More travel startups get into NFT game

Two new startups are bringing their products to market – both using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to address different aspects of the travel ecosystem. 

Launching today, PicoNFT is a platform to enable travel and hospitality companies to create, sell and promote NFTs to share brand content and drive loyalty. 

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, PicoNFT provides templates so brands can create NFT artwork and multimedia, for example to showcase a destination or experience.

PicoNFT can also integrate with loyalty programs so brands can reward customers with NFTs that carry a specific point value that can then be redeemed for goods and services, without the need to transact on external, third-party marketplaces. 

The company is also creating sharing features on Instagram to facilitate extension of a brand’s reach.

PicoNFT is currently available in an invite-only preview for travel and hospitality customers. 

NFT travel app

Legends is a new app that translates a user’s photos and other device data into an NFT.

That NFT becomes the user’s unique “travel DNA,” creating a visualization of their travel history that they can use to provide recommendations and information to others, without having to manually type notes or remember places they have visited. 

The NFT also serves as the user’s “membership” into the Legends community, providing access to digital and physical offers from partners.

“The future of social is category-focused and creator first. Traditional travel platforms are siloed, built for providers and not today's traveler,” says Stephanie Daniel, Legends co-founder and CEO.

“We are redefining travel for today's consumers by combining the best of tech and community to make travel experiences a tangible, shareable, monetizable asset. The time is now.”

As users share information with one another, they can earn monetary rewards from bookings made based on their recommendations. 

New York-based Legends says it has received funding from multiple investors, including Trip Ventures, but it has not disclosed the amount.

“We believe that Stephanie and Shaina [Shiwarski, co-founder] have founded what could become the leading social-plus-travel company,” says Carlos Garcia, CEO of Trip Ventures. The app is currently invite-only and available on iOS.