Tasty Tours NYC

Tasty Tours NYC offers immersive food tour experiences through New York City’s diverse neighbourhoods. Clients can not only discover the best foods and eat like a local, but also learn about the city’s rich historical and cultural heritage.

Notably, Tasty Tours NYC was the first to connect to Airbnb Experiences through Bókun’s new direct integration. By leveraging this integration, they were able to reach Airbnb’s vast global audience and manage Airbnb bookings directly in Bókun. This allowed for automatic syncing of availability and bookings, providing a seamless experience for both guests and the Tasty Tours team.

Through the partnership with Bókun, Tasty Tours NYC achieved 381% YoY (year-over-year) between 2023 and 2025,  which now allows them to keep all their bookings in one place.

Key Results

• $275,000 in total revenue generated over two years, with the majority coming through Bókun integrations
• 381% year-over-year revenue increase in the last 12 months
• 14 reseller contracts established through the Bókun Marketplace
• Among the first to adopt Bókun’s official Airbnb Experiences integration, enabling automatic syncing of bookings and real-time calendar updates
• Becoming a multi-channel success, with 56% of bookings from Viator, 30% direct online, and 4.5% from Airbnb Experiences

When Ryan Watts launched Tasty Tours NYC, he needed to juggle multiple Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) without creating overbookings, while simultaneously building a professional online presence that could compete with established operators. 

As manual spreadsheet management was already proving unsustainable, the tour company realised the need for a real-time availability synchronisation across all platforms.

“I researched other booking software solutions in the US and found that Bókun’s price and 24/7 customer support were unbeatable. Being a Viator company was also a big plus.”–Ryan Watts, Founder of Tasty Tours NYC

In this case study, we dive deep into Tasty Tours NYC’s experience and growth following their partnership with Bókun, showcasing how comprehensive platform integration enabled rapid scaling in a competitive market.

Ryan’s platform evaluation process led him to Bókun based on three critical factors: competitive monthly pricing, comprehensive OTA integrations, and strategic marketplace connections. What surprised him most was the implementation speed and simplicity.

“The integration setup took about 15 minutes, with only one quick chat with support. Everything synced easily,” Ryan recalls. He emphasised how the integration extended beyond basic booking management to include website development using Bókun’s built-in website builder, eliminating external development costs while maintaining professional standards.

Bókun’s customer support team provided crucial assistance during the initial setup, helping establish connections with major OTAs and ensuring proper availability synchronisation worked from day one.

Bókun, as one of Airbnb’s first official launch partners for Experiences, made it possible for Tasty Tours NYC to be among the earliest adopters of this integration. Since activating the integration, Tasty Tours NYC saw Airbnb bookings climb to 4.5% of total sales within months and eliminated all manual updates between channels, ensuring tour availability stays accurate across platforms. 

“I was so happy when the Airbnb integration came out. It was honestly the best update Bókun released—saved me hours every week,” says Ryan Watts, Founder of Tasty Tours NYC. The Bókun team is also excited to support Tasty Tours NYC, as well as other tour companies, as they continue growing with this new distribution channel.

“Without Bókun, I wouldn’t have made half of that revenue. It’s transformed how we operate—now I can assign tours, track availability, contact guests, and manage dietary needs all from one place. I was thrilled when the Airbnb integration launched; before, I had to update availability manually, which was a hassle.”–Ryan Watts, Founder of Tasty Tours NYC

Overall, the NYC food tour company achieved 381% YoY revenue growth through Bókun’s integrated platform. Channel diversification became the cornerstone of this success, with 56% of bookings flowing through Viator/TripAdvisor, 30% from direct website bookings, and a rapidly growing 4.5% from Airbnb Experiences. This distribution strategy perfectly balanced high-volume channels with higher-margin direct bookings, optimising both market reach and profitability.

The operational improvements proved equally transformative. Ryan emphasised how “it’s made managing the business much easier—assigning tours, tracking availability, contacting guests, and managing dietary needs.”

