Every bestselling tour started as an idea someone was brave enough to launch. Now operators across North, Central and South America have a new stage to pitch theirs.
Bókun, a Tripadvisor company, has opened entries for Launchpad Americas, a Shark Tank-style competition for experience operators with a brand-new product they’re ready to bring to market. The prize: $10,000 USD in cash and an accelerator package built to take an idea from concept to bookable, distributed and selling.
Entries close October 21.
From Europe to the Americas
Launchpad isn’t new. The competition’s first edition ran in Europe, where more than 160 operators pitched for a shot at the top prize. The response showed what many in the industry already suspected: there’s no shortage of creative thinking among operators. What’s often missing is the capital, tools and reach to turn a strong concept into a product that sells.
Launchpad Americas brings that same opportunity to operators on this side of the Atlantic, from established tour companies planning their next product to smaller businesses with one big idea they haven’t had the backing to launch.
What’s up for grabs
One winning idea takes home the Launchpad Accelerator package, which includes:
- A $10,000 USD cash prize to help bring the idea to life
- A 12-month Bókun START subscription, with 0% booking fees on the winning product
- 12 months of commission-free distribution on the winning product with Viator and Airbnb
- Two tickets to an Arival event of the winner’s choice
- A 12-month Tourpreneur PRO membership and a TripSchool place
- A professionally shot video case study, plus dedicated onboarding and support from the Bókun team
The package is designed to cover the full journey of a new product. The cash funds the build. Bókun handles bookings, payments and operations. Viator and Airbnb put the experience in front of millions of travelers from day one. Arival and Tourpreneur bring the industry knowledge and community that help a new product find its feet and keep growing.
How to enter
Entering is simple, and you don’t need a production budget. Your phone is perfect.
- Record a 60–90 second video pitching a brand-new experience.
- Explain who it’s for, what makes it special and why now is the right time.
- Submit your video and details on the Launchpad Americas page at bokun.io/launchpad.
The idea needs to be new: an experience you want to create, rather than one you already sell. It could be a new tour format, a fresh take on your destination, an untapped audience or a concept that blends experiences in a way travelers haven’t seen before.
Judges are looking for originality, a clear sense of who the experience is for, and a compelling reason it will succeed in today’s market. Passion counts, too.
Pitching to a panel of industry experts
Shortlisted operators will pitch live, virtually, to a judging panel drawn from across the experiences industry. Judges represent Bókun, Viator, Airbnb, Arival, Tourpreneur, the Travel Trends Podcast, Gray Line, and Brand USA.
That’s a rare room to be in. For finalists, the pitch itself is an opportunity: direct exposure to leaders from some of the biggest distribution channels, operators and industry voices in travel, and live feedback on how to sharpen an idea for market.
Why it matters for the industry
Traveler expectations keep shifting. People want experiences that feel personal, local and memorable, and they’re increasingly discovering and booking them online. Operators who innovate are the ones best placed to meet that demand.
But launching something new carries real risk. Developing a product, setting up the systems to sell it and getting it seen by the right audience all take time and money, often before the first booking comes in. Launchpad Americas is designed to remove as much of that risk as possible for one standout idea, and to celebrate the creativity that keeps the experiences sector moving forward.
About Bókun
Bókun is the complete booking and channel management solution for extraordinary experiences. Experience Operators use Bókun to manage their business, sell directly and connect to more than 70 OTAs and resellers, including Viator, GetYourGuide and Airbnb. A Tripadvisor company, Bókun is the number one reservation technology across major OTAs.
Ready to pitch?
If you’ve been sitting on an experience idea, waiting for the right moment, this is it. Grab your phone, record your pitch and submit before October 21.
Find out more and enter at bokun.io/launchpad.
