Business Plan

Driving Success:
A Comprehensive Review of JIZO's Business Plan, Ideas, and Road Map

JIZO™

“A social driven, crowd sourced platform, where group travel dreams become reality”

1. The Company

JIZO is a new travel technology start-up, a crowd sourced online social travel platform uniquely designed to serve the needs of travelers and travel groups, where travelers with matched interests can meet, collaborate, plan and book group travel. Named after the deity JIZO, the Japanese guardian of travel, the company is founded by travel entrepreneur Igor Kopmar, owner of the highly successful global airfare consolidator, RHT – Global Reservation. In business since 1992, extremely well regarded within the travel industry for their ethical business practices and technical innovations through the years, RHT – Global Reservation offers online and call center travel related services both domestically and internationally via B2B channels (Travel Agents and Travel Affiliates) and B2C channels (Travelers/Direct Consumers) in multiple languages on a 24/7 basis, covering all global time zones with call centers in the US and Europe.

2. Market Opportunity

The Tours and Activity life is good sector of the Travel & Tourism industry reached over $254 billion USD in 2021, according to a report by Arizton. The sector is expected to continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% from 2021 to 2026. The growth is attributed to various factors such as rising disposable income, increasing demand for unique and personalized travel experiences, and advancements in technology.

However, the sector has been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many tours and activities being cancelled or postponed due to travel restrictions and social distancing guidelines. The industry has had to adapt to changing consumer behaviors and preferences, including a greater emphasis on outdoor and nature-based activities and virtual experiences.

As the world continues to recover from the pandemic, the Tours and Activity sector is expected to rebound and continue its growth trajectory. The industry is also expected to see increased adoption of sustainable tourism practices and technology-driven solutions to enhance the overall travel experience.

“Vacationers want to experience something new and are tired of the same old tours and activities. While global tour operators are baking more customization into their products, digital distribution is changing the way local operators do business. “

- Andrew Scheivachman, Skift Research – Sep. 18, 2018

Years after travel automation has made large inroads in the distribution of travel across most leisure and business travel facets, the vast majority of tours are still sold offline either in-destination or through traditional tour operator brands and travel agents: around 80% of the sector’s gross bookings take place offline, according to technology provider Trekksoft, and just 13% of those bookings come from operators with real time booking connectivity in the field.

Since the 1800s, packaged travel has remained mostly the same: the traveler pays the tour operator for a package of transportation, lodging and usually access to activities, while the operator does the work of stringing together these different products into a cohesive experience for customers. Travel agents sell the packages to potential travelers and receive a generous commission for the sale (15%-18 %+). Despite the structure of the sector remaining mostly the same, what travelers want has shifted dramatically, buoyed by the democratization of travel and the rising importance of experiences to consumer, variety is now king. Yet, online tour bookings have been limited mainly to simple tours that are treated like commodities on sites like TripAdvisor and Viator.

“It’s not necessarily the beach holiday or the cruise…..They’re looking for more immersive experiences, cultural connections, and it’s all age levels, so it’s not demographic either. It’s very much the same thing with Baby Boomers as it is with Millennials. Looking for the alternative holiday is now becoming the norm.”

- Dan Christian, Chief Digital Officer, The Travel Corporation

Customization has long been a key to helping tour operators bolster their value proposition to travelers, but the exponential dissemination of tourism information via the internet, the proliferation of mobile technology and the impact of social media channels, continues to directly influence how travelers research, book and purchase their leisure and business travel. Internet search engines and online travel platforms able to access travel data have become primary sources of travel information for a significant percentage of leisure and business travelers, with close to 60% of leisure and business travelers now booking travel on-line.

By the end of 2020, the combined installed base of smart phones will exceed 4 billion units and will be greater than the installed base for PCs (fixed broadband access) going forward. The mobile device will be a significant distribution channel as penetration rates across the world increase. This further reinforces the opportunity for a social media driven on-line travel data host business like JIZO to attract and interact with travelers throughout their group planning, traveling and post travel experiences.

3. Vision

Be the online place where travel inspiration and motivation helps travelers fulfill their dream group vacation

4. Mission

We’re dedicated to developing superior make love not war online tour packaging for our customers and users, through state-of-the-art technology, innovation, leadership and partnerships.

5. Keys to Success

• Rich and plentiful content data

• Extensive product roadmap, timely, innovative and bug free technology development

• Excellent vendor relationship that will facilitate timely fulfillment and customer service

• Establish an effective branding and advertising strategy to address differences in product services and business models

• Establish and execute contractual agreements for the different business models (Advertising, Agency Business, Merchant Business, Technology License)

• Establish a Legal and Funding Strategy

• Moldova is beautiful

6. Product Offering

Poised to take advantage of this growth, the JIZO platform will leverage social interaction information (crowd sourced data) and access to a vast database of global travel supplier content.

