2024: Our Biggest Year Yet - And 2025 Will Be Even Better

2024 marked a turning point for Yonder. After joining forces with TOMIS, we've accelerated our mission to transform tour operator technology. Our AI-powered chatbot and review system are now helping operators worldwide automate bookings and drive direct sales through seamless platform integration. And we're just getting started.

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2024 Highlights‍

• Expanding our team and technology via acquisition. Thanks to our partnership with TOMIS in 2024, our team is moving faster than ever to deliver quality products to our clients, and we’re just getting started.
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• Helping clients scale thanks to AI automations. The ChatBot was responsible for $5.3M revenue across all clients in 2024 (more than doubled for our clients!).
  • According to the data (our own from sister-company TOMIS) in 2024, a tour operator is seeing an additional $1000/per month from their own ChatBot. 

• Expanding our reservation system partnerships. Post-acquisition our team was able to develop 5+ new reservation system integrations. From reviews to ChatBot Check Availability, these integrations keep our operators on the cutting edge.
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• Showing the value of AI through a GA4 integration. We know how important it is to be able to see exactly what a ChatBot is worth - and thanks to our GA4 integration our team is able to track every dollar booked through a Bot.
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• Getting out and connecting with our community IRL. We loved meeting our operators face-to-face in 2024. Our team showed up at the Arival conference in San Diego, California, FareHarbor's Spark conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, and The America Outdoors Conference & Outfitter Expo in Chattanooga, Tennessee - strengthening relationships and learning directly from our community's experiences.
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• Dreaming, scoping, and planning for 2025. Thanks to the momentum we gained in 2024, our team knew it was important to come out of the gate with a strong vision and plan for 2025. We’re excited for the three major upgrades and releases coming your way in Q1, and look forward to ever-improving in the new year.
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Industry Leadership

• Successfully integrated with TOMIS, combining our strengths to deliver more value to tour operators!
• Expanded our client base across multiple continents!
• Recognized as a Game-Changer: Named Finalist for Arival's 2024 Industry Innovation Award!

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Looking Ahead to 2025

The tours and activities industry continues to evolve, and we're staying ahead of the curve with exciting developments planned for 2025.
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What We're Building Next
We've got so many exciting features to show you in Q1, including but not limited to:

• New & Improved ChatBot. The latest innovations in conversational AI combined with our 5+ years of experience building for the travel industry have led to our very best bot yet.
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• Unified Inbox Upgrades. From SMS to Instagram to WhatsApp, we want your inbox to be a one-stop shop for your customer support team.
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• Improved Review Generation. We're going to expand your full customer journey touch points with new pre-trip messages and additional configuration options.
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  More Reservation System Integrations. Have a reservation system you want to see integrated into Yonder? Let us know.
  
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Tech & Travel Predictions We’re Embracing

• AI Integration is Transforming Travel. From behind-the-scenes operations to customer service, AI is becoming essential for streamlining processes, enabling dynamic pricing, and powering personalized guest communications. Companies that adapt to AI will gain significant competitive advantages.
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• Social Media is the New Search Engine. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are becoming primary discovery tools for travelers, especially among younger generations. Short-form video content is increasingly driving booking decisions, with many platforms now integrating direct booking capabilities.
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• Advance Planning & Longer Stays are Growing. 56% of travelers are booking activities in advance, and 58% plan stays of 5+ nights or longer. This shows a shift toward more deliberate, extended travel experiences rather than quick getaways.
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• Travel Spending Remains Strong Despite Economic Concerns. 95% of travelers plan to maintain or increase their travel budgets compared to previous years. Only 36% are considering changing plans due to costs, showing resilience in travel demand.
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• Private & Personalized Experiences are in High Demand. Travelers, especially affluent ones, are increasingly seeking customized, VIP experiences and private tours. There's a growing focus on authentic, community-driven tourism and special interest travel that creates meaningful connections.

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We're grateful to have you in Yonder’s community and excited to continue innovating together in 2025.
Stay tuned for updates as we roll out these new features and more throughout the year!

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