Building on the success of TourRadar’s white-label apps for Facebook, iOS and Android, used by over 20,000 travelers to discuss group tours visiting 154 countries of the world, the company has announced the launch of a branded iOS messaging app.

(TRAVPR.COM) AUSTRIA - October 10th, 2013 - Group tours such as safaris, treks or bus trips are inherently social, but to date there was no way to meet fellow travelers before arriving at a meeting point on the day of departure. Now, TourRadar’s branded mobile app helps people connect long before the tour starts, to break the ice, share packing tips or start to organise ‘pre-tour’ meet-ups.

Available in the iTunes App Store, TourRadar’s free “Meet Others” iOS app now enables anyone interested in or booked on one of the 250,000 tour departure dates featured on the TourRadar online group tour marketplace to login from a mobile iOS device and instantly connect with other travelers.

The TourRadar “Meet Others” app was first launched on Facebook in 2011, followed in 2012 with similar white-label mobile apps for tour operators such as Intrepid and Topdeck, where the company saw a 400% increase in all consumer interactions. Today nearly 75% of all messages are exchanged using mobile devices, warranting the development of a branded TourRadar mobile app available for people traveling with any of the 500+ tour operators featured on the TourRadar online group tour marketplace.

The Adventure Travel Trade Association recently published a white-paper valuing the Adventure Tourism Industry at $263b per year. Adventure tourism is only one piece of the entire group travel industry which also includes luxury river cruises, bus/coach tours, special interest tours and self-guided tours.

Travis Pittman, Co-Founder and CEO of TourRadar, says “Mobile Messaging Apps like WhatsApp are red-hot right now with friends all over the world using them to keep in touch across any device. TourRadar’s app brings this ease of conversation across multiple channels to make travelers feel like they’re starting a tour with friends. The app is not just for people who have booked – we’re seeing more and more people ‘thinking’ of booking the tour, interacting with booked travelers, and once a bond has been made, continuing on to secure their place on the tour.” Pittman also said "The TourRadar iOS App is an important milestone for the group tour industry as it puts an industry specific free messaging platform into the pockets of millions of people who in 2013/14 will travel on a group tour. Android and regular web users haven't been ignored as our Android app and responsive website are currently in development.”

The free app is available in the iTunes app store and is compatible with iOS versions 6.0 and higher. An Android version and an iOS 7 redesign are currently in development. For more information, screenshots and a video tutorial, please visit tourradar.com/app

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