Guru Guru The Points Guy wants to renew the luxury travel points system with a trip

Brian Kelly made a full profession from the cottage industry, distorting side bustle to increase the credit and reward card to the Points Guy, which has become a verbal privilege. Now he argues that the points system jumped. Besides Leer Hippeau and Slow Ventures, it supports the New York -based start -up journey on a $ 7.7 million seed tour to return it on the right track.

This may be a big problem in the first world of care, but I am sure that many readers of this newsletter were amazed when Chis announced the adjustment of the Rabsruse of the backup credit card in Sapphire, or when Marriott captured Starwood. Who does not like fake internet money that can sometimes give you upgrade airlines or a free hotel night?

John Soton, founder and CEO of a trip company, believes that the system needs to be renewed. Soton, a technical businessman for a long time, met at a time when the position of chief digital officials at Red Ventures, an investment company that focuses on the media possesses trademarks such as Bankate and Lonily Planet, and at the end, The Points Guy.

When Soton left his role in 2021, he took a few years to play professional volleyball before discovering his next project. After exploring the idea of investing in short -term rents such as Airbnb Properties, he had the idea of building a loyalty program for travelers. After consulting with Kelly, I realized that there is a broader problem-not only of short-term rents and many independent hotels that lack the infrastructure to create bonus systems, but these points in general were increasingly broken. Kelly told me: “They have lost the magic of loyalty.” “There is a great opportunity to create an excited program for people.”

The flight site looks like an intersection between a travel platform like Booking.com (online travel agency, industry language) and Instagram, with clips of desert hideouts and trees. On the back interface, Journey Small Feals, which now has a group now more than 1500 from all over the world, who want to participate in their loyalty program – a group of independent hotels and rented property. Soton says they are not looking for certain prices (with real estate that ranges from several hundred to several thousand dollars per night) or stars, but whether they “created something special that has a story that tells it” (you can check them outletThat has just been launched, to judge yourself.)

Sutton and Kelly argue that the final result of visitors is that the system is clear and direct: it earns five points per dollar that has been spent if you reserve directly through their platform, with each point worth about two years, equal to a 10 % discount, which can be replaced immediately during the residence. “Our program is designed so that you do not benefit from it,” Kelly said.

The journey is the type of technical product for consumers, which no longer sees much-a simple concept that is implemented with Flair. But this is 2025, there is, of course, Amnesty International. The company has built tools that track the preferences and behavior of visitors, such as whether they prefer to welcome red wine or mineral water, to help real estate managers allocate the experiment. The trip also builds a platform for influencers such as Kelly, which matches them with characteristics. Ultimately, the goal is to build artificial intelligence agents who will help tourists. Soton says it will make platforms like Expedia, where you can find a hotel by searching for the 10 best hotels in Paris, which looks old.

He told me: “The travelers will be on a journey of confidence with us.”

Leo Schwartz
x: leomschwartz
Email: leo.schwartz@fortune.com

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Adventure deals

– likeAnd he is developed in Sao Paulo for artificial intelligence agents who manage salaries and workforce, collecting $ 18 million of financing from Inhibitory capitaland A16ZAnd the founders.

– Lift RobotsRobot developer based in San Francisco, designed to complete the construction tasks, raised $ 7.8 million of seed financing. Mac Projects Lead Unhappy Projects And current investors Cybernetix Projectsand Zakua ProjectsAnd Union Laboratory.

– QbeastBellevue, Wash-Data Infrastructure Company, raised $ 7.6 million of seed financing. The peak xv increased Lead to flee Technology investment and fuel Partners.

– Pearl EdisonDetroit -based general contractor for electrical and housing energy efficiency projects, $ 3.3 million in seed financing. New system project and Commonole Projects Lead lamp and Newlab.

– Nerve imagingSao Paulo’s nervous diagnostic platform raised $ 3 million in seed financing. the address Lead Romero Rodriguez.

Private stocks

– MachinifyA portfolio company A new mountain capitalAnd he agreed to take performance health careThe Florida -based Florida Payments for the Health Care Industry, especially for about $ 670 million.

– A new mountain capital He agreed to obtain a minority share in WipfliIt is a Milwaukeeing consultant and accounting company. The financial conditions have not been revealed.

Output

– MPLX acquired Northwind Delaware HoldingsIt is the gathering of sour services in Houston, and the treatment treatment, from services services, from Five infrastructure points For $ 2.38 billion.

– Sinvin He agreed to obtain a majority share in tasty CommunicationsAnd it is the institutions of the institutional clients based in the UK, from ADCEL-KKR. The financial conditions have not been revealed.

– World Ndt acquired IntegraDistinguished Salameh and Examination Company, based in Indianapolis, specializes in high -resolution pipeline examination services, from high -resolution services. Ward capital. The financial conditions have not been revealed.

Money + Money Fund

– right PartnersA private company in New York City raised $ 825 million for its seventh fund focusing on medium market companies.

– CRVThe California -based Investment Capital, based in California, raised $ 750 million for its twentieth fund, which focuses on the series A.