The role of social media now plays a key part in the travel experience of consumers: from how they research and book their holiday, to on-going engagement while they’re travelling, to posting reviews. Social networking is one of the most powerful forces driving travel planning today.

Come listen to the stories of two social travel start-ups – Spain-based Minube.com and California-based Triptrotting – and how social media is changing the travel landscape.

SPEAKERS:
Pedro Jareño, Co-Founder and Director of Communications (Minube.com)

Virgil Esguerra, European Regional Manager (Triptrotting.com)

BIOS
Pedro Jareño is one of the founders and Director of Communications of minube.com. Journalist, traveler and passionated on new technologies and Internet, he has written some books about the Internet and in the last years is trying to revolutionize the social travel industry in minube.

minube is a social travel project that was born in 2007 to revolutionize the social travel industry inspiring travelers thanks to the recommendations of other travelers. it is a global project and last year was awarded by Apple as Best app for iPhone in 2011 in Spain.

Virgil Esguerra is an accidental career-changer whose passion for socializing and localizing the travel experience has veered his career off-course from his investment banking background. Currently an IE student (IMBA Dec-2012), he is Regional Manager for Triptrotting for his IMBA in Practice period and manages a team of 34 location advisors across 13 European travel destinations.

Triptrotting is a Google Ventures-funded online social travel start-up conceived in 2008 and based in Santa Monica, California but with a global user base that is spread over 2,000 cities and 150 countries. Through a proprietary algorithm, Triptrotting helps to match travelers with 'like-minded' locals for meet-ups and authentic travel experiences.