Travala.com (AVA)
Travala.com (AVA)
Travala.com Review
Travala.com (AVA) (Founded in 2017) is a Cryptocurrency-friendly travel booking service with 2,200,000+ properties in 230 countries and 600 airlines globally. Backed by industry-giant Binance, Travala.com is a champion of Cryptocurrency adoption, accepting over 28 leading cryptocurrencies in addition to traditional payment methods. The Travala.com value proposition is bolstered by AVA, the native cryptocurrency of the platform. AVA can be used for payments, receiving loyalty rewards, discounts and bonuses, among several other use cases**.** [38][39]
We pride ourselves on being the leading Cryptocurrency friendly accommodation booking platform. Pay for your stay anywhere in the world seamlessly using your favorite Cryptocurrency.[40]
Overview
Introducing Travala.com
Book hotels, Resorts and Hostels on Travala.com
Travala.com (formerly known as Concierge) was founded in 2017 by Juan Otero (Co-Founder & CEO).
Backed by Binance, Travala.com has grown from a small start-up to the world’s leading Blockchain-based travel booking platform trusted by thousands of customers worldwide as their preferred online travel agency.[41]
The platform connects travelers with places to stay, including everything from hotels, apartments, villas and hostels to 5-star luxury resorts.
The Travala.com platform currently offers over 3,100,000 travel products from Hotels to Homes, Flights and Activities covering 90,124 destinations in 230 countries and territories, and with prices up to 40% cheaper than mainstream travel booking platforms.
They have successfully created a friction-less travel booking experience that incorporates next generation Blockchain technology and tokenised incentives. By introducing cutting edge user experience and multiple Cryptocurrency and traditional payment options alongside benefits tied to its proprietary Cryptocurrency AVA, other platform's customers know they are booking with a platform of the future with transparent pricing and backed up by their Best Price Guarantee. [43]
The Travala.com value proposition is bolstered by AVA.
As the native cryptocurrency of the platform, AVA can be used for payments, receiving and redeeming loyalty rewards, refunds, and as a store of value, among several other use cases.
AVA tokens are available for the savings programs as well, with the rewards offered by the platform being in proportion to the size of the stakes in the users’ wallets.
In addition to AVA, the platform users can pick any of more than 28 supported cryptocurrencies to pay for their travel arrangements, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Zcash, BNB, Dogecoin and others. [42][44]
Worldwide Destinations:
Europe, North America, Asia, Central America & Caribbean, Pacific Ocean & Australia, South America, Africa and Middle East.
Travala.com Vision
Travala.com
Travala.com’s vision is to align travel booking with the ethos of Decentralized technology. That being, promote accessibility to anyone, anywhere, offer censorship resistant and Peer-to-peer transactions, and build open-source technology controlled by software and governed by users. see less .[41]
How To Use Travala and AVA Tokens
The Travala team plans to develop their project around the idea of the user’s journey, starting from the trip planning and organization and ending with the earning of AVA tokens:
The journey starts by checking the Travala.com website, which operates as a hub of information on available travel arrangements with advanced search functions.
First-time users will be prompted to register, with the bonus of receiving a reward for joining the platform in the form of AVA tokens.
Returning users will be notified to purchase or deposit new tokens if their AVA funds are running low.
Users can start the actual booking process by providing the necessary information and making a decision on how to make payments, including Fiat money, AVA tokens or other Cryptocurrency. This can largely depend on one’s need for the promotional prices and the most attractive discount deals which are reserved only for the payments made with AVA. In this case, AVA tokens can be used to pay for the entire booking arrangement or a fraction of its full amount.
Once the users set off, their Travala-based personal dashboard will be used to manage all booked arrangements.
There is also a selection of Travala’s strategic partners that accept AVA tokens on site as a means of payment for upgrades and additional services while traveling, with an option to get access to better rewards in the end.
Once their journey is completed, the users have an opportunity to provide a review of their experience.
These reviews need to be cryptographically verified as authentic prior to being deemed as eligible for rewards in the form of AVA tokens.
Tokens are also awarded for customer referrals which do not have to be limited to Travala platform itself, but rather to the property the traveler used to stay at.
In addition, the users are incentivized to work on their platform-based reputation, as those with high enough scores become eligible to receive AVA tokens.
Reputation is earned by being voted for by other users who find the provided content and feedback as being useful to them[44]
Architecture Summary
Modern JavaScript front-end application written in Angularjs with Socket.io for streaming real-time updates.
Python, NodeJS, and Java backend technologies structured in a microservices architecture for service isolation and easy scaling.
iOS and Android apps built in React for rapid development and responsive improvements based on customer feedback.
