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?

Lady Travel Talk: Great Finds and Foods

We are pleased to introduce our 4th guest blogger of the Lady Travel Talk, a mini-series tailor made for female travelers. This series covers a host of topics related to the travel experiences of each of the ladies contributing to the series. Today's guest blogger is Mandy Arnold, director of marketing for LightStyles, a regional high-end window and door distributor, and a strategic branding and public relations consultant.

Mandy has clients up and down the East Coast and travels regularly for both business and pleasure.

Today Mandy shares insights on living local while traveling, tips for discovering great regional flavor and shopping.

I really enjoy traveling, but as a business traveler I often don’t have much time to peruse city streets to discover great hidden gems. So, I rely on a few tricks (eNewsletters and apps) that allow me to spend less time researching and more time experiencing.

A couple of things you should know about me… I’m married to a chef and consider myself to be somewhat of an unofficial food critic (see my reviews on Yelp.com) and I love to shop at local boutiques.

There are a few daily eNewlsetters I would recommend for women (and men) who share in my enthusiasm for food and finds. First, I subscribe to DailyCandy for the best insider boutique sales in the cities I frequent. They cover everything from one-day pop-up sales (where boutiques have season close outs and rent a vacant building for a day to sell inventory) to travel tips and best places to eat. Second, I’m a “member” of the Guilt Group (it doesn’t cost anything and email me if you need an invite to join). Gilt Group has a section called JetSetter that offers exclusive travel deals on boutique and high-end luxury hotels, inns and international vacations. While I can’t afford these vacations all the time, I read the blog posts and editor picks for tips on the area. And every now and again, I book a domestic stay for a special weekend.

Beyond these daily reads, when I’m planning a trip I start with visiting the local bureau of tourism for the region. You can easily find the local office or other visitor’s bureau websites using the Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory. These sites will usually have the most up-to-date list of annual events and information on historic or downtown districts. If these are not easily located, my default is Frommers. Frommers offers insights that most other sites won’t offer, like what areas of the city are safe places to walk, what to avoid and who to ask for at local venues for exceptional service. During my travels, historic and downtown districts have proven to be gathering places for great food finds. Once I pinpoint an area that meets two criteria – walking distance to entertainment and easy airport access – I search for what others have discovered.
If I’ve never been to a town or city before, Wikitravel is a fast and easy tool for identifying some unique history or local foods worth exploring in the region.

Ahhh, now on to finding my favorite part of the trip: FOOD! I usually start with Yelp.com (website or the smartphone app) to search for a great place to eat that’s centrally located so I can walk around before or after dinner. Walking also helps to justify over indulgence in the local cuisine. However, when I don’t have time to preplan a trip, I have become a big fan of Aloqa, a mobile service that pushes out notifications on local events, music, shopping, interesting places and more, all based on GPS location. Aloqa also syncs with MeetUp, so you can get a list of small and large events in the area to attend. Some of the best trips I have had included some sort of impromptu TweetUp or MeetUp.

So, with all these tools, I bet you’re wondering what I’ve actually found. Well, since this is just one blog post, I’ll touch on just a handful of my favorite finds.

Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston has the best walking tours I have ever been on. The historic district, which is most of the downtown city, is a visual experience like no other. If you’re a lover of vibrant architecture and beautiful landscaping, then this region of Low Country is for you. There is a great little MoonPie store downtown where you can pick up plenty of graham cracker and marshmallow inspired paraphernalia (MoonPies originated not far from here). Don’t be mistaken, this is by no means the impetus of your culinary experience in Charleston!
Have lunch at Magnolia’s, and if it’s cool enough, enjoy a cup of Blue Crab Bisque. For lovers of seafood, hit Hank’s Seafood Restaurant for dinner and be sure to order the Oyster Sampler and the Tuna Tartar.
If you visit the area for a few days, try to plan a day to visit Pawley’s Island or Kiawah Island.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ever discover a place that you felt you shouldn’t share for the sake of it becoming too popular? Well, The Franklin Mortgage and Insurance Company is one of mine. Yes, that is the name, but it’s not what it seems. Located on 18th Street in Philly, this bar sits behind a nondescript black door with no signage. With very limited seating, this place is where the real bartenders work. If you find extreme pleasure in the fine art of libations, this place will be well worth the wait. I personally recommend the Lucy Leave (raspberry infused brandy, Lillet, demerara, orange and cucumber).