Team productivity also increased as tour guides could efficiently manage guest check-ins and dietary restrictions through the mobile-friendly platform.

Other Key Operational Improvements:

• Bókun’s automated availability synchronisation eliminated manual platform updates, ensuring real-time inventory accuracy across all OTAs.
• Customer service workload dropped significantly after implementing automated messaging and confirmations through Bókun’s workflows.
• Tour guides now coordinate easily and on the go, using Bókun’s mobile app to manage guest check-ins and updates.
• Seasonal gift card revenue saw a boost thanks to Bókun’s built-in gift card functionality.
• Financial tracking became more transparent and efficient with Bókun’s comprehensive daily reporting dashboard.

Achieving a professional online presence without external development costs by leveraging Bókun’s website builder.

Bókun’s comprehensive platform provided the technological foundation that enabled Tasty Tours NYC’s multi-channel success. The marketplace integration facilitated connections with 14 reseller partners, including major OTAs like Viator, GetYourGuide, and the emerging Airbnb Experiences platform. This network effect significantly expanded the company’s reach far beyond what direct marketing could achieve.

“It’s now super easy. I just have to update the availability on Bókun, and it syncs with all OTAs. I no longer have to log into each platform separately.”–Ryan Watts, Founder of Tasty Tours NYC

Bókun’s unified approach to booking management eliminated the complexity of having to juggle multiple systems, allowing Tasty Tours NYC to focus on business growth rather than technical administration and worrying about overbookings.

The website builder proved particularly valuable for a marketing-focused entrepreneur who needed professional results without technical expertise. “Many customers have complimented the website’s layout and ease of use,” Ryan shared, demonstrating how the integrated approach delivered both operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Airbnb Experiences integration

The Airbnb Experiences integration with Bókun provided immediate access to Airbnb’s global traveller base, with bookings reaching 4.5% of total revenue within just 2 months of launch. Bookings and availability automatically sync between Airbnb and Bókun, so any reservation made on Airbnb updates Tasty Tours NYC’s calendar in real time. 

Website builder

The professional website builder eliminated the need for external web development while the “Book Now” widget enabled 30% of total bookings to come through direct channels, improving profit margins significantly.

Gift cards

Tasty Tours NYC leveraged Bókun’s gift card feature to drive seasonal revenue spikes and attract new customers. By offering digital gift certificates redeemable on any tour, the company saw a 20% uplift in holiday bookings and captured last-minute shoppers looking for unique experiences.

Automated customer messages
By setting up automated confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups, the Tasty Tours NYC team no longer has to spend hours on routine emails—guests receive timely booking details, pick-up instructions, and dietary prompts exactly when they need them, reducing confusion and no-shows.

Ryan’s journey revealed that the most significant factor in Tasty Tours NYC’s success was choosing a booking software partner that simplified rather than complicated business operations. 

Investing in the right platform from the beginning enabled focus on core business activities rather than technical management. The early adoption of emerging channels like Airbnb Experiences proved particularly valuable, providing competitive advantages and access to new customer segments before the market becomes too saturated.

“The biggest lesson is the importance of having a system that makes life easier. Simplicity is key, especially for small business owners.”

His advice to fellow US tour operators reflects this learning: “Many NYC tour companies use [a competitor company], but some are switching due to high prices. I recommend Bokun for its pricing and support. In tourism, margins are tight, so affordable, effective software is crucial.”

Tasty Tours NYC’s partnership with Bókun illustrates how a thoughtfully chosen, all-in-one booking platform can transform a small operation into a high-growth, multi-channel leader. Automating core processes—from availability synchronisation and guest communications to channel integrations and reporting—fueled remarkable growth, resulting in a 381% year-over-year revenue increase, broader market reach through Viator, GetYourGuide, Airbnb Experiences, and an improved and more profitable direct booking process. 

Bókun’s mission is to help your tour and activity business generate more bookings with less work. Start your free 14-day trial today to explore our software can help you save time and grow your business.