haunt Startup Costs & Launch
Donation protected
Hey everyone,
I'm incredibly excited to share my journey with you and introduce haunt, a unique travel enterprise born out of my passion for authentic experiences and my desire to redefine the way we explore the world. My name is Corinne, and I'm a transgender woman and ex-SW embarking on a significant career change to bring haunt to life.
The Birth of haunt:
In my mid-twenties, while backpacking across the globe, I struggled to find those hidden gems that truly captured the spirit of each destination. Fueled by this yearning for authenticity, I began noting down places with a beating heart – ancient trattorias in Rome, secret lagoons in Reykjavik, and charming mom-and-pop grocers in Paris. The idea of haunt was born from the desire to share these genuine experiences.
The genesis of haunt occurred in a small, decaying trattoria off a main street in Venice, Italy, where the realization struck that certain places like this remained beautifully kept local secrets. From this moment of inspiration, haunt was born – a name drawn from Virginia Woolf's essay "Street Haunting," capturing the allure of exploring the novelist's familiar London streets with new eyes.
haunt sprouted from my desire to share these authentic experiences, curating Artist Guides, guided tours, wellness retreats, and bespoke travel planning services that resonate with the soul of the traveler.
What is haunt?
haunt is not just another travel company; it's a heartfelt venture dedicated to redefining the travel experience for discerning and romantic travelers. We offer curated Artist Guides, guided tours, wellness retreats, and bespoke travel planning services that resonate with the soul of the traveler. Imbuing the travel market with romance and intentional curation is the cornerstone of this business and a deeply important part of my life post covid. It's about dissolving that arbitrary line between vacation and "real life" and imbuing a sense of wonder in every day life; it's about taking your travels with you.
What are we selling?
- Curated "Artist Guides": downloadable digital travel guides intimately written from first hand account by visual artists, poets, musicians, chefs, curators, personalities and more that provide the reader anecdotal and resourceful intel into the hometown haunts of each Artist's respective city.
- Guided Tours: small group tours designed around our target audience's desires when traveling abroad: fine arts and culture, classes and workshops, and authentic food and wine experiences.
- Wellness Retreats: holistic retreats focusing on restorative modalities, organic nourishments, and community building.
- Bespoke Travel Planning Services: Creating tailor-made itineraries for vacations up to 12 days, leveraging our deep knowledge of select cities with which we are deeply familiar, offering accurate and discerning travel suggestions to our clients.
Why $30,000?
To bring haunt to life, I need your support. I'm aiming to raise $30,000 to cover essential aspects of launching this dream on May 2nd, 2024.
Web and App Development: Creating a user-friendly platform to ensure a seamless experience for our community.
Salaries for Our All-Women Lead Team: Supporting and empowering a talented team for six months post-launch.
Video and Photo Launch Content: Capturing the essence of haunt to share with the world and start us off in the right direction.
Audience Surveying Data: Gathering valuable insights to craft experiences that truly resonate and lending legitimization to our business plan in the hope of fostering strong press relations.
PR Agency Collaboration: Partnering with a public relations agency for brand awareness, amplifying our impact.
Why is This Career Change Important?
I've learned a whole lot and garnered a vast array of skills over the past 11 years doing work that truly bled my soul. After years of feeling unenriched, I've sought to craft something of my own, my baby, and I'm diving headfirst to sculpt a fresh chapter in my life. I also am so proud to say I have a wonderfully talented team of women aiding me in starting this new venture; moms, globe trotters, creatives, all lending their professional expertise to haunt's many moving parts.
PERKS!
Donations of $100+: you'll receive any single guide of your choice!
Donations of $200+: you'll receive any two guides of your choice and a haunt matchbook!
Donations of $500+: you'll receive any two guides of your choice, and a haunt silk scarf and matchbook!
Donations of $1,000+: you'll receive three guides of your choice, a haunt silk scarf, matchbook, a complimentary travel planning consultation call, and 10% off on booking services!
Donations of $5000+: