Viator snaps up tour guide booking site OurExplorer

October 27, 2010 By 3 Comments

Australia-based OurExplorer starts life under a new regime today after being bought by online tours and attractions retailer Viator.

ourexplorer

Viator acquired the Sydney company – its first since a change in management structure when founder Rod Cuthbert left as chairman in September 2010 – for an undisclosed fee.

OurExplorer launched in 2008 and has grown quickly to include 2,000 registered tour guides in 500 destinations around the world on its books.

The system works by allowing users to search for guides in a particular destination, view their availability, ask questions and make a reservation with deposit.

Many of the guides offer services for a range of attractions in any given location and have set rates published on the site as well as videos and copies of official tour licences.

The deal makes a fair amount of sense for Viator – and perhaps signals an intent to broaden its remit through acquisitions – as it will be able to integrate the service into the main tours and attractions platform, although officials say the OurExplorer brand will continue to run operate independently.

Related posts:

  1. Viator adds destination content, becomes more social
  2. Airline websites get activities through iSeatz-Viator ties
  3. Viator heads to Scandinavia with four new country sites
Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,
Kevin May About Kevin May

Kevin May is editor of Tnooz. He joined as a co-founder in August 2009 after spending nearly four years as editor of UK-based business publication Travolution.

Passionate about the business of travel and the internet, Kevin played a major role in establishing Travolution in print, online, events and with an annual awards programme, as well as becoming a regular speaker and moderator at industry events.

Prior to Travolution, Kevin was web editor at Media Week (UK) and also worked in regional newspapers for two years at the Essex Enquirer. He started his career in journalism at the Police Gazette at New Scotland Yard in London.

Comments

  1. Ian C says:
    October 27, 2010 at 9:18 pm

    Well done Dave!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Viator snaps up tour guide booking site OurExplorer | Tnooz -- Topsy.com says:
    October 27, 2010 at 7:02 am

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by rf4travel, Tnooz, BTCNewsFeed, Kev, Kevin May and others. Kevin May said: Interesting move here… Viator snaps up tour guide booking site OurExplorer http://bit.ly/dte1aR [Tnooz] [...]

    Reply
  2. Ultimate guide to the specialist tour and in-destination activity market | Tnooz says:
    March 5, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    [...] Our Explorer – 10% paid upfront to Our Explorer, 90% paid to supplier in destination. Now owned by Viator (See TNooz coverage) [...]

    Reply

Speak Your Mind

*