What It's About
A niche side hustle flying tourists in small, passenger planes so that they can have a unique view of the Pacific Northwest.
Business Model
Skills Required
Complexity
Profit Potential
Words of Wisdom
A lot of Corey's success comes down to his unique way of charging for tours. Instead of charging high premiums per person, Envi Adventures flights are priced per flight. Depending on the tour they choose, customers can expect to pay $99, $199, $265, or $349. A variety of price points opens the door to more people and in the end is more cost effective.
Fun Fact
Did you know 50% of travel companies have said that direct bookings have been generated from social media and 52% of travelers use social media to plan a trip? That means if you’re not on social, you could be missing out on a lot of customers!
Notes from Chris
Episode 193
If you live in an area visited by tourists, there are probably a lot of different options to make money by showing them around. From a young age, Cory Rust has spent large chunks of his time exploring the nature and wilderness of his hometown in Oregon. He’s seen the Gorge, walked beside the Columbia River, hiked through the forests and even started a small clothing brand based on local designs. However, Corey wanted to take it a step further. He wanted to show people who were visiting the area exactly where they were and what they were experiencing. He knew tourists were already flocking to the local waterfalls, but couldn’t help feeling this was only a small percentage of what the place had to offer. So, he set about creating Envi Adventures, with the goal of giving people what he called the 360-degree experience.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Envi Adventures: Learn more about Corey's 360 aerial adventure packages on his website
- Federal Aviation Administration | Plane Registry: The large list of airplane owners that Corey used to find someone who was willing to cooperate with him
- The Guardian | How to start a tour operator business: Interested in starting your own urban touring company? Get started, here
- Renegade Museum Tour Guide Earns $2 Million: A man in New York City proves that with enough passion and innovation a side hustle can thrive in museums
- Urban Hiker Climbs to Steep Success in San Francisco: A project manager turns a passion for her city into a substantial side income of $50,000 a year
Resources
GET $625 IN FREE TRAVEL
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