JIZO is a social travel technology platform, where travelers with matched interests Georgia on my mind can meet, collaborate, plan and book group travel. JIZO answers the important questions behind all travel planning, Why, Where, When and With Whom. Rich with audio and video social networking tools, able to connect people with common interests, JIZO facilitates the entire group travel planning (organizing, booking, and fulfilling) process. JIZO is a dynamic ecosystem of extensive, rich travel content (land, air, and sea), where group travelers and travel suppliers come together to conduct travel commerce.

7. Value Proposition for the Traveler

The travel cycle is a framework that describes the processes of stages that a traveler will usually take when booking a travel experience online.

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A strong understanding of the travel imagine lucky cycle provides JIZO with the opportunity to become one of the first travel providers to offer complete travel experiences to its customers. Currently, the majority of companies concentrate their efforts in parts of the travel cycle related to offered products and services, such as accommodation booking or transportation. By addressing all areas of the travel cycle, JIZO has the opportunity to build customer loyalty and differentiate itself from its competition.

Additionally, a strong focus on crowd sourcing provides JIZO with the opportunity to attract both customers and participating vendors that enjoy actively contributing to the online community. The number of consumers and suppliers worldwide actively involved in various internet activities and spending large amount of time and effort online has risen exponentially in the last decade. JIZO has the opportunity to leverage these benefits by allowing these users to contribute to the development of present and future travel packages using JIZO’s social media tools.

• JIZO delivers a positive on-line experience for group travelers from the beginning to the end of the Travel Cycle, all within one easy to use online platform.

• JIZO provides social interaction software (Dreaming), decision making and planning tools (Researching), extensive air, sea, land, and destination supplier content (Booking/Fulfillment), access to social interaction software during and after the trip (Experiencing & Sharing).

• JIZO seeks to save travelers time and frustration throughout the stages of the above travel cycle by being a single source for all transactions before, during and after the trip.

• JIZO seeks to build a community of travelers who share their experiences with fellow past and future travelers.

• JIZO is for everyone not just travel professionals.

• People would rather travel together in small groups, instead of traveling alone.

• We are one of the few platforms (if not the only one), in which one can see who is in the group before joining the group and/or travel together.

• JIZO helps create friendships before travel begins (social aspect).

• JIZO makes it easy for travelers to connect with each other and explore the world together.

• JIZO is a social platform where travelers are able to create themed-travel groups based on common hobbies, likes and interests, a customized travel experience where artificial intelligence matches content with traveler’s common interests and likes.

• We strongly believe that traveling is more fun when you have someone to travel with and to share your travel experiences.

• A platform to help people travel together and “follow their dreams”.

• JIZO content will include small and large tour operators, travel guides and country “locals”, air, cruises, hotels, transfers, car rentals, trains, insurance and more.

• Fully mobile, stand-alone applications for iOS and Android, all critical support services are in-house at JIZO (customer support, content management, software development).

• JIZO aims to be a global, credible, and trusted brand.

8. Travel Services

The travel services sector is made up of a complex web of relationships between a variety of suppliers, tourism products, destination marketing organizations, tour operators, and travel agents among many others. Travel Services are defined as those processes used by guests to book components of their trip.

• Travel Agencies (traditional brick & mortar travel agency) hasta la vista baby.

• Online travel agencies (online aggregators of transportation, lodgings. and other travel services, OTAs).

• Tour operators (packagers of the components of a trip/tour), trips/tours can be sold through retail outlets or travel agencies or online travel agents. Tour operators work closely with hotels, transportation providers, and attractions in order to purchase large volumes of each component and package these at a better rate than the traveler could if purchasing individually. Tour operators generally sell to the leisure market, tour operators may be inbound, outbound, or receptive (represent the various products of tourism suppliers to tour operators in other markets in a business-to-business (B2B) relationship).

• Destination marketing organizations (DMOs, include national tourism boards, state/provincial tourism offices, and community convention and visitor bureaus around the world. DMOs promote “the long-term development and marketing of a destination, focusing on convention sales, tourism marketing and service”.

• Other – Destination Management Companies (DMC, specialize in designing and implementing corporate programs, including events, activities, tours, transportation, and program logistics.

