Snow-sports ‘match-making’ service launches
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Ongosa, a match-making website that connects snow sports enthusiasts with a friendly face in-resort, has launched for winter 2016/2017.
Set to be the next big thing in ski, the ‘uber for ski’ aims to give everyday enthusiasts heading to the mountains the opportunity to connect with the best sports pros in Europe.
Currently, British travellers rely on recommendations from their hotel, tour operator or travel agents and risk being paired with instructors or guides from mass-market ski-schools that don’t match their requirements. This can often result in a more junior, less qualified, or unsuitable instructor being assigned, with no input with regards to preference from the client.
Ongosa fills a gap in the market for travellers who don’t want off the shelf guiding or instruction – whether it be as beginner skiers, or experienced boarders wanting to know where the best powder is – and through careful match-making with over 4,000+ recommended snowsports pros, it gives visitors access to a truly local expert, and friendly face once they get there.
The start-up venture was set up by entrepreneur Richard Smith. “Having spent several years as a seasonaire in the Alps, I realised that I had this fantastic network of personal recommendations there that was hard for tourists to tap into. I wanted to recreate this word of mouth online so that everyone can benefit from being in the know, not just those living in resort. Ongosa means to guide or to lead in Swahili, reflecting the ethos of our business: to give everyone the chance to access the best guides and instructors in resort.”
The process is simple: snowsports enthusiasts looking for a local expert contact Ongosa with an outline of their dates and requirements; Ongosa’s team will do the hard work and respond with three perfectly matched and pre-vetted guides or instructors which Ongosa will then help them book directly and safely by phone or on the website.
Price of instructors starts from £40 per hour and varies by destination and experience of guide.
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