Skift Take
The pandemic catapulted a few niche innovations into widespread use, benefiting a few fast-moving travel businesses. Lists come and go, but pay attention to the underlying trends that will last after the crisis passes.
Though the pandemic has hammered much of the travel sector, a handful of fast-growth companies powered through somewhat undiminished. Apart from the worst lockdowns, 16 U.S. private companies in travel emerged in good enough financial health to be counted as among the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America.
The track record of these travel businesses reflects broader trends that undergird the entire sector's phased recovery. The pandemic in many ways re-prioritized what people want from travel suppliers. Some interests and behaviors that used to be specialized transformed into more widely popular options. Vacation rentals, outdoor travel, and experiences are some of the categories to benefit.
The list from Inc. assessed companies by their revenue growth between 2017 and 2020. Like every list, it isn't perfect. This one suspiciously neglects startups, such as recreational vehicle marketplace Outdoorsy and outdoor adventure booking service Hipcamp, which seem to be growing rapidly.
"Many venture backed companies refuse to disclose precise revenue numbers and that means they don't appear on the Inc list," said Nadav Gur, a principal at Vanguard Enterprises, a consultancy for startups, and executive chairman of ridehail aggregator Obi.
But directionally speaking, the companies on the list reveal broader patterns worth tracking.
Alternative Accommodations Is the Big Winner
The top-performer in the travel and hospitality sector is Frontdesk, named the 136th fastest-growing private company on the list. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based startup runs short-term rentals with hotel-like amenities. It also sells operational software, called Flex, to property managers.