Recently during a stay in Philly, I just happened to get a DailyCandy newsletter about a pop-up sale going on that same day right around the corner from where I was having breakfast and I scored a pair of boutique shoes for 85% off (Translation: I paid $37.50 for a $250 pair of shoes!).
If you’re spending the weekend in town and arrive with an empty stomach that will require massive amounts of food, stop by Cuba Libre to enjoy a rich Cuban atmosphere. If you’re not too hungry and just want to relax with a glass of wine while nibbling on an assortment of charcuterie complemented with the perfect selection of breads and apricot, honey and mustard spreads, visit Amada. For bunch in Philly, I like The Plough & Stars. The Plough has an outdoor seating area where you can watch the city awake slowly as everyone emerges from a Sunday slumber.

I hope my tips help you discover some great finds and food on your next trip.

Where are some of your favorite places to dine while traveling? Do you have a place that you've made a tradition of going?

Lady Travel Talk: Safe & Exciting Travel Made Easy

We are pleased to introduce our 2nd guest blogger of the Lady Travel Talk, a mini-series tailor made for female travelers. This series covers a host of topics related to the travel experiences of each of the ladies contributing to the series. Today's guest blogger is Tracey C. Jones, she is a President of Tremendous Life Books.

Her father, the late Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, started Executive Books for the purpose of changing the world one book at a time. With an exceptional leadership background, Tracey became the company’s new president in 2009 in order to carry on her father’s legacy.

Tracey was born and raised in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. As a high school graduate anxious to see the world, she attended New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, NM, earning an associates degree and an appointment to the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1988, she earned her degree and commission and entered the Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Her first assignment to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina took her overseas, where she participated in the first Gulf War. Upon her return to the States, Tracey moved to Bitburg Air Base, Germany and then RAF Lakenheath, UK where she honed her operational skills and filled command roles of increasing responsibility.

After twelve years as a commissioned officer, Tracey left the Air Force in 2000 and moved to Austin, Texas working for a top manufacturing firm in the semiconductor industry. There, she continued to develop her skills, this time in the civilian workforce as a project manager. While there, she earned an MBA in Global Management. Tracey recently moved back to Pennsylvania from St. Louis where she most recently was the project manager in charge of a diverse base operations service contract for the government.

Today Tracey shares with us a series of tips and trips that have helped her experience safe and exciting travel:

Traveling is one of my very favorite things in life. I grew up accompanying my father on business trips via planes, cruise ships and the infamous RV. I then continued my love of travel by joining the Air Force, where I got to fly in all types of aircraft to all sorts of locations. Once you get your routine down, travel for me is an escape, even if it’s for business reasons. It’s the one time I can sleep uninterrupted by the dog and cats vying for space on the bed all night long. While I am in those hotel rooms, I also imagine that my own personal house is that decoratively furnished, clean, and organized. What if I could fit all my belongings into a singular closet or dresser? I fantasize about my life being that clean and light.

But back to reality; I’ve learned a few tips along the journey’s way. First comes the packing. This is my very least favorite part of the trip and one I put off until about an hour before leaving for the airport. Since 9/11, the sky rocketing cost of fuel and the economic woes of the airlines, baggage has become a costly issue. So you’ve got to pack lean. Like any real woman, my instincts tell me to pack 20 pairs of shoes for a long weekend. But when it comes right down to it, just take two, a black one and a brown one. If its summer, indulge since sandals don’t take much space at all.

