Can you believe it? Fora turns one this month!
From our early days in TriBeCa coffee shops – starting with three co-founders and one big idea – to a team of 20 full-time employees and over 500 Fora Advisors: we’ve come a long way in a year. We attribute our progress to the work of our incredible advisors, who join us in realizing our mission every day. (And, of course, tons of dedication, passion, grit and team lunches here at Fora HQ).
Since our founding in August of 2021, we’ve gone through two rounds of fundraising and amassed an advisor waitlist of more than 35,000 people. We continue to reimagine the travel advisor industry, and find new ways to empower anyone, anywhere, to earn a meaningful income planning travel. And – if we do say so ourselves – we’re just getting started.
To celebrate our birthday, we’re looking back at some of our favorite stats in the past year. A “year in review,” if you will – Fora style.
Happy Birthday, Fora!
Interested in turning your passion for travel into $$$? Become a travel advisor today.
Fora by the Numbers: August 2021-August 2022
1… destination wedding
In June, our Head of Content Marketing, Kelley Louise, tied the knot during a destination wedding at Tensing Pen, a boutique hotel in Jamaica. Of course, she used her own Fora Advisor perks & had a swoon-worthy stay at the Lagoon Cottage at Goldeneye for her honeymoon!
2… engagements
Two of our lovely employees said ‘I do’ this year: our Travel Sales assistant, Yarden Shuminer, while scouting in Cassis, France, and Blair West, our Editorial Manager, in Central Park’s Conservatory Garden.
2… fund raises ($18.5 million)
It’s all happening! In November, Fora raised a $5M seed round with lead investor Forerunner Ventures. Eight months later, we raised our $13.5M Series A. (Read more in A Fireside Chat with our Founders). We’re using these investments to continue to build the tech, tools and community to empower anyone to become a travel advisor.
2… FAM trips
FAM trips, or “familiarization trips,” are a highlight for Fora travel advisors. Advisors come together to visit a hotel, meet the staff and have a look at the rooms and amenities. And Fora has hosted two! Our first FAM was to the gorgeous Sage Lodge at the foot of Yellowstone National Park, and our second was to Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod. Any guesses where our third will be?
3… Co-Founders
Henley Vazquez, Evan Frank and Jake Peters are parents, entrepreneurs, hotel junkies and lifelong travelers. Among them: a self-proclaimed history nerd, a Brooklynite wine connoisseur and a regular at the boxing gym.
4… offices
Our work soundtrack started with the whirr of espresso machines in a TriBeCa coffee shop, and evolved to the murmur of coworkers at a WeWork office. We started in a space that fit six, and quickly outgrew it before moving to a corner room at WeWork for 12. Now, we’re in our own office – a sunny loft with space for all of us (and a killer kitchen) – and we couldn’t be happier.
5… babies (including furry friends!)
Welcome to the world, Edgar, Ella and Wyatt! We were delighted to meet three members of the next generation of Fora Advisors and couldn’t be happier for their very tired but happy parents. And of course we can’t forget fur babies: Head of Travel Operations Leslie Overton welcomed a new puppy, Norton, and Co-Founder Henley Vazquez adopted a rescue dog from Costa Rica, appropriately named Vida.
20… full-time employees at Fora HQ
From travel operations to editorial, finance, engineering and advisor success, we’re honored to work with a talented and diverse team. Interested in joining us? See our open roles.
47… destination trainings
Every week, we host a live destination training to teach our Fora Advisors something new about a captivating destination that they could share with their clients, from the Amalfi Coast to American dude ranches. They’ve helped our advisors build their skills so they can do their job best, and prove to be not just wildly informational, but deeply engaging for all attending.
60… press mentions
We’ve been written up in Fortune, New York Times, The Strategist, TechCrunch and more, gathering 60+ press mentions of our work. But the best part isn’t just giving Fora cred - it’s being able to highlight the amazing work of our Fora Advisors, like Judy Tudor in USA Today and Tori Petry in the Washington Post.
504… Fora Advisors
From tech gurus to teachers, finance directors to full-time parents, we’re showing the world that anyone who loves to book travel can make meaningful income as a travel advisor. And we’re *walking that walk* thanks to our 500+ amazing advisors.
Interested in joining us? Get started today.
4,300… trips planned
Our Fora Advisors have sent travel lovers all around the world to celebrate special milestones, organize corporate retreats and (most often) spend precious vacation time with family and friends.
Some of our top properties booked include the Four Seasons Costa Rica, Hotel Esencia in Mexico and Montage Deer Valley in Utah. Advisors have also booked multi-day adventures with companies like Experience Morocco and Original Senses Greece. (For more Mexico travel inspiration, check out some of the best hotels in Cabo.)
35,000… advisors on our waitlist
We know you’re waiting for us – and we can’t wait to welcome you, too! Our Fora Advisor waitlist has officially grown to more than 35,000, and we’re constantly working to build our resources and capacity so we can open our doors even more.
Not on the waitlist yet? Make sure you sign up to join us and be part of the next exciting chapter of our story. In the meantime, learn more about how to turn your passion for travel into $$$.
