Lovetovisit secures £3.2 million in funding to boost the UK’s tourism industry

Cardiff-based travel platform Lovetovisit, which specializes in local attractions, experiences and events, has successfully raised £3.2 million in venture capital to expand its business.

The funding round was led by Venrex And Redrice Enterpriseswith the participation of Active partners, Speed ​​partnersand a network of angel investors.

Founded in 2021 by twin sisters Georgia and Alice Aubrey, along with tourism expert Fed Pereira, Lovetovisit aims to simplify the process for Britain’s 19.4 million families to discover and book local activities. The platform offers various options: from theater trips and city attractions to unique family outings and local festivals, for both locals and tourists. Since its inception, Lovetovisit has generated £7.4 million in revenue and facilitated hundreds of thousands of bookings.

With over 2,700 products listed and a user base of over 3.2 million, Lovetovisit’s proprietary API ensures users can buy tickets in real time at the lowest guaranteed price. The platform sends tickets directly via SMS and email, eliminating the need for third-party redemptions. Additionally, Lovetovisit uses AI to provide personalized recommendations and provides interactive maps to help users find nearby activities.

The founding trio, who previously worked together at Pereira’s tourism marketing agency, hit the ground running Happy to visit to tackle the difficulties consumers face in finding and booking local activities – a problem that is being solved by tech solutions in other sectors, such as food delivery and accommodation. Lovetovisit bridges this gap and offers a streamlined, easy-to-use experience.

Eighty percent of the platform’s offering is exclusive to Lovetovisit, with notable partners including Alton Towers, Chester Zoo, ZipWorld and family favorites such as Pennywell Farm and Techniquest Science Museum. Lovetovisit has significantly increased footfall at local attractions, with 85% of listings located outside London. Devon, for example, has received more than 25,000 visitors via Lovetovisit since the beginning of 2024. Britain’s domestic tourism market is valued at $927 billion.

The new funding will be used to scale the UK operations and improve the platform’s AI capabilities, with the aim of doubling growth and inventory annually over the next three years. Plans for international expansion are also on the horizon.

Lovetovisit has been recognized as Wales Tourism Startup of the Year and will compete in the UK finals in September. The Aubrey sisters were honored with the John Hays Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2023 Travel Industry Awards.

Fed Pereira, CEO of Lovetovisit, said: “We want to help people find fun, memorable ways to spend time with loved ones. Even in difficult times, those moments are priceless. Lovetovisit offers a simple, fun way to book activities with the confidence you’re getting the best price. Our technology provides a seamless experience for locals and tourists alike.”

Lilac Watt, Investment Associate at Venrex, expressed his excitement about the investment and highlighted the founders’ deep understanding of the tourism market. Andrew Sutcliffe, partner at Redrice Ventures, highlighted consumers’ growing desire for personalized experiences close to home. Tom Profumo, Partner at Active Partners, praised the growth of the platform and the team’s expertise in the attractions market.

Amanda Meyrick, business director at The Dinosaur Park Tenby, praised the partnership with Lovetovisit for its effectiveness in reaching a national audience and attracting visitors to their Pembrokeshire attraction.