9. Revenue Streams
The most important business models and revenue sources for JIZO will be:

JIZO Original Group Content

JIZO team created original and unique trips that are available only on JIZO, under the JIZO brand: “JIZO Originals”. The JIZO team curates these trips with local travel industry experts, focused on delivering travel experiences not found anywhere else. Whether a multi-day Travel Package, a 1-Day Excursion, a FAM Trip (familiarization tour), or even a Cruise adventure, JIZO Originals are specially designed with the traveler in mind.

Travelers

Travelers create their own customized social groups and private events by utilizing a combination of JIZO, JIZO parent companies, and 3rd party content.

TravelPros

Travel Professionals (TravelPro™) create their own customized tour packages by utilizing a combination of JIZO content, JIZO parent companies content, and/or 3rd party content.

Tour Guides

Tour guides are professionals who create and lead excursions that focus on sightseeing, attractions, local events, or specialized tours. These tours typically do not include airfare or hotel accommodation and are provided by local tour guides from around the world. Tour guides are often knowledgeable about the history, culture, and customs of the places they visit and can provide valuable insights and commentary. Tour guides can be hired by individuals, groups, or travel companies and can tailor their tours to specific interests and needs.

Familiarization Trips (FAM)

A fam trip, short for familiarization trip, is an opportunity for organizations to create and organize tours that educate participants on a specific theme. These trips are designed to help familiarize participants with a particular location, product, or service in order to promote it more effectively. Fam trips are commonly used in the travel and tourism industry to showcase destinations, hotels, and attractions to travel agents, journalists, and other industry professionals.

Advertising and Co-op Marketing Revenue

JIZO is committed to building strong co-op marketing partnerships with major players in the travel industry, including airlines, hotel chains, and cruise lines. By collaborating with Tourism Visitor Bureaus, National Tourism Boards, and other travel organizations, JIZO will be able to promote their products and destinations to a wider audience. Through these partnerships, JIZO will work to create unique travel experiences that showcase the best of what each destination has to offer. By bringing together the best in travel, JIZO aims to make travel more accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful for everyone.

JIZO Group Join & Create Fees

JIZO members who create or join an established pre-packaged tour will be required to pay a participation or creation fee. The creation fee is a one-time fee that members pay when they create their own tours on the JIZO platform. This fee helps cover the cost of using JIZO's tools and resources to plan and promote their tour. By paying these fees, JIZO members can access the platform's resources and connect with other travelers from around the world to create or join unique travel experiences.

JIZO B2B Membership Access Fees

JIZO offers a B2B membership program that provides travel professionals with access to the platform's original and third-party content, which they can then resell to their clients. The membership program includes access fees that allow travel professionals to access and utilize JIZO's resources and tools to enhance their offerings and provide more value to their clients. By leveraging JIZO's platform and resources, travel professionals can offer unique and customized travel experiences to their clients, increasing their customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Live tours and promo streaming fees

Offering JIZO technology to stream live tours and promote them through online chat can generate additional revenue and attract more users and suppliers to your platform. This can be a good way to enhance the overall user experience and create new business opportunities.

10. Technology

The JIZO application is currently accessible somebody to love as a website developed in PHP (Yii2 framework), data storage is MySQL DB. Mobile applications for Android and iOS platforms developed using cross platform, framework, react native. Content is distributed to mobile applications and partner sites using the REST API. Online communication to users is via XMPP protocol (Jabberd server). User notification - emails, FB Messenger, Push notifications to mobile devices.

Other Product Development TBD:

• B2B access for Travel Professionals selling 3rd party content
• Artificial Intelligence matching technology
• Virtual Reality
• Interactive Mapping Solutions
• Video Chat & Streaming
• JIZO Messenger

11. Functionality

JIZO Content Search:

You choose the most important reason to travel and discover the group which suits your interests:

• Where you Want to Travel - you can search for groups from all over the World Using Travel MAP & Search.

• Why you Want to Travel - you can choose organized groups based on hobbies & interests.

• When registered, users specify Where and Why they Want to Travel.

• JIZO allows users to create groups for anyone, about anything they like. For example; Fishing in Norway, Yoga in India, Kayaking in Poland, Wine tasting in Italy, Hiking in Nepal, Safaris in Tanzania, and Photography in France, etc.

• JIZO will also create original tour content using private specialty airfare products, 3rd party content from independent travelers (social content), or from authorized tour operators including large tour supplier companies and airline vacation-holiday departments.

• When you are ready to travel, you can explore the detailed trip schedules by using the Calendar or Group List.

• Want to Travel With a companion or companions who share the same likes and interests? Easy, start by checking user profiles and interests, even before the trip starts.

