Interview with Kevin May, founder of Tnooz

There is something going on in travel industry media: Kevin May, past editor of British Online Travel Magazine Travolution, will launch Tnooz across the world in the coming weeks, “filling a hole in the global travel media”. Escapio wanted to know more about Tnooz and got the very first interview with Kevin about his exciting new project:

1) What motivated you to start Tnooz?

My co-founders and I saw an opportunity to develop from scratch a global, web-based media brand focussing purely on travel technology, digital distribution and related sectors. We wanted to approach Tnooz wearing a revolutionary hat, both in terms of how to cover the sector editorially and how we commercialise the business. I was personally always fascinated in the process and mechanics of launching a digital start-up, so this is a wonderful chance to get involved from the base up while retaining what I love and enjoy doing: being a journalist and reporter.

2) In your pre-launch material, you talk about a “hole” in the global travel trade media. What is this?

There are some good but very localised business media publications and blogs around the world which write about issues in the travel technology sector. However, we wanted to create a global brand which brings the expertise and experience around the world into one place. This is not about aggregation of content (which, in travel, is being done well by the Tips from the T-List and PhoCusWright Connect platforms), but aggregation of contributors, giving them the opportunity collectively to reach a worldwide audience.

3) How will Tnooz fill the hole?

We have assembled a stunning array of opinion formers, experts and journalists who are all committed to providing unique, valuable, newsworthy and exclusive content and analysis to one of the biggest industries on the planet. We are also developing a number of information services which have never been provided before on a global scale. It is a truly exciting project that we hope will push the boundaries of what a business media brand should be providing to its user base.

4) What is the Tnooz target audience?

In simple terms, anyone who works in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries who has a professional responsibility in how travel ‘works’ from a technology, marketing and distribution perspective – from senior executives to those at the coal face of the sector.

5) Is there any venture capital involved or a major publishing house behind Tnooz?

No. We have investment and a co-founding team which draws on the skills needed to launch a new, independent media brand – including vast experience in digital start-ups and entreneurship, technology and good old fashioned journalism.

6) When will you launch Tnooz?

The main website will be unveiled over the course of the next four weeks and we believe will make an immediate splash in terms of the team of contributors, functionality, services and – most importantly – articles we produce. We have a number of exciting partnerships in place for events in the first six months, including working with Darren Cronian of Travel Rants as exclusive media partner for his annual TravelBlogCamp, which takes place in Central London during World Travel Market in November.

7) Will Tnooz be of importance to the German travel industry?

It is our intention that Tnooz will quickly become the de facto source on the internet for news, analysis and commentary for anyone working in travel who wants to be informed, understand and react quickly to travel technology trends. We are geographically neutral and hope that the power of the content we produce will be quickly picked up around the world, but especially in markets where technology plays such an important part in how travel is distributed and marketed, including Germany.