The World of Hospitality Issue 35 2019 | Page 44

44 THE WORLD OF HOSPITALITY EASYGUIDE New App Allows Tourists To Book Instant Tickets Technology TOURISTS visiting London can make capital gains by using a new app to book instant tickets for hundreds of attractions, including theatres, museums and galleries. he had taken city breaks across Europe and found himself frustrated at not being able “to create the perfect itinerary” because of difficulties in finding and booking events. Entrepreneur Blake Reddy’s app is ready to use on Apple devices and via its own website –  https://www.easy-guide.co.uk/ - and it has the backing of billionaire easyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. Reddy, from Kensington, said: “I would travel for business and pleasure to various European cities and it was often a struggle to see what was on in those destinations. It was fragmented and finding the best prices took lots of navigating. So, it’s not surprising that it’s joining the Stelios ‘stable’ – and has been named easyGuide. Reddy, 29, was lucky enough to have Sir Stelios as a contact, having been a “Stelios scholar” at London’s Cass Business School. And after he pitched his idea to Sir Stelios, the tycoon got on board, offering investment and branding for easyGuide. The inspiration for Reddy’s idea came after “The app was something I wanted to pitch to Stelios. day according to hobbies and interests, and instantly book tickets for more than 200 different events and activities. Reddy added: “Using easyGuide, tourists will be able to see 200 experiences that they could do in London and book through live availability on the app. “Over half of ticket sales are now booked at the destination, rather than forward-planned, so the last-minute market is extremely important.” “If I were to ask someone to travel to a city and tell me one company which you could type into a browser and book tickets, most people would struggle. We are trying to become one of the names that people automatically think of.” Reddy says easyGuide will feature well-known tourist attractions as well as lesser-known ones. “We also want to have slightly more unusual bookings,” he says. “We have things like the London Eye and Madame Tussauds, but we will also show products that are a little unusual and off the beaten track.” The new app will allow people to find out what is going on in London, map out their And Reddy is already planning to expand easyGuide into European cities next year.  WEBSITE: www.easy-guide.co.uk