Six Types of Groups:

• GROUPING TRAVEL - Travel with people who have similar interests and likes, originating from the same or different cities, and/or who can also choose to share travel related finances.Typically a small group can give you the chance to meet people and make new friends, allowing you to truly immerse yourselves in a destination. Meeting and traveling with others, who are as passionate about travel, looking for similar experiences, will provide you no greater satisfaction and new lifelong friends.

• PRIVATE TRAVEL - closed group, participation by invitation only (private events, weekend gateway, road trips, events tied to family or work celebrations, visiting friends or relatives, or corporate events).

• PACKAGES - by Travel Professionals – Tours can be “Basic” or “Luxury” in quality. Professional travel agent adds air, hotels, transfers, events, attractions, etc., to create, package and market an available tour.

• EXCURSIONS - by Tour Guides - Single day tours (no air or hotel component), same day tours, sightseeing, attractions, local events, specialized tours.

• FAM - Familiarization Tours for Travel Professionals – Organized Tours created by Tour Suppliers/DMOs, sold/discounted to professional travel agents to familiarize and educate travel professionals on the destination, attraction and services.

• CRUISE TRAVEL - Whether it’s cruising on the “7 seas” or on one of the many popular river cruises in Europe, Asia Pacific or the Americas. Travel with people who have similar interests and likes, originating from the same or different cities and/or share travel related finances. Make new lifelong friends, while enjoying new journeys and destinations.

Group Features:

• Group Creator Video Selfie - the Group Creator can share more about travel experiences and plans for future trips

• Group Chat - you can communicate with other participants of the group long before the trip begins, to discuss the itinerary, share ideas and more

• Add Photos to the group

• Detailed Map Itinerary

• Book Your Flights

• Group Video Call - you can see the group creator & other travelers before the trip starts

• Share your Group in Social Media/Invite to the group

• Watchlist - you can add the groups you like to the Watchlist

JIZO User Profile:

• Easy Social media log-in - you can join using 3 main social networks.

• Specify your interests, countries you’re interested in visiting or promote. Easily Track all your activities happening on JIZO (Group Requests, Groups Joined, Groups Created, Watchlist, Followers).

• JIZO Users can follow each other, building a feeling of community, you can find like-minded people, communicate, and join the same groups.

• Upload your favorite photos from your trips, share with our community on your Page, Group Page, or in Travel recommendations. Add Likes, Comments & Share the Photos you like.

• JIZO matches people & groups, recommendations based on their interests & countries they want to visit.

• Phone/Email Verification before joining/creating the group.

• Instant Notifications - FB Messenger, e-mail, SMS Notification.

• JIZO has its own industry accredited IATA (B2B) air booking engine, connected to both Amadeus and Galileo. Access is password protected, it offers both scheduled and specialty airline content, soon to also provide display of rich branded content (seats, baggage, etc.). Airline referencing and group air bundling, land arrangements, transfers, and events are also available.

• Travelers from around the world can also take advantage of the JIZO Travel Blog where travelers from around the world can enjoy sharing their travel experiences with other travelers, to provide useful advice and proudly share the joy and experience of their travel.

12. JIZO Organization, Management & Staff

Company Structure: JIZO L.L.C. (Limited Liability Company)

Trademark: Registered, October 2020

Owner & Founder: Igor Kopmar (Atlanta, GA. U.S.)

Corporate Officers, Ambassadors & Consuls

• CEO - Igor Kopmar

• CFO - TBD

• CBDO - TBD

• CTO - Andrei Gogu

• COO - TBD

• CMO - TBD

• CPO - TBD

Strategic Advisors & Other Contributors

Giovanni Neri & Regina Neri - Business Advisors & Investor Relations (Atlanta, GA. US)

• ~~Global Ambassadors~~ (12 positions) - TBD

- Africa

- Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan)

- East Asia (Mongolia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan)

- Eastern Europe (Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine)

- Western Europe (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom (UK))

- Oceania

- Indian Ocean (Seychelles, Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius)

- Japan, Korea

- Middle East

- South Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, ZITA AND GITA, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives)

- Southeast Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Philippines, Brunei, Myanmar)

- The Americas

• Global Ambassadors assign ~~Regional Consuls~~ - TBD

• Regional Consuls assign ~~Country Consuls~~ - TBD

13. Operational Plan

Global Ambassadors, Regional and Country Consuls:

The responsibilities and benefits outlined below are intended to provide an overview of the role of Global Representatives, with additional steps and tools to be tailored based on local countries, cultures, and traditions.
Global Representatives are responsible for identifying country, regional, and provincial managers, and for training, supporting, and monitoring them to ensure they can effectively manage local tour operators, agencies, guides, and other travel professionals, as well as follow up on any leads forwarded from JIZO.
Global Representatives are responsible for sharing and promoting JIZO's travel content network within their countries, using all available marketing tools, including social media, influencers, bloggers, and collaborating with Tourism Visitor Bureaus, National Tourism Boards, and other travel organizations to participate in and promote JIZO and its content. They are also responsible for motivating their network managers to add JIZO News and JIZO Travel Recommendations.
Global Representatives will contribute to the creation of JIZO's Original Travel Content, including JIZO News and JIZO Travel Recommendations.
Global Representatives will receive a percentage of JIZO's earnings from various sources, such as co-op marketing projects with local tourism associations, original content contributions, group travel purchases for the represented areas, and more. The exact percentage and other commercial terms will be defined soon.

