant Membership subscription (General and Premium tiers) providing exclusive travel benefits and savings up to 50% off via supplier-negotiated deals; a Trip Merchant Journeys tour-operator sub-brand offering small-group (16-24 passenger) departures and private/tailor-made itineraries priced C$3,995-C$17,999; a Trip Merchant Rewards loyalty program that returns 2% in Travel Dollars on eligible bookings; and supplementary features including Solo Explorers, Trip Contests, Online Presentations, and additional perks such as car rental discounts, airport lounge access, and e-SIM savings.

The platform's underlying technology is a digital marketing and distribution layer rather than a sophisticated AI-driven system. It consists of custom-branded, password-protected member websites deployed for partner organizations within roughly two weeks of signup, a request/quote submission workflow for travel experiences, and supplier-facing API integration enabling hotels, airlines, tourism boards, cruise lines, tour operators, and destination management companies to display trip inventory to Trip Merchant's North American membership base. Trip Merchant holds Consumer Protection BC License #77118, satisfying provincial regulatory requirements to sell travel. Travel Suppliers pay fees for access and customer connections; the company also captures subscription fees from individual consumers and direct revenue from Journeys departures.

Trip Merchant earns revenue through four interlocking streams: (1) recurring annual consumer subscriptions for the Membership program, with premium upgrades and bonus rewards on activation/renewal, (2) transaction/referral fees from Travel Suppliers connected to customers via the platform, (3) direct tour-operator revenue from Trip Merchant Journeys group departures and private trips, and (4) revenue shared through the loyalty program that creates retention incentives. The go-to-market is channel-partner-led and sales-led in parallel: organizations sign up, submit a logo, and receive a free branded website without operational burden, while suppliers are pursued for marketplace supply and individual consumers can subscribe directly via tripmerchant.com.

Name

Trip Merchant

Legal name

Trip Merchant Ltd.

Website

https://tripmerchant.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trip Merchant is a privately held Canadian membership-based travel services company operating a B2B2C digital platform that connects Membership-Based Organizations, Employers, individual consumers, and Travel Suppliers to deliver subscription-based exclusive travel savings, a small-group tour operator sub-brand, and a 2% loyalty rewards program across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Membership and Tour Operator Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (561510), Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (5615)

akta.pro primary industry

Travel Subscription, Membership & Deal Clubs (THAKAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group & Small-Group Custom Itinerary Planning (THAKAOAF), Bespoke Multi-Day Itinerary Planning & Custom Tour Design (THAJALAB), Luxury Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAE), Luxury Travel Agencies (THAKAFAA), Group, Family & Multi-Generational Travel Planning (HSACAKAK)

Keywords

• Travel membership platform
• Tour operator services
• Travel subscription benefits
• Group travel packages
• Loyalty rewards program

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Consumer Subscriptions: Annual subscription fees from individual consumers who want access to exclusive travel benefits and savings. General subscription available for family and friends of members, with premium upgrade options for enhanced benefits.
2. Supplier Referral/Connection Fees: Trip Merchant connects Customers with Travel Suppliers through their digital platform. Suppliers pay fees for access to the customer base and the ability to respond to travel requests. The company collects fees based on customer purchases from suppliers.
3. Trip Merchant Journeys: Direct tour operator revenue from selling group departure and private/tailor-made travel experiences. These include trips to destinations like Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Croatia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Patagonia, Antarctica, and more. Pricing ranges from C$3,995 to C$17,999 per trip.
4. Loyalty Program Revenue Share: Revenue generated through the loyalty program where members earn Travel Dollars (2% on eligible purchases) that can be redeemed on future travel, creating repeat purchase incentives and customer retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Trip Merchant is a membership travel company that negotiates directly with travel suppliers to provide members with exclusive savings up to 50% off and curated group travel experiences. It offers subscription-based memberships (General and Premium tiers) with a 2% loyalty rewards program and complementary branded, password-protected travel websites for partner organizations. Its own tour operator brand, Trip Merchant Journeys, delivers small-group (16-24 passengers) and tailor-made itineraries worldwide including Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Croatia, Vietnam, Patagonia, and Antarctica, with most meals, activities, gratuities, and expert local guides included.

Product overview

Trip Merchant operates a B2B travel membership platform connecting membership-based organizations, employers, and individual consumers with travel suppliers. The core offering consists of Trip Merchant Membership subscriptions (with General and Premium tiers) providing exclusive travel benefits and savings up to 50% off. Trip Merchant Journeys serves as the company's tour operator sub-brand offering curated group departures and private/tailor-made trips globally with inclusive pricing. The platform is enhanced by the Trip Merchant Rewards loyalty program (earning 2% on eligible bookings), Solo Explorers solo travel matching, Trip Contests, Online Presentations, and Travel Newsletters. For B2B partners, Trip Merchant provides complimentary branded travel websites managed on their behalf, while travel suppliers gain API integration capabilities to display trips to the membership base.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trip Merchant Journeys: Trip Merchant's tour operator brand that delivers unique travel experiences including group departures and private/tailor-made trips to destinations worldwide.

