GateGuru: The Story Behind the App

Being in an airport can often be a stressful experience. Having a helping hand while navigating the airport’s security, finding a good meal without breaking the bank, or knowing where to buy a magazine or newspaper for an in-flight read are just a few pieces of advice that can be hard to come by for a first-timer in a new airport. Dan Gellert, CEO of the GateGuru app, saw the flaws in airport travel and decided it was time to tap the wealth of information at travelers’ finger tips. MDT had the chance to discuss the app with the GateGuru himself and find out a little more about its evolution.

MDT: What was the impetus for creating the app? What series of events inspired your thoughts for the app’s creation?

Gellert: What led to me creating the app were my own frustrations with airports. I was amazed at the lack of technology and community available to help travelers make the simplest decisions - "should I eat before or after security?", "is this restaurant in front of me any good?", "is there a newsstand by my gate or should I buy my magazines at the beginning of the concourse", "is this club where I am about to spend $50 nice inside?" I was traveling a lot for work, and constantly asking myself these questions and oftentimes guessing the wrong answer. Eventually I talked to enough business travelers who had the same experiences and decided to do something about it myself. That something was GateGuru.

MDT: What demographic was the app intended for? And, has the app been met with the reception that you’d hoped with that demographic?

Gellert: GateGuru's core demographic is the business traveler. The overwhelming number of users is business travelers. That being said, we wanted to make it family friendly as well, so we have aggregated amenities such as Children's Play Areas or Nursing Stations. Amongst the core demo, the app has been well received - so much so that we significantly added to our feature set with the launch of GateGuru 2.0. With 2.0, travelers can view and upload security wait times, view their itineraries directly within the app, and add reviews and tips for airports and terminals. So with the launch of 2.0, all of a sudden you see GateGuru go from a fantastic tool when you are in an airport you are not as familiar with, to now becoming the most immersive travel application out there for that "day of" travel.

MDT: How do you see Gate Guru app growing and scaling to meet the ever changing needs of air travelers?

Gellert: The initial version of GateGuru, around connecting travelers to airport retail, was a huge success. We have also had a fantastic response from our users to version 2.0. This however, is just the beginning for us. Over the coming year we will build new features into the application, as well as create Android and web-based versions of GateGuru. We also plan to start working much more closely with airports. Overall, we believe that the mobile platform is going to have a far greater impact on the travel space than many people realize and we are excited for GateGuru to be one of the leading travel brands from a mobile perspective.

What all can you do with the app? Here's a quick snapshot of the app's features

• Most comprehensive and accurate listing of airport amenities (sortable by Food, Shops and Services).
• Easy-to-use and eye-friendly user interface.
• Access to real-time ratings, reviews and photos – Avoid unappealing airport lounges, shady-looking restaurants or poor service – you deserve better! Quickly and easily locate the highest rated restaurant, shop or service by your fellow travelers.
• Simple search engine – Know your pre or post-security options; what is near your gate; gift stores or ATMs close by; the nearest coffee shop and much more.
• Bookmark function – Easily retrieve tagged information on the restaurants, shops and services you have enjoyed in the past.
• Check-in at your location with the app and shout-out to your friends and family via Twitter, Foursquare and Facebook to let them know you've arrived.
  
• Post security checkpoint wait times via the app.
• Share you own photos, reviews and tips for the airports you're at via the app's easy-to-use interface.
• Participate in the leaderboard – Earn points as you utilize GateGuru and improve your ranking among other travelers. Get honored as the “Captain” of your airport locally or nationally. Monitor your ranking versus your Facebook friends.
• Become a Guru – In addition to GateGuru’s interactive online community, update your Twitter and Facebook status with updates, tips and/or reviews as you travel.:

Just like MDT’s promise of money, distance and time saved Gellert’s GateGuru can do the same for you. The app is not only free to download through the Apple App store, but can offer you deal like a free pretzel at Auntie Anne’s or shorten the length of time you stand barefoot on the security line.

GateGuru app is active on Twitter and Facebook, stay connected for the latest info and about about the app, travel, and more!

Now that you know a bit more about it are you going to download this app for your iPhone? Are you already a user of GateGuru? What do you find most beneficial about the app?

Air Travel, Socially Speaking with @avweekbenet

Introducing the latest in fly HIA blog mini-series, a discussion on how social media has altered the way we travel. Today's guest blogger is Benét J. Wilson. Benét is the Online Managing Editor for Business Aviation at Aviation Week in Washington, D.C., and is a consummate traveler and blogger.

The Internet has revolutionized and democratized the world of travel. In the old days, we had to rely on travel agents for booking our tickets and trusting that they would give us the best fares. We also had to rely on them, along with travel writers, for intelligence on where to go and where to stay.

But with the advent of the Internet, those functions became available to anyone with access to a computer. We can now book our own travel, find independent reviews on resorts and hotels and tailor our own vacations.

But for me, the one thing that has transformed travel is the growth in social media. And the one tool that has revolutionized how we experience our travel is Twitter. The 140-character microblogging site has the ability to give travelers instant information about any part of their trip.

For example, I flew to Geneva, Switzerland, back in May for a major business aviation show. The day after I arrived, I came down with a horrible cold. We all know that nothing is worse than being on the road and getting sick, especially if you’re out of the county.

I jokingly sent a Tweet asking one of my followers to go to Walgreens, get me some lotion tissues, some Sudafed Cold medicine for day and NyQuil for the evenings and along with some Riccola cough drops and fly them to Geneva. The next thing I know, I had tweets suggesting medicines I could buy in Geneva. One of my followers was even kind enough to Tweet her suggestions to me in French and German so I could show it to the pharmacist.

I took her good advice and got some great medicine and felt better after only a day. I again joked about how much better I felt, but admitted I had no idea what I was taking. Several of my European followers assured me that the medicines recommended to me were the right ones to take.

One of my favorite Twitter travel people is Stacy Smalls, AKA @EliteTravelGal. She is constantly tweeting about her amazing travels and giving advice on where people should go. She also handles her client emergency requests (and even requests from non-clients), because you never know when you’ll need help.

Another favorite is Brett Snyder, AKA @crankyflier, who brings humor and clarity to the airline business in his blog of the same name. But he also has a business – Cranky Concierge that sprang up after Twitter followers asked for help in rebooking flights after flight delays and cancellations. During Iceland’s volcano eruption, Snyder solicited clients via Twitter and came up with some really unique connections to get people out of Europe.

And if you mention almost any city in the world, I guarantee you will get some great suggestions on Twitter for places you don’t find in the guidebooks or deals that may not always be visible. A friend recently had an 8-hour layover in Singapore and wanted suggestions on what to do. One of my followers told me that the airport’s Singapore Visitors Center offers FREE two-hour tours of the city, including transportation. There’s also a free shuttle that takes you to points in the city.

So you will never see me travel without my two smartphones and their corresponding Twitter apps: the Blackberry Curve with UberTwitter and the iPhone4 with Echofone (both great recommendations from my Twitter followers). And to borrow my favorite airline tag line – this one from the soon-to-be-departed AirTran Airways – go. There’s nothing stopping you!