Cloud hosting in AWS for automatic horizontal scaling, instance management, deep stack monitoring, and innumerable other benefits provided by the AWS ecosystem.
CloudFlare CDN and Firewall for network edge optimizations and DDOS protection.
How Travala’s dApp and Protocol Layers Work:
The Travala platform is built upon three main layers which make up the core of its ecosystem:
The Travala dApp Layer.
This layer functions as the platform’s user-facing interface.
Its main role is making it possible for the customers to browse the supplier offerings and complete their bookings based on their choice.
The layer also supports access to the built-in Travala wallet which is used to store tokens such as AVA.
DApp layer also serves as a support engine which allows users to post their reviews of the services they received with the help of the Travala platform.
Finally, this layer links the customers with special offers and additional services such as travel insurance.
The Travala Protocol Layer.
This layer handles the underlying economic engine of the platform.
It supports the implementation of NEP-5 contract standard across the layer.
The Protocol Layer is home to a host of smart contracts which govern the interactions between all stakeholders in the Travala’s ecosystem, including travelers, suppliers and the platform’s strategic partners.
The platform uses NEO Blockchain for the booking process, with a new smart contract being deployed whenever a booking is made.
This layer also plays an important role in enabling the value transfer on the platform, including economic transactions and reputation feedback.
This is done with the help of proxy Smart contract, which are used to establish the validity of the process and greenlight the transfers for the involved stakeholders. The examples include the transfer of token-based value between customers and the property and service providers, such as when confirming the accommodation bookings.[44]
Travala’s Consensus Layer Function
The Travala Consensus Layer chiefly handles the underlying records on the Travala platform.
As this layer is built upon the NEO Blockchain foundation, it also uses the dBFT (Delegated Byzantine Fault Tolerant) protocol which combines the features of the delegated Proof of Stake system.
The Travala team promotes this system as being capable of processing some 1000 transactions per second, with the plans to increase its scalability to some 100,000 tx/s in the coming years.
This layer serves as the repository for the governing records which feature essential information related to the main stakeholders in the platform’s economy.
Once again, the proxy smart contracts are used to keep track of states which are related to monetary operations and data management.
The examples include monitoring of the users’ token balances and their commitments defined under smart contracts.
Based on this, the platform is capable of verifying the reputation of individual users and confirming it as trusted.[44]
Travala.com (AVA) Token
AVA Token Details
Travala.com Logo
AVA is the native Cryptocurrency of the Travala.com platform, AVA (BEP-2 token standard) is at the heart of all existing and future use cases Travala.com is pursuing. With AVA, the incentive to use Travala.com becomes even stronger as it provides additional benefits and enhanced user engagement.
With the introduction of AVA into the business model, the incentive to use Travala.com becomes significantly stronger.
On top of Travala.com’s existing strengths, the addition of AVA provides additional benefits and enhanced user engagement.
AVA features front-and-center in the platform's unique selling proposition to users.
It can be used as an additional method of payment for bookings, or as the sole payment method for special offers.
It can be used for access to enhanced rewards, or directly recouped for the equivalent fiat value on partner exchanges.
AVA Token Details:
| AVA | Token Details |
|---|---|
| Total supply | 61,242,960 |
| Circulating Supply | 42,899,088 |
| BEP2 asset on | Binance Chain |
| BEP20 asset on | Binance Smart Chain |
AVA’s functionality makes it critical to the success of Travala.com.
The interplay of AVA use cases is designed to encourage loyalty to the Travala.com platform while increasing distribution and liquidity of the token.
Function of AVA Token:
Payments: Users can Pay for their trip using AVA. Pay the full amount of their accommodation bookings with the AVA token and they will get an extra 3% discount of the total price.
Price Guarantee: Travala will match any public competitor’s price. If Users book a stay on Travala.com and find a cheaper price elsewhere, They can claim the difference in AVA.
Pay your Bills with AVA: Pay any Australian bill with AVA – electricity bills, car registration, mobile phone, credit card, school fees, rent or even a bank account.
TravalAds: Hotels and travel suppliers can use AVA to pay for priority seeding of their product in search results. This extends to any travel-related services.
Booking Givebacks : For each booking completed on Travala.com users get 2% of their final booking price paid back in AVA.
Repurchasing Plan : The repurchasing plan take’s place every quarter. The amount of AVA to be repurchased each quarter is based on 20% of net booking revenue.
Spend & Shop: Spend and shop with AVA as payment at over 5,000 e-commerce merchants worldwide made possible by the Platform's strategic partnership with Coingate.