Products and services

• Trip Merchant Membership A subscription-based travel membership program (General and Premium tiers) that provides individual travelers with exclusive negotiated savings of up to 50% off on travel bookings, access to curated trips, newsletters, trip contests, solo travel deals, and additional perks such as discounts on car rentals, airport lounges, and e-SIM cards. Annual subscription with automatic renewal and a free trial available.
• Trip Merchant Journeys Trip Merchant's tour operator brand delivering group departure and private/tailor-made travel experiences worldwide. Features small-group travel (16-24 passengers), hand-picked centrally-located hotels, inclusive itineraries with most meals, cultural activities, expert local guides, and included gratuities. Destinations include Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Croatia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Patagonia, Antarctica, Iceland, and more. Pricing ranges from C$3,995 to C$17,999 per person.
• Trip Merchant Rewards (Loyalty Program) A standalone loyalty rewards program where members earn 2% in Travel Dollars on eligible land/cruise bookings, redeemable toward future travel. Includes bonus rewards upon subscription activation or renewal ($50 for General; $75 for Premium). Rewards combine with member benefits and other supplier loyalty programs.
• Branded Travel Websites for Partner Organizations Complimentary custom-branded, password-protected travel websites provided to Membership-Based Organizations and Employers at no cost. Trip Merchant manages all content updates including travel news, tips, special savings, and e-newsletters. Organizations promote to their members/employees who gain exclusive savings.
• Travel Supplier Portal and API Integration Supplier-facing platform including API integration for displaying complete trip inventory, customized supplier pages, and webinar/presentation hosting opportunities. Enables hotels, airlines, tourism boards, cruise lines, tour operators, and DMCs to gain exposure to Trip Merchant's North American membership base.
• Solo Explorers Program A solo travel program providing members with solo travel deals and the opportunity to be matched with other single travelers to avoid single supplement fees and find travel companions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members save up to 50% off on travel through exclusive negotiated deals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Membership-Based OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrip Merchant partners with Membership-Based Organizations (professional associations, clubs, unions, etc.) by providing free branded travel websites with password-protected member access. Organizations promote the platform to members who gain exclusive travel benefits and savings. The partnership is free for organizations and requires only a logo submission.
• EmployerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployers partner with Trip Merchant to enhance employee benefits packages with exclusive travel savings. Trip Merchant provides a free branded website and manages all content. The partnership aims to improve employee acquisition and retention through unique perk offerings.
• Travel SupplierscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTravel suppliers (hotels, airlines, tourism boards, cruise lines, tour operators) partner with Trip Merchant to reach the company's North American membership base. Suppliers receive customized pages, webinar presentation opportunities, and access to customers seeking travel experiences. Trip Merchant negotiates exclusive member deals with these suppliers.
• Trip Merchant Journeys PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDestination management companies and inbound operator partners (Trip Merchant Journeys Partners) collaborate with Trip Merchant to deliver group travel experiences. These partners provide local expertise, guides, drivers, and on-ground operations for Trip Merchant Journeys itineraries covering destinations worldwide.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Working Advantage: Working Advantage provides employee discount and perks programs to corporations and organizations, addressing the same employer/association benefit-pain point Trip Merchant targets but across broader categories beyond travel.
• Inspirato: Inspirato is a subscription-based luxury travel club offering members exclusive access to vacation inventory and a portfolio of managed residences — conceptually similar to Trip Merchant's membership-subscription model but focused on luxury accommodations rather than tours and supplier deals.

Direct peers

• AAA (American Automobile Association): AAA is the prototypical membership-based travel club, offering exclusive travel discounts, agency services, and insurance to its millions of members. Trip Merchant is a digital, B2B-distributed analog of this model targeting organizations rather than individual members.
• Travelzoo: Travelzoo curates and distributes deeply discounted travel deals to a subscriber base via newsletters and apps — analogous to Trip Merchant's subscription + supplier-deal model — though Travelzoo is publisher-driven rather than partner-distributed.
• CAA (Canadian Automobile Association): CAA is the Canadian equivalent of AAA and the most direct domestic incumbent competing for the same Canadian travel-membership wallet. Both bundle exclusive travel discounts with roadside and lifestyle benefits.
• Costco Travel: Costco Travel offers members exclusive discounted vacation packages, cruises, and tours bundled with the Costco membership. It is structurally similar to Trip Merchant's member-exclusive travel model, though anchored to a single retail membership rather than a federated partner network.
• Kensington Tours: Kensington Tours designs custom luxury itineraries worldwide with handpicked properties and private guides, directly comparable to Trip Merchant Journeys' private/tailor-made offering.
• G Adventures: G Adventures specializes in small-group worldwide tours with a similar inclusive itinerary format and destination breadth to Trip Merchant Journeys, but with a much larger global brand and direct consumer distribution.
• Tauck: Tauck operates small-group inclusive guided tours and cruises globally with high-touch service. Closely comparable to Trip Merchant Journeys' inclusive itineraries with meals, gratuities, and local guides, though at a higher price tier and longer operating history.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Abercrombie & Kent is a luxury tour operator offering small-group and tailor-made itineraries worldwide, similar in product DNA to Trip Merchant Journeys but with decades of brand recognition and a more affluent customer base.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tripmerchant
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trip-merchant

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Trip Merchant