- Details
- Category: Entrepreneur
- 08 Apr 2014
- Written by Rizal Raoul Reyes
In her younger days in La Union, PinoyTravel Chief Executive Officer Aurora Soriano recalled that she and her siblings had to endure the inconveniences of waking up early and lining up in the bus terminal just to get tickets to the various provincial destinations around the country.
“People still needed to line up in bus terminals. And in areas where there are no terminals, commuters would have to wait by the road side and flag down oncoming buses as chance passengers,” shared Soriano.
Thus the idea of PinoyTravel was born. Soriano, alongside colleague Maui Millan, submitted the business concept to IdeaSpace, the largest privately backed technology incubator in the country, with wireless services leader Smart Communications Inc. as one of its supporters.
PinoyTravel, the country’s first online and mobile bus-booking system, eventually became part of its pioneering batch of start-up incubatees and was commercially launched in October 2013. Despite being a young business concept, it has already been awarded the “IT Startup of the Year” by the IT Journalists Association of the Philippines (Cyberpress) for its bold attempts at revolutionizing domestic travel in the country with the help of technology.
The launch of PinoyTravel was perfect for the summer season as it can help Filipinos travel to beat the summer heat and go to the pristine beaches of Palawan or to the lush landscapes and tourist destinations of Bicol. By logging on to www.pinoytravel.com.ph or using the PinoyTravel Android app, commuters can also conveniently book airline tickets—ensuring a smooth and hassle-free trip.
In partnership with bus companies DLTBCo. and Cherry Bus, PinoyTravel now offers online booking of bus seats from Manila to Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon, as well as the route between Puerto Princesa and El Nido in Palawan.
“People think experiencing El Nido is an expensive fare, but not many are aware that they can visit this prime destination by flying to Puerto Princesa on budget airlines then take the bus to El Nido, which is now available with PinoyTravel,” explained Soriano “Additionally, those who want to spend their summer days in the beaches of Camarines Sur or seeing the majestic Mount Mayon can now do so with the help of PinoyTravel.”
Aside from Bicol and Palawan, PinoyTravel has been providing convenient bus-booking services to favorite domestic destinations, including: Baguio through Victory Liner and Genesis Transport; Tuguegarao through Victory Liner; Baler, Aurora, through Genesis Transport; and Manaoag and Dagupan in Pangasinan through Five Star Bus.
PinoyTravel has also forged partnerships with a number of local travel agencies and ticket resellers, starting with Aports Travel operated by Ferdinand Legaspi, and with online hotel-booking site Agoda.com to offer convenient and best-value trips to both foreign and local travelers in the Philippines.
“We’re planning to add several more routes in the future by partnering with other bus lines. This way, Filipinos can easily and conveniently enjoy the many natural wonders our country has to offer,” Soriano added. “In our own way, PinoyTravel wants to promote local travel to Filipinos because the country has definitely a lot to offer,” she added.
Now on its second year, IdeaSpace Foundation Inc. expanded outside the Philippines to attract inspired and marketable start-up ideas from neighboring Southeast Asian countries as the region is getting noticed for its crucial role in the global economy.
A non-profit foundation, IdeaSpace is supported by the following companies: First Pacific, First Pacific Leadership Academy, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., MPIC hospital group, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Manila Electric Co., Smart Communications Inc., Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. and its mobile brand Sun Cellular, SPI Global, ePLDT, Indofood, Philex Mining, Maynilad, MediaQuest and TV5.
With P500 million in funding over five years, the initiative is the largest private-sector commitment for technology entrepreneurship in the Philippines.
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