Review rewards : Rewards for travelers who leave an authentic review about their stay. Only possible to review a confirmed booking. All review rewards are paid in AVA.[47]
Where To Store, Buy, Sell and Trade AVA Token
Users can securely Store AVA with the following wallets:
Binance Dex
Guarda Cryptocurrency Wallet
Ledger
Enjin Crypto Wallet
Trezor
Safepal Wallet
Swipe Wallet
Vision Crypto
Meet.One
Exchanges and partners where Users can buy, sell and trade AVA:
Travala.com currently accepts 4 payment options including Credit card, Cryptocurrencies, Crypto.com Pay and Travel Credits.
Travala.com Mobile Application
As a compliment to the Travala.com desktop platform, the team is creating the ultimate mobile travel booking application.
Available on both iOS and Android, the Travala.com application will offer users the best experience on their mobile device by incorporating intelligent design and offering enhanced functionality.
In line with industry trends, they anticipate the mobile app to become the primary point of engagement for its users.
The app is built on the four pillars that comprise of the technology framework.
These are: (1) smart, (2) omni-channel, (3) open APIs, and (4) modular architecture.
Travala.com Digital Wallet
Digital wallets form the backbone of the Travala.com AVA token economy.
Once the new Binance Chain based wallet is deployed on Travala.com it will allow the following functions to be completed on-chain, thereby providing full transparency of transaction activity:
Cryptocurrency deposits
Cryptocurrency withdrawals
SMART Program lockups
Givebacks
Loyalty rewards
Cryptocurrency refunds
Refunds have particular significance in this context.
In the travel and tourism industry, free cancellation or refundable bookings are standard.
This is easy to manage with traditional online payment options like credit cards.
In the Cryptocurrency environment, however, this is not as simple because transactions cannot be reversed.
We have come up with an innovative solution to the cryptocurrency refund problem.
Travala.com will use BUSD (Bep2) as the payout currency for all refundable Cryptocurrency bookings.
If a traveler pays for their refundable booking with any Cryptocurrency and they decide to cancel, they will be refunded the equivalent value of their booking in the stable coin directly to their Travala.com in-built platform wallet. [46]
Travala.com Programs
Smart Program:
Smart Program
Smart program offers up to 5% discount off the listed prices together with up to 5% loyalty reward after the users have completed their stay.
It works on holding a tiered amount of AVA in their wallet.
When activated it applies to hotel and accommodation bookings that have the Smart Icon available.
Users will also earn bonus rewards of 24% APY just for activating the membership.
Users can:
Book Hotels : Choose from over +2.2 mil hotels and accommodations worldwide.
Get Discounts : Get up to 5% discount from the listed prices at the time of booking
Earn Loyalty : Earn up to 5% loyalty rewards back after completing your hotel stay
Bonus Rewards : Get bonus rewards of 24% APY
How to Activate Smart Program
Members can activate the Smart Program via the Smart program page in their dashboard and follow the instructions.
Once activated their personal Smart user experience begins and they will see their discounts directly applied throughout the site.
Membership Tiers and Benefits :
There are tiered levels of the Smart program and they will offer the following benefits.
Simply activate and earn rewards!
| SMART Level | Amount of AVA | SMART discount | SMART loyalty | SMART bonus | Pay full with AVA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 500 | 1% | 2% | 24% APY | 3% OFF |
| Level 2 | 1000 | 2% | 2% | 24% APY | 3% OFF |
| Level 3 | 25000 | 3% | 3% | 24% APY | 3% OFF |
| Level 4 | 4000 | 4% | 4% | 24% APY | 3% OFF |
| Level 5 | 5000 | 5% | 5% | 24% APY | 3% OFF |
- Invite Program:
Users can now Invite people to join Travala.com.
For every person they invite that completes a booking of US$200 or more they will both receive US$25 worth of AVA rewards to their wallet after the invitee completes the stay at the property.
Benefits of the Invite Program:
Exclusive Rewards : Get paid for every new person that joins and makes a booking.
Simple and Free : Anyone can participate, just create an account on Travala.com
Personalized Dashboard : Users can Share, monitor and track their invitees all in one place.
How it Works:
Register: Send people an invite with a US$25 reward to join and make a hotel booking of US$200 or more.
Book: Get US$25 for every new person a user invites that completes a hotel booking of US$200 or more.
Get Rewarded: Invite rewards will be paid in the AVA token directly to the user and their invitees Travala.com wallet.[50]
Funding
Travala.com has raised a total of £731.1K in funding over 2 rounds.
