In our first ever Launchpad competition we challenged operators across Europe to pitch their boldest new experience idea. Over 160 entries later, a live virtual pitch to our expert judging panel, and some incredibly tough decisions we have our winner!
Winner: Benjamin Reilly, Aix Tours, Paint and Wine Tasting Tour in Provence, France
Benjamin’s concept combines two of Provence’s great loves – fine art and fine wine – into an immersive, locally rooted experience built for today’s travellers. Our judging panel were won over by the clarity of the concept, its commercial appeal and the passion Benjamin brought to his pitch.
Benjamin takes home the full Accelerator Package:
- $10,000 USD cash prize to bring your idea to life
- 12-month free Bókun START subscription + 0% booking fees on your winning product
- 12-month commission-free distribution on your winning product with Viator & GetYourGuide
- 2 tickets + Spark Point Connection Area at Arival Bilbao 2027 (worth €10,000)
- 12-month Tourpreneur PRO membership + TripSchool place
- A professionally produced video case study
- Support from the Bókun team to launch and scale your experience
And, our runners up…
Coco Howard, Stoke Travel – Reimagined Bus Tours, Barcelona, Spain. Coco took one of travel’s most familiar formats and completely flipped it. Bold, fresh and built for a new generation of city explorers.
Shabby Flanders, Urban Saunters – Food Detours for Untamed Appetites, London, UK. Shabby’s food detours concept is everything today’s traveller is looking for – authentic, local and full of personality.
And on our shortlist… We also want to congratulate Kimberly Ann Elia from Open Up Italy and Fanny Aoudjhane from Paris with Fay for being shortlisted to pitch their idea virtually out of over 160 entries.
A word on the standard of the competition
Over 160 entries. Dozens of extraordinary ideas. Choosing a winner was genuinely tough – and every single pitch reminded us why we’re obsessed with this industry. To everyone who entered – thank you! Just because you didn’t win, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t build it.
A huge thank you to our judging panel from Viator, GetYourGuide, Arival, Tourpreneur, Travel Trends Podcast and Gray Line. Your time, expertise and insights were invaluable.
The Bókun Launchpad is just getting started. Watch this space.
Read to launch your own experience business? Claim your free trial today!