There are all sorts of packages, discounts and deals for those wanting to get away for a little while. However, cash-strapped Washingtonians looking for a quick getaway need only turn to the website LivingSocial for an eye-opening array of low-cost travel options.
The Washington, D.C.-based company, which began life in 2007, is an online resource for local discounts all over the country. As General Manager Dave Madden puts it, Living Social is dedicated to “inspiring people to get out and have great experiences in their local communities.” Every week there are new offers listed for families, couples or singles who want to get out and explore. What’s more, a travel arm of the company, LivingSocial Escapes, was started in order to provide subscribers with opportunities outside of the community as well. Since its launch in November 2010, Escapes has proven to be an enormous hit with the public.
{mosads}“We just crossed the 1-million-rooms-sold mark,” Madden says. “That puts us in the top 50 travel agencies in North America.”
Each week Escapes offers destinations ranging from all-inclusive resorts in Mexico to quaint bed-and-breakfasts in the countryside of New Jersey. LivingSocial employees work hard to find destinations that aren’t just run-of-the-mill weekend getaways.
“What we didn’t want to do is just be a directory where there were thousands of options,” Madden says. “As people are very busy, if we
can put something really compelling in front of them that’s a great experience it’s proven that the people who are interested in them will purchase them.”
Adam Palmer, an account executive at LivingSocial responsible for finding destinations in the Mid-Atlantic region, says he’s constantly
on the lookout not only for the most popular destinations but also ones that have skirted under the radar — “hidden gems,” he calls them. Of the latter group, Palmer says that many of the destinations tend to be located not too far outside the city.
“I think the most popular places are some of those smaller areas that are in the middle of wine country,” Palmer says. “Funny, you go about an hour or two out [of the city] and you feel like you’re in a different world. So when I can capture those areas that really works well for us.”
In fact, both Palmer and Madden say that Washingtonians are always on the lookout for destinations that aren’t just relatively cheap but also close to home. Among destinations that have proven to be incredibly popular are the Homestead, a sprawling, luxurious resort and spa located in Hot Springs, Va, and the Mimslyn Inn in the Shenandoah Valley, home to the famous Luray Caverns.
Close proximity to the city is not the only factor Washingtonians are looking for, however. Madden says the overriding sentiment for those who subscribe to Living Social Escapes is, “Make it really easy for me by providing a complete experience.” That “complete experience” could be something as exotic as a safari or as simple as a free dinner.
“They’re looking for something included,” Madden says. “Something beyond a room, whether that’s a dining experience or a bottle of wine.”
Palmer agrees. He believes that one thing that sets LivingSocial Escapes apart from other travel companies is that everything is set up for the traveler before he or she embarks.
“If we can include [an activity or gift] in the package, then that’s what inspires people,” Palmer says. “When we can create an entire experience for them, that’s what gets people really excited.”