LodgeLink: Tech to simplify workforce travel
LodgeLink
Workforce travel can be costly, inefficient and time consuming. Yet, many businesses must constantly arrange logistics for crews in far-flung locations, from hotels, remote camps and lodges to ground transport, flights and other services.
LodgeLink, a Calgary-based company disrupting the crew-travel logistics sector in North America, has created a tech-enabled solution, designing an end-to-end digital B2B workforce travel platform.
The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) approved up to $3 million to LodgeLink to support the creation of 300 technical roles and an equal number of commercial and administrative positions over five years.
“With OCIF’s support, we are building a scaleup tech business here in Calgary that uniquely transfers experience gained from oil and gas and re-applies it to benefit multiple industries,” said Trevor Haynes, President and CEO of LodgeLink.
The LodgeLink platform anticipates the administrative pain-points of the full travel cycle from booking through payment process, and provides businesses the digital tools to plan, track and manage in order to save time and money.
Leveraging technology has allowed LodgeLink to expand well beyond its roots in energy services. Today, LodgeLink is hiring to rapidly scale, explore diverse industries and end markets, and host thousands of additional properties and services across North America.
When LodgeLink received backing from OCIF in 2020, the platform listed 2,000 hotels and lodges representing 200,000 rooms.
Now, the LodgeLink platform lists more than 7,300 properties representing approximately 697,000 rooms.
Trevor Haynes, President & CEO, LodgeLink leads a values session for LodgeLink employees.
CALGARY: HUB FOR TECH TALENT
Calgary, like LodgeLink, is building upon a foundation rooted in energy and continues to diversify and attract highly skilled tech talent.
“Calgary is an efficient place to do business and be creative. People share risk and put ventures together. There’s a shared understanding of entrepreneurialism here that can be applied to almost any industry,” said Haynes.
“Calgary is an efficient place to do business and be creative. People share risk and put ventures together. There’s a shared understanding of entrepreneurialism here that can be applied to almost any industry.”
“As an entrepreneur, I am optimistic. We continue to believe Calgary is the hub and immense opportunity exists here.”
With LodgeLink’s hiring initiatives to rapidly expand the local team, many tech workers are relocating to Calgary. The team’s inclusive culture is a critical component in the company’s recruiting and retention strategy. Both young tech talent and subject matter experts make up the dynamic team at this ambitious scaleup.
"There is not just one type of tech worker that we look to hire,” said Haynes. “We are welcoming new staff to the team who are excited about the quality of life and lower cost of living here in Calgary.”
BUILDING A SOLUTION
The LodgeLink platform fills a major gap in the workforce travel market by consolidating all aspects of crew travel for companies employing field crews.
“The idea for the LodgeLink platform grew out of both necessity and market opportunity,” said Haynes. “The world urgently needed our expertise provided to customers in a different way.”
Initially, the organization worked with oil and gas clients to provide modular lodgings for workers on-site. When the energy industry was hit with declining commodity prices, the LodgeLink team leveraged technology and re-imagined their service offering to address multiple inefficiencies in the full travel cycle.
“That was the genesis of LodgeLink,” said Haynes.
It is estimated at the peak of oil and gas production, operators were wasting $200 million a year on workforce logistics inefficiencies. In accommodation bookings alone, the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) reports that close to 10 per cent of companies pay for bookings that are never used.
LodgeLink clients can adjust travel plans in real time.
Overall, the GBTA estimates the market opportunity to be about $70 billion.
The platform has re-imagined the travel cycle by billing clients on usage rather than bookings which are paid for, but un-used.
To ensure cost-savings for clients, the LodgeLink platform also facilitates discounted group accommodation and transportation bookings, reduces administration spend, simplifies payments and generates dynamic financial reports.
Developers on Lodgelink’s team have designed layers of code to build an intricate system architecture, allowing businesses to adjust travel plans for employees in real time and eliminate the need for a physical paper trail. LodgeLink developers have also connected key technology such as Duty of Care so companies can locate, track and advise their team when changes happen, or in the event of an emergency.
FOUNDATIONS IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Haynes co-founded Black Diamond Group in 2003, a company rooted in providing accommodations and modular structures in the field. Over the last 30 years, he applied his enterprising mindset to fuel innovative solutions to challenges in the energy industry.
When the company pivoted the business model, not everyone saw the value in the concept but, as Haynes said, “I couldn’t get this idea out of my head … eventually our executive team decided to give it a go on a limited basis.”
Starting from scratch with rudimentary software, Haynes and the team proved the concept that companies see value in saved time and money with their first few hundred clients.
LodgeLink team
WHAT’S NEXT
Companies across many sectors employ field crews, which positions LodgeLink for growth by diversifying target industries and end markets.
When LodgeLink received OCIF funding, the organization was already exploring the opportunity to provide a solution for workforce travel in industries beyond energy, such as supporting crews in infrastructure maintenance. Now, the platform supports net-new end markets including windfarm maintenance, transport and mining.
“We are seeing inroads – pun intended - in transport and railroad maintenance. These companies have large systems, and constantly have crews going out to do maintenance. LodgeLink helps these companies maintain operational excellence,” said Haynes.
As Lodgelink’s momentum builds – with revenue doubling year over year – the company is focused on hiring skilled tech talent in Calgary.
“LodgeLink – and Calgary – is the place to be if you are interested in doing meaningful work in the tech world.”
“Even though we have a vision for where we want to go, from a product perspective, we need the right people who can come and do that with us.”
While in the business of connecting teams across North America, LodgeLink is proudly headquartered and expanding in Calgary.
“LodgeLink – and Calgary – is the place to be if you are interested in doing meaningful work in the tech world.”
Are you ready to make moves in Calgary’s tech scene, working with solution-oriented companies like LodgeLink? Head to our Live Tech. Love Life tech ecosystem page and see what opportunities might be out there for you.