Also, if you don’t work out at home, don’t bother thinking you’ll work out on a business trip or vacation. Tennis shoes are big and heavy unless you plan on traveling in them. As far as the type of clothing, I would highly recommend the Travelers line from Chico’s. There’s even a store at the Hershey Outlets and they are always sending a catalogue full of further discounts. Their Travelers line has that name for a reason. The material can be balled up in your suitcase and will come out of the other side looking like new. I bring several skirts, pants, shirts made of this material with a belt or jacket to mix it up. This line covers the gambit from professional, to funky chic, to casual.

Now onto the personal items that fill your carry on. I always have the little dollar store plastic bottles on hand that I keep my shampoo and conditioner in. Or you can always use the hotel’s samples. Another huge advancement for women is the fact that almost all hotels now have a hair dryer in each room which saves a lot of room and weight. Every time you get a sample of perfume, keep it for your travel trip. That way you can bring that instead of running the risk of having your bigger bottle leak in your bag or, God forbid, get confiscated due to size. Lastly, I use Arbonne skin care products. They have their whole skin care line in these little travel containers and gorgeous gold mesh bag that I worship. When it’s time to travel I just grab the whole thing and slip it in my carry on.

With the strict limit of two carry-ons and more and more airlines using smaller regional jets, hauling a laptop if you don’t have, to is a nightmare. There’s also the hassle of getting it through security and having to pay fees for hotels that don’t offer free WiFi. My biggest headache relief was when I finally turned in my old phone for a Palm Pre that cost me $150 after rebate. I’m not promoting a particular brand, but do upgrade to a phone where you can synch your emails and review them while traveling. That way you can stay involved from afar and call if you need to. I can check work emails via Outlook, as well as my AOL account, and take a picture and load it immediately to Facebook to show everyone what a mahvelous time I’m having. Don’t let the technology scare you. Once you upgrade, you’ll wonder what took you so long.

Favorite girls' destinations are anywhere that has shopping, great dining, sightseeing, cool places for us to get dressed up and go out to, and spas. First and foremost is Las Vegas for so many reasons. The family traveled to Las Vegas when I was five years old and I’ve never forgotten the colors, the sounds, and the vibrancy. Vegas has something for everyone and you can go as high end or as budget conscious as you want. You can wear what you want. You can dine at award winning restaurants or hit the buffet. And the free people-watching is priceless. The lounges always have free entertainment, or you can pay to see one of the many amazing shows.

Security issues should always be taken into consideration. Only pack the credit card(s) you need. In other words, don’t take your whole wallet if you don’t need it. Don’t bring the high dollar jewelry unless you know the hotel has a safe in the room, is guaranteed in the event of theft, or you intend to keep it on your person. I always bring the costume stuff so if something happens, no big deal. After all, what better place to wear huge CZ baubles than Vegas, where nobody knows if they are real or not. Also, unless you are traveling out of country, leave your passport at home as well.

Be aware that when you arrive at the larger airports, you may be approached by taxi vendors that are not approved by the airport, i.e., scam artists. If in doubt, ask a sky hop where the approved waiting lines for taxis are. I also MapQuest how far my hotel is from the airport and the general direction so I can ensure I am not getting taken on a wild and expensive goose chase. It also never hurts because sometimes the taxi drivers do not know where something is and don’t have a GPS in their car! I’ve had this happen more than once.

Once in the hotel, ask the concierge what activities are going on or if there are hotel shuttles to tourist activities nearby. Another piece of advice: I am a very light sleeper, so I always see if there are rooms available on the business level. If not, I always ask that I not be near a wedding party, high school reunion, or any other large group where folks are going from room to room all hours of the day and night. When you get to your room and before you unpack, make sure everything works from the hot water to the fan. I once got all unpacked and ready for bed when I went to turn on the heater and soon found that my room was right by the heating unit. It made so much noise I could not sleep and had to change rooms.

Hope these tips help and that your travels are exciting and safe!!

Which of Tracey's tips and trips resignated with you the most? Do you have something to add to her content that you feel other female travelers would benefit from?

You can read more from Tracey at her blog.