Venture Capital Companies Specializing in Leisure and Travel
When you think of cutting edge technology, as you often do when discussing venture capital, it is easy to miss some cutting edge trends. Venture capital companies specializing in leisure and travel have not missed them and are booming.
There are two major trends that are altering the leisure and travel industry. The first is the increased amount of leisure time available. This trend has been around for some time and really is not abating. It is fueled today, partly by the increased life expectancy and the subsequent increase in retirement age individuals with very disposable incomes. The other trend is the increased global awareness that is leading to a boom in international tourism. Venture capital companies specializing in leisure and travel have taken advantage of both of these trends.
Venture capital opportunities in the leisure and travel industry are many and widely varied. They involve real estate and land development with the building of resorts and hotels in newly emerging tourism hot spots. They involve transportation with the start up or expansion of travel based services. Leisure activities also means sports and can include projects ranging from stadiums and concert halls to golf courses and ski areas.
One of the major thrusts of many venture capital companies specializing in leisure and travel is international investment opportunities. As international tourism increases, the development of leisure related resources in foreign lands becomes a potential source for venture capital deals. The idea of globalization has made the expansion of existing companies into foreign markets a common concept. This applies to leisure related ventures such as hotel chains and resorts.
The nature of leisure and travel is such that there is a definite relationship between services such as travel and accommodations. The relationship extends to leisure activities. This is why the travel agency idea proved so popular. It is the pulling together of all of the related activities under a common umbrella to provide a complete travel package. The same concept fuels venture capital companies that establish networks and holding companies for leisure related ventures that can co-operate in a mutually beneficial way.
While travel and leisure does not seem to get the attention of such issues as technology and alternative fuels in discussions of venture capital ideas and opportunities, it ranks with real estate and land development as one of the best potential sources of venture deals. It is a growth industry that has not even begun to realize its potential as the world continues to shrink and connect.