A tour operator reservations system developed during the pandemic has attracted unspecified “significant” financial backing to support future growth.
RezKit has already been adopted by four tour operators in the adventure travel sector.
The start-up was founded by travel tech specialists behind software developer Mr Zen and is a client of industry advisory firm Firebird Partnership.
Financial support has come from investment firm Jenson Funding Partners with the fundraising expertise of Firebird director Chris Thompson.
The RezKit cloud-based ‘software as a service’ (SAAS) solution was developed to manage travel-specific business functions by Mr Zen founder Matt Illston and project director Mark Jackson.
Development of RezKit began during Covid by channelling the team towards the creation of an “ideal reservation system” for operators, rather than halting the output of a company that has supported the industry since 2008.
Unlike legacy competitors, the scalable platform can be easily integrated into existing CRM, email and accommodation systems, according to the company.
Thompson joined RezKit as a non-executive director last year to support the team’s strategy and next steps.
He has helped shape the company’s business model and marketing strategy to present to potential investors as well as providing expert guidance throughout the fundraising process.
Thompson said: “I feel really excited about RezKit’s trajectory. One of the things my Firebird colleagues and I often identify as an issue for clients is problematic technology.
“RezKit sits at the heart of tech solutions in travel, removing real obstacles I see in almost all the businesses I encounter. RezKit has huge potential to grow from here, and the next few years look extremely promising.”
Illston added: “The pandemic was incredibly tough for the whole
travel industry. Rather than scale back operations to save money, we invested heavily in new and emerging technologies.
“The patience and hard work are finally beginning to pay off. In 2023, we have our first clients onboard, more in the pipeline and new and exciting integrations being developed.
“The icing on the cake was when we secured funding through Jenson Funding Partners – this, along with our growing revenues from the system, will enable us to develop our brand and invest in extending the technical team further.”