TripShock Celebrates 10 Years of Growth and Excellence!
80,000 Reservations Booked in 2018
Growth to 60 Employees Throughout the Southeast
Expanded into New Markets
Exponential Partner Growth from Bookings and Marketing Exposure
DESTIN, FL. (TripShock.com) June 2019 – TripShock is celebrating 10 years in business! Co-founded in 2009 by CEO Greg Fisher, “We started TripShock because we wanted people to discover top tours and attractions in the Gulf Coast region,” said Fisher. “And we wanted a central location for our partners to collaborate and offer and market their businesses to customers.” Now, more than 1000 activities are offered in multiple destinations throughout the Northern Gulf Coast from Panama City Beach to New Orleans, South Carolina and other destinations in Florida. Last year alone, 80,000 reservations were booked, and the company has grown from two co-founders to a talented and diverse team of 60 employees who work remotely in TripShock’s markets.
“As we reach this milestone, it’s good to reflect on how far we have come,” said Fisher. “If 10 years in business has taught me anything, it’s that you really don’t know where a venture will take you. In May of 2009, we started up in Destin, Fla., initially, with just two of us. We had one goal—to provide the best service for our stakeholders. We operated in Destin for the first couple of years, then branched out into Panama City Beach and Pensacola in 2012. In 2013, we spread into New Orleans and Gulf Shores. 2014 marked a year of unprecedented growth. Annual sales totaling 2.4 million dollars resulted in a tremendous 2,386% growth since 2011. In August of 2015, TripShock ranked 173rd on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing private companies nationwide. In 2017, TripShock established itself in Myrtle Beach and Key West and, most recently, Tampa last year.”
“Our network of business partners and community organizations combines the best local insights with the hottest deals in travel, creating the ideal marketplace for our tour operators. Through these close industry ties,” says Fisher, “we’re able to provide unbeatable rates and special pricing on activities such as charter fishing, dolphin cruises, parasailing, sightseeing cruises, theme park tickets and everything in between. Our users benefit from our buying power to get great discounts and sometimes choose several activities, ones they might have missed otherwise,” Fisher explained. The online platform positions partners for sustained growth and success. “We work hard to foster meaningful relationships with our partners on a day-to-day basis who are able to leverage the company’s marketing power and easy-to-use booking platform to attract thousands of new customers every day.”
TripShock includes partners’ tour availabilities and rates on the TripShock.com website for a commission on each sale. Collaboration is part of the value. “A partnership with TripShock allows operators to earn money selling their activities to guests and TripShock’s web audience with free partner tools that monetize their websites and boost their brands as well,” said Fisher. Steve Pixley, Reel Deal Destin, LLC, owner, a charter fishing business partner with TripShock since 2012, agrees. “TripShock has increased my web presence and business in a big way. They’ve also allowed me to enjoy off-season business where I’m able to keep employees hired,” said Pixley. “I have gone from seasonal to being able to stay in business year-round. They’ve exploded in both the amount of traffic generated, as well as the number of vendors they now supply,” said Pixley. “They’ve grown so much that they are continually needing to add more vendors to meet the customer demand. Only 15-20% of my customers are repeat business; the rest is new.”
TripShock’s social platforms, providing links, and popular blog influencers offer even more power. TripShock’s URL integration in articles, banners and social media posts have enabled partners to capture more leads and drive more sales, thereby increasing revenues exponentially. And TripShock’s Affiliates Program has allowed major travel entities to draw more traffic to their sites, grow their audiences, and generate thousands of dollars in passive income in the process.
Customer Satisfaction and Partner Growth
Fisher’s passion for the best customer service has paid off. TripShock has local agents in each market that customers can “LiveChat” with at any time. Director of sales Sarah Simon, a six-year employee, has witnessed TripShock grow exponentially over the past few years. “I remember when we were working just to gain the trust of our partners,” she said. “Part of the trust is that our partners know we are available, a real person, to speak with a potential customer.” Pixley concurs. “I believe the volume of activity we receive is partially due to excellent customer service and a live, knowledgeable person. The customer is already informed to where I don’t even have to talk to them; they know what to expect.”
As the business has evolved, so has its services and number of employees. “Our staff has been increasing about 25% each year,” said Fisher. “We work hard to foster meaningful relationships long-term, and to get our partners in front of their customers on a day-to-day basis. Customers can receive advice and market managers are empowered to provide great service.
Perhaps another reason for company success is that TripShock’s local market managers engage in an education program—mini-fam tours where they experience their partners’ offerings. “Since we’re educated on and have experienced the activity ourselves, we can lend that personal touch by being able to talk knowledgeably with our customers and share our experiences with them,” said Simon. “We understand their challenges, because we live and work in those areas ourselves and so, are prepared for their questions. We maintain a very high level of communication,” Simon said. “Greg also listens to his employees and takes into account their ideas and views. It’s all about making things easier for the customers and partners.”
Fisher believes high marks in customer satisfaction and helping his partners’ businesses grow have played a pivotal role in the company’s past success, and will continue to pave the way for future growth and expansion. “When I started a few years ago, TripShock was still relatively new,” said Simon, who now manages a team of roughly 15 reservation agents. “Now, customers call me! We’ve garnered their trust.”
“Greg believes in his partners and will do what it takes to help and promote them. As a result, when they grow, we grow,” said Simon. “Expectations are a big deal these days. So, it’s important for TripShock to deliver the experience that people expect. We deliver by looking at company reviews, listening to our employees and customers and providing that level of personal touch. We invest in people that want to invest in us. That’s the power of TripShock.”
TripShock has now established itself as one of the southeast’s leading booking sites. “We continually meet company owners in all of our markets who are transforming their business with TripShock,” said Fisher. “Ten years ago, TripShock was ahead of the times,” said Pixley. “In innovation and research, TripShock is unparalleled and has cornered the market. I hope they continue as my business expands with them. Without them, I’d have to invest a lot of money in other avenues to compete with the volume TripShock provides,” said Pixley. “Their 10th Anniversary is a milestone for them, but also for my business as I do better each year. I’m hoping to expand and feel I’d be unable to without the TripShock team.”
The Future
“The wave of the future,” said Simon, “is integration. We plan to provide more specialty tours, such as food and special needs, as well as more customization.” The technology also is already a huge factor. “Most people are booking through their phones once they arrive in a destination and TripShock has optimized web presence making this easy,” said Pixley.
“The big trend is real-time booking. Operators do not want to retrieve new reservations from their email.This trend has prompted us to form new partnerships with popular travel tech companies such as Fareharbor, Reserve with Google, and Rezdy. This not only adds value to our operator partnerships, but opens us up to new audiences and converts more bookings.”
For more information regarding TripShock.com, please contact Sandra Dove-McClain at TripShock’s headquarters in Destin, Fla., at 850-424-5125 ext.1008 or email [email protected].
About TripShock.com
Operating in destinations spanning the southeast U.S., TripShock.com is an online platform that allows users to search and book activities for vacations. Representing tour operators and tourism service provider, TripShock connects tourists with the best local businesses to create a wealth of unforgettable, family-friendly travel experiences. Its personable team of innovators and local experts deliver an incredible user-experience in booking deep sea fishing trips, watersport rentals, city tours, dolphin cruises and more than 1000 exciting tours and attractions.
Founded in 2009, TripShock has grown from a single tour provider to over 130 tour and lodging providers throughout the Gulf Coast region. The company was recently named an Inc. 5000 company and has been in operation for 10 years offering reservations of curated tours, tourist services and experiential activities. TripShock provides affiliate programs to property managers, CVBs and accommodation providers.