Their latest funding was raised on Dec 24, 2019 from a Equity Crowdfunding round.
Travala.com is funded by Crowdcube.[51]
Travala.com Partners
Travala.com has already established a large list of partnerships, and seeks to grow partnerships where strategically worthwhile and where mutual commercial benefit is present.
Identifying key areas of competence to be reinforced through suitable partner support has been a priority focus to date.
Below are the key partnerships already confirmed.
Some Travel Brands Travala.com works with:
Expedia
Booking.com
Agoda.com
Priceline.com
Singapore Airlines
Emirates
Some Blockchain brands Traval.com works with:
Litecoin
Gemini
brave
CoinDesk
Bitcoin.com
CoinMarketCap[52]
Travala.com Team Members
Founded by a team of seasoned travel, fintech and Blockchain industry experts, Travala.com’s mission is to enhance the travel booking experience with Blockchain technology.
The early success of Travala.com is credited to the team of 30 individuals who are passionate about improving the way the platform's book travel services.
Within the Travala.com team are experienced professionals in Blockchain development, travel, and Fintech from some of the world’s largest companies. The majority of team members are located in Hanoi, Vietnam, whereas others are globally distributed.
| Names | Position | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Juan Otero | Co-Founder & CEO | With a wealth of experience in some of the largest tech companies in the world including Oracle and Booking.com, Juan is responsible for overseeing and driving all Travala.com operations, business activities and resources and for ensuring that all corporate decisions align with the overall strategy and mission. |
| Steve Hipwell | Steve Hipwell | With over 10 years experience in the online travel space, Steve is responsible for managing Travala.com’s day-to-day business operations.As Chief of Operations, Steve manages Travala.com’s operational processes to ensure an outstanding customer experience and that the company has all the necessary operational and financial procedures in place. |
| Caleb Yeoh | CBDO | As a former board member of Blockchain Australia, Caleb champions digital currency adoption through thought leadership and speaking events.Previous companies include Deloitte, Origin Energy, BHP Billiton and Shell.Caleb focuses on the development of the business through building relationships in the industry, identifying opportunities, and completing key business deals. |
| Drew Currah | CFO | As a CFO, Drew is responsible for managing the financials of Travala.com.His primary duties include financial planning, tracking cash flow, financial risk management, financial reporting and proposing corrective actions.In the past, Drew founded his own online home services marketplace and worked with the De Beers Group and Christopher Guy in financial strategy capacities.He is also a CFA charterholder. |
| Kent Pham | CTO | Being an executive leader for Technologies and Operations, Kent is responsible for outlining Travala.com’s technological vision, implementing technology strategies, and ensuring that technological resources meet the company’s short and long-term needs.The achievements of the development team cannot be reached without his direction. |
| Ben Rogers | CMO | With nearly a decade of marketing experience at giants like Google and Flight Centre, CMO Ben Rogers joins Travala.com to help take its next steps towards becoming a household name in the travel space and further promote the use cases of the AVA token. |
| Matthew Luczynski | Co-Founder & CSO | Having worked on a number of start-ups within the travel space, with focus on bringingBlockchaintechnology to the mass market, Matthew is responsible for managing Travala.com’s strategic initiatives, ensuring that the company’s long-term strategy is embedded to all internal and external communications. |
| Radka Wilson | Global Operations Manager | Radka joins Travala.com as Global Operations Manager with 14 years travel industry experience at global travel organisations such as Flight Center Travel Group.Radka will be responsible for management of all areas of customer and operational support. |
| Alexis Sirkia | Strategy Advisor | With an extensive background in IT operations and security, Alexis began his career as a project engineer at the European Space Center (CSG), after which he co-founded a leading crypto market making firm.Alexis is currently the Founder of the leadingBlockchainincubator and accelerator Yellow.com and a valuable strategic advisor to Travala.com. |
| James Seibel | Blockchain Advisor | James is formerly CTO of Airfox where he was instrumental in Airfox’s USD $15 million digital asset sale.James is formerly Head of Engineering at Apperian (acquired by Arxan Technologies) and has an MS and BA in Computer Science from Boston University.James currently managesBlockchainand trade engineering teams at thePoloniex Cryptocurrencyexchange and is a valuable advisor to Travala.com. |
| Juwan Lee | Asia Advisor | Juwan Lee is a veteran CEO andFintechentrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the financial services and investment industries.He has served as head of equity for JP Morgan and co-founded theBlockchainCenter of Hong Kong. Juwan is currently the CEO of Arrakis Ventures, and a valuable strategic advisor for Travala.com in the Asian Markets.[53] |