Listen to this articleBelow is our recent interview with Nicole Quinlan, Co-Founder and CEO at TripChat App:
Q: Could you provide our readers with a brief introduction to your company?
A: TripChat is a women owned tech company headquarters in Lafayette La. The TripChat team believes that special places shouldn’t go undiscovered and good stories shouldn’t go unheard. TripChat’s proprietary Audio Billboard’s spring to life as the user enters geofenced areas telling the story about the surrounded locations and attractions. With twelve categories to select from, the content is delivered based on the users preference, answering life’s curiosities about what there is to see and do in the area and communities that surround the user. As the stories play and the images of the location are shown, users can easily navigate to location, share to social media and messages, make in app reservations, purchase tickets, visit the attractions website or call for more information. The idea is to showcase the hidden gems that are often the best kept secrets so users can experience life like a local. TripChat can also be used ahead of time as a planning tool prior to arrival.
Q: Any highlights on your recent announcement?
A: We are excited to be the first travel and tourism app to feature a direct link to the Human Trafficking Hotline, empowering citizens to be Human Trafficking Prevention Hero’s. With Pop-A-Lock as our national partner we also integrated an in app feature that directs users to their national dispatch center where users can request roadside assistance, emergency unlocking and key making. We recently hosted a private screening of the Sound of Freedom, movie raising Human Trafficking awareness. It was an honor to have American hero Tim Ballard founder of O.U.R. rescue in attendance.
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Q: Can you give us more insights into your offering?
A: TripChat offers affordable marketing to small businesses, with the ability to tell their story. It’s important as we recover due to the pandemic that we recognize how to help communities stay open and build back stronger. Our story telling, preserves cultures, festivals and traditions and showcases the small businesses and attractions that make up the travel and tourism industry.
Q: What can we expect from your company in next 6 months? What are your plans?
A: TripChat plans to scale it’s digital footprint globally, starting in North America and the Caribbean. Working along side marketing agencies in each area, providing an opportunity to showcase their new and existing clients assets on an innovative platform. There is potential to partner with major travel brands and regional tourism organizations to assist their guest while planning, traveling to from and on property. As well as auto manufacturers looking to incorporate third party apps to enhance the driver experience. We recently partnered with the Louisiana Secretary of State and we are excited to be a part of their launch for a new initiative LBAT. Louisiana Business’ against trafficking. This not only raises awareness but give us the opportunity to reach the small businesses that are a perfect fit to be featured on TripChat. We plan to scale nationwide, well beyond our pilot here in Louisiana. Our goal is to build relationships with each states Office of Tourism that oversees the states assets and attractions to include state parks and museums. While providing value to the smaller attractions and businesses that do not have the marketing budget that often times are the price points of larger destination marketing agencies. Our content goes through an approval process to keep stories authentic. We have an easy online portal where content can be uploaded.
Recommended: Q: What is the best thing about your company that people might not know about?
A: The problem with current travel apps, websites and planning tools, is that they only have a distinct purpose for specific locations and often come with a subscription fees. TripChat is free to the user, so there is no question as to why you should download TripChat, the question would be why not? While we fall in the travel and tourism category the idea is to become a lifestyle app.
