Tern Travel

High-Level Overview

Tern Travel is a travel technology company offering an all-in-one platform for travel advisors and agencies, featuring CRM, itinerary builders, reconciliation tools, and AI-assisted automation to streamline operations.[1][2][4] It serves travel professionals by solving pain points like manual tasks, outdated systems, and fragmented workflows, enabling them to focus on personalized client experiences and business growth.[2][4] Founded in 2022 (with some sources noting 2023), Tern has gained early traction by addressing the travel industry's need for modern tools, positioning itself against competitors like Travefy and Nezasa through integrated, user-centric features.[1][3]

Origin Story

Tern's backstory traces to 2022, sparked by CEO David's frustrating experience missing a ferry in a Greek parking lot, which highlighted the value of expert travel advisors his in-laws relied on.[2] He teamed up with co-founders Brian and Katie, conducting deep industry research by engaging advisors and agencies at events like ASTA, uncovering widespread frustration with legacy technology.[2] This insight led to Tern's launch that year from Dover, Delaware, with a mission to modernize tools for travel pros, evolving from a simple idea into a comprehensive platform amid post-pandemic travel recovery.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• All-in-One Integration: Unlike point solutions, Tern combines CRM, itinerary building with real-time approvals and credit card authorizations, commission tracking, and AI tools (e.g., PDF-to-itinerary conversion and email parsing) to eliminate manual entry and juggling multiple apps.[2][4]
• Travel-Specific Design: Built from direct advisor feedback, it includes smart forms, automations, branded templates, shared workflows, and real-time reporting tailored for agencies, boosting efficiency for teams and scaling businesses.[2][4][5]
• User Empowerment Focus: Emphasizes freeing professionals from repetitive tasks via seamless checkouts, supplier curation, and commission reconciliation, outperforming competitors like Travefy (itinerary-focused) or Nezasa (booking-heavy) with holistic operations support.[1][4]
• Rapid, Intuitive Experience: Features like one-click AI Assist and inline client authorizations prioritize speed and ease, fostering advisor-client relationships without tech friction.[4]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Tern rides the resurgence of personalized travel post-COVID, where advisors are rebounding as consumers seek expert curation over DIY platforms amid complex itineraries and sustainability demands.[2][5] Its timing aligns with agencies' shift from fragmented "point solutions" to unified platforms, capitalizing on market forces like rising travel volumes, commission pressures, and AI adoption in hospitality tech.[4][5] By enabling data-driven operations and efficiency, Tern influences the ecosystem, helping agencies scale, claim more commissions, and compete with OTAs, while contributing to a modernized travel tech stack that prioritizes human expertise.[1][5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Tern is poised for accelerated growth as travel demand surges and agencies demand integrated tech to handle volume without burnout, potentially expanding into global markets or advanced AI for predictive planning.[2][4] Trends like AI automation, embedded finance (e.g., payments), and agency consolidation will shape its path, amplifying its role in empowering advisors against big tech disruptors.[5] As the all-in-one platform travel pros have awaited, Tern could redefine industry standards, turning operational drudgery into scalable, client-focused success.[2]