Customer Service and Support Operations:

JIZO Customer Service and Support, will be provided on a 24/7 basis by in-house travel experts located in our call centers in Canada, Europe, India, United States.

To provide a better user experience, our support team will be maximizing web and mobile support for our product. This will include offering a comprehensive FAQ Library to address common questions and concerns, automated web and mobile notifications to keep users informed, and AI algorithms to help streamline support processes. Additionally, we will be prioritizing a superior UX interface to provide an intuitive and user-friendly experience for all our customers, regardless of their technical proficiency. By providing robust support, we aim to ensure that all users are able to fully utilize and enjoy our product to its fullest potential.

14. Marketing Plan

JIZO Marketing:

JIZO’s strategic growth plan is comprised of three components that will enable the company to reach its goal as a leading online supplier of group and tour travel experiences.

The first component is extensive use of technology paired with aggressive sales and marketing. JIZO will rely heavily on social networking through JIZO’s web site, 2 or 3 major travel industry trade shows during 2021/2022 (ITB Berlin, WTM London, BITUR Madrid), mobile applications, present and past RHT – Global Reservation travel industry relationships and extensive social media presence.

• Travel Agents of the World - 100,000+ members worldwide

• TravelPapa Guides - 5,000

• Locals

• Instagram

• Linkedin.com

• YouTube channel

• Other social networks

• Social media influencers and bloggers

JIZO will leverage and use past and present global airfare consolidator relationships to branch out and use the social networking/digital social tools, and crowd sourcing contacts.

The second component is a heavy focus on brand development. JIZO’s Global Management Structure will work closely with service providers in order to solely offer high-quality experiences. Local presence is the key in verifying the quality of potential offers and building long-lasting relationships with business clients.

As such, JIZO’s Global Ambassadors, Regional, and Country Consuls will be responsible to regularly distribute information and promote their network travel content, using all available marketing tools, such as social media platforms, influencers, bloggers, collaborating with Tourism Visitor Bureaus, National Tourism Boards and other travel organizations to promote the JIZO organization and JIZO content. Global Ambassadors, Regional, and Country Consuls are tasked with creating the following unique travel content: JIZO Original Groups, JIZO News, and JIZO Travel Recommendations.

The third component is an aggressive global expansion across all major regions, EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), NA (North America), LATAM (Latin America) and APAC (Asia-Pacific). A global marketing plan is anticipated closer to the full launch date once the CMO position is funded and staffing is in place.

15. Financials

Outstanding Liabilities/Capitalization Position

JIZO L.L.C. is debt free, beyond Mr. Kopmar’s initial investment. No equity shares or warrants have been issued to date; Mr. Kopmar currently retains 100% ownership of JIZO, L.L.C. In addition to the aforementioned manpower and facilities supplied by RHT – Global Reservations, a small group of seasoned travel industry executives have volunteered, and joined JIZO on an advisory role.

Start-up Cost

TBD

Projected Subscribers (Users), Travelers & Participating TravelPros

TBD

16. Monetization - Revenue Categories

Types of Groups, Participation & Creation Fees*

TYPE	JOIN FEE	CREATE FEE
Grouping	$10	$1
Private Travel	$0	$1
Packages by Travel Professionals	$10	$0
Excursions by Tour Guides	$10	$0
Familiarization Trips	$10	$10
Cruises	$10	$10
JIZO ORIGINAL Tour Packages	$10	$0
JIZO ORIGINAL Cruises	$10	$0
Virtual Live Stream Tours	$5+	$0

* - All fees are per person

Types of Groups and Commissions for Third Party Content

TYPE	COMMISSIONS*
Packages by Travel Professionals	5% - 15%
Excursions By Tour Guides	10% - 25%

* - All commissions are per person

Type of Groups and Commissions for JIZO Original Content

TYPE	COMMISSIONS
JIZO ORIGINAL Tour Packages	30%
JIZO ORIGINAL Cruises	% based on Cruise Line