Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Smart Destinations?
• Who comprises the Smart Destinations management team?
• Who are Smart Destinations backers?
• When was the company founded?
• In which markets does Smart Destinations have a presence?
• Describe the Go City Card.
• Describe the Explorer Pass.
• Is a Go City Card or Explorer Pass a discount card?
• What sets the Go City Card and Explorer Pass apart?
• How are the Go City Cards sold?
• Why is Smart Destinations’ product attractive to the travel industry?
• How will Smart Destinations’ business continue to grow and evolve?

What is Smart Destinations?

In 2003 a travel professional and a technology entrepreneur teamed up to address a clear need in the U.S. travel industry. While the Internet had revolutionized travelers’ ability to manage costs regarding how to get there and where to stay, it had had little impact on the far larger costs associated with what people did while on their trip.

Smart Destinations was born to address that gap by aggregating this last "unwired space" in travel. Leveraging both Internet and Smart Card technology, the company created a universal ticket system that allows traveler to buy a single ticket that works at multiple attractions, tours, museums, etc. And thanks to the strong support of the participating attractions, the price for these products represent a significant savings for the traveler.

Originally only available in Boston, Smart Destinations’ network now stretches across 15 major North American travel destinations -- from Oahu to New York City. The flexibility, reliability, and power of the technology platform has secured the participation of over 425 attractions, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the San Diego Zoo to Universal Studios.

The combination of savings and convenience results in 94% customer satisfaction as measured by 3rd party research and helped the company rank 78 on Inc. Magazine’s 2008 list of the 500 fastest growing companies.

Who comprises the Smart Destinations management team?

Smart Destinations is led by a talented team of senior-level travel and technology professionals who bring solid experience in applying technology solutions to the travel industry. They have been instrumental to the success of several start-up ventures as founders or members of senior management teams, and are positioned to manage and grow Smart Destinations from a domestic leader to an international powerhouse in the travel industry.

Who are Smart Destinations backers?

The company received funding from NewSpring Capital; North Hill Ventures, the investment arm of Capital One Bank; and Zon Capital Partners. Our Board includes Terry Jones, the founder of Travelocity, and Robert Hohman, the founding CTO of expedia.

When was the company founded?

Smart Destinations was founded in 2003 and launched its first product, the Go Boston Card, that same year.

In which markets does Smart Destinations have a presence?

Smart Destinations currently offers products in

• The Blue Ridge Parkway
• Boston
• The California Wine Country (Napa and Sonoma)
• Chicago
• Las Vegas
• Los Angeles
• Maui
• Miami
• New York City
• Oahu
• Orlando
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• Toronto

and continues to expand into new markets.

Describe the Go City Card.

The Go City Card is a single, easy to carry card that is purchased for a low, fixed "per day" price that gives visitors unlimited free admission to 30–60 attractions in each destination. With no limit to the number of attractions visited each day, the Go City Card eliminates paperwork and coupons. And with the Go City Card, visitors realize significant savings after just one or two attractions visits. Think of it as an "all you can eat" ticket to the best things to do in each destination.

For each Go City Card, Smart Destinations offers an accompanying guidebook that lists the included free attractions, shops, and restaurants that offer exclusive value savings, as well as fun tips and detailed maps. To create the most flexible experience for travelers, most Go City Cards can be purchased in 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7-day increments.

Describe the Explorer Pass.

The Explorer Pass is a single, easy to carry card that is purchased for a low, fixed price based on a desired number of attraction admissions. The visitor selects how many attractions they want to see – typically 3, 5, or 7 (although they can decide later which attractions they actually want to see). In most cases, they have up to 30 days over which they can use the card, making it an attractive option for tourists and locals alike. If the Go City Card is "all you can eat," Explorer Pass is a highly flexible "Prix Fixe" where customers pick from a list of available choices.

The Explorer Pass comes with its own guide and usually has the same dinning and shopping deals as the Go City Card that covers the same market.

Smart Destinations is currently allowing customers to build their own explorer pass in certain markets. Customers select exactly what they want to see to build their own custom money saving ticket. If you liked the previous menu analogies, then thinks of the custom explorer pass as the a la carte way to see a destination. In the process of building their custom pass, customers get a corresponding custom guidebook at checkout.

Is a Go City Card or Explorer Pass a discount card?

No, it is somewhat like a theme park ticket, where visitors have get access to multiple rides with a single, pre-paid ticket. Similarly, the Card gives visitors access to the participating attractions for one low price. When visitors use the Go City Card, no additional money is exchanged at the attraction. The full admission is covered.

What sets the Go City Card apart?

Value, choice, convenience, and flexibility are just a few of the adjectives to describe Smart Destinations’ products./p>

• Value: Dollar for dollar, the Go City Card makes a difference. Just visiting a few of the dozens of sites possible in each city makes the value and simplicity of the Go City Card clear. Most visitors experience a savings after just 1 or 2 attraction visits. The Explorer Pass is similarly priced to ensure customers get a significant savings compared to buying individual tickets at each attraction.
• Choice: From the must-see attractions to hidden gems, the Go City Card and Explorer Pass typically cover the best of each destination. Unlike coupon based products, the Go City Card doesn’t limit customers to just a few attractions, and Explorer Pass leaves it up to the customer to decide.
• Smart Card Convenience: Unlike paper-based products, Smart Destinations’ products are a single, easy to carry and use "credit card" – style pass to local attractions, with additional values on dining and shopping as well as VIP preference at some of the more popular city attractions.
• Flexibility: Both Go City Card and Explorer Pass enable visitors to create their own agendas on their own timetables. Since the card includes a broad array of attractions, consumers can combine a city’s most popular attractions with hidden gems over the course of each day.

Rather than take our word for it, we encourage you to read reviews posted on our site by actual customers. Simply go to one of our product pages and select the tab titled "Reviews" to read about our product as our customers have experienced it.

How are the Go City Cards sold?

Go City Cards are sold through Smart Destinations’ more than 1,000 distribution partners and affiliates in over 25 countries, including Virgin Holidays, American Airlines Vacations, Southwest Vacations, the Mark Travel Corporation, National Leisure group, and major online tour operators such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and more. Consumers can also purchase the Go City Card online at www.smartdestinations.com or through local hotel packages and convention and visitors bureaus.

Why is Smart Destinations’ product attractive to the travel industry?

For attractions, Smart Destinations products offer a steady stream of customers, having produced millions of visits to participating attritions and tours. The platform is also easy to use and ensures prompt and reliable payment by Smart Destinations for every visit.

For resellers, the product offers a way to offer customers an incredible value and generate a meaningful revenue stream in the process. Margins in the travel industry are increasingly being squeezed and the industry has been seeking new, value-added products it can offer to generate a new revenue stream. Smart Destinations’ products offer tour operators and travel managers an attractive product to generate consistent, additional revenues at a higher-than-industry-standard margin level.

How will Smart Destinations’ business continue to grow and evolve?

Smart Destinations plans to continue its aggressive expansion both domestically and internationally, and will roll out new markets and products that meet the needs of both consumers and distribution partners over time.

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