CHARLESTON, S.C., April 10, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For many travelers today, booking flights and hotels is a simple process. But when it comes to researching what the best activities, restaurants, and insider tips are for your destination, that process becomes time-intensive and frustrating. A new Charleston-based company is launching an app that aims to reduce the amount of time and anxiety associated with travel research.
LGND (pronounced 'legend') is a new travel app that matches travelers with "packs" of recommendations provided by locals on what to do, what to know, and where to go. The app works by asking a short set of questions, and based on the user's answers, the app matches the user with recommendations from the best local "LGND Guide" for them.
"Think TripAdvisor meets Match.com," says Founder & CEO, Patrick Gallagher. "Authentic travel experiences are out there. But they are hidden behind highly-biased reviews and rating sites, sponsored content, paid influencers, outdated editorials, and more. We're connecting like-minded people and breaking down the barrier to timely, relevant, and authentic travel advice."
A Charleston, SC local, Gallagher left his role in January as a Software Product Director to build the LGND app. Gallagher partnered with Charleston-based app developer, Launchpeer, to build and release the app – available now for iOS and soon Android. Jake Hare, CEO of Launchpeer, jumped at the chance to help build the first version of LGND. "From the start, the LGND vision was clear," said Hare. "The lack of trustworthy recommendations is a pain point for this whole generation of travelers, and the app had to do more than just compile stories, feeds, and photos. It's bringing a very human element to a piece of software, so it was an exciting project for us to tackle."
The company performed a soft launch of the app this past winter while it selected over 30 locals to be LGND Guides as part of the full Charleston launch and to receive early feedback from both locals and visitors. "The amount of feedback from guides and users was incredible," added Gallagher. "Everyone wants to know where we're launching next, learn more who the guides are, and even recommending more features down the road. When we hear the enthusiasm people have about LGND, it's clear that this is more than just a 'cool idea'."
While the initial focus is on Charleston, plans for expansion are already underway, with the company eyeing other popular tourist destinations like Austin, Denver, Nashville, New Orleans, and nearly a dozen other cities.
LGND is hosting a Launch Party in downtown Charleston at Revelry Brewing Co on Saturday, April 20 at 5:00pm and is inviting the community to celebrate, meet some of its LGND Guides, and enter for chances to win prizes including a $250 Southwest Airlines gift card. For more details, visit http://www.LGNDapp.com or connect on social media (@LGNDapp) on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
SOURCE LGND
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