What Happened? (August 12, 2008)

Since notifying customers yesterday that TripHub.com will be shut down, we've received several very kind and supportive emails. (Thank you!) Most people have expressed disappointment and the common question is "what happened?"

There is no single, simple answer to this question. Certainly we made mistakes, and unfortunately we were impacted by factors beyond our control including the current economic environment and state of the travel industry. We came close to realizing a different outcome for our venture but, as the saying goes, close doesn't count. At the end of the day, despite a well-received, market-leading product and early success with strategic partners such as Orbitz and Alaska Airlines, we simply ran out of money to continue executing on our vision. We continue to believe there's a rich opportunity to improve the travel planning experience and, while it's no longer our destiny, we look forward to watching as others carry on down the path we helped to pave.

Comments

[triphub]

More discussion on this topic on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer/John Cook's blog at http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/venture/archives/147059.asp

[Howard Mendelsohn]

Hi Josh-

Just a note of thanks for being bold enough to try to launch the company with your vision and the idea that a group travel and booking site will work and people will use it.

I continue to share the notion with you that the group travel space and an online approach should be a viable and valuable for folks. I guess it just isn't, at this time and in these circumstances, and maybe never. As someone who has also tried and failed to generate interest and business in the space I admire you for your tenacity.

Congratulations for your efforts and thanks for your candor in the way you announced the closing of the company. It showed alot of class on your part.

Best of luck in your future endeavours.

Howard Mendelsohn
Formerly of Expedia and OnVantage.

[Kate]

Hi Josh,

I am so sorry to hear you have closed your business. I was writing to let you know that I included you in The Green Bride Guide. I would really like to speak with you about how we might work together. Please contact me if you are interested at Kate@thegreenbrideguide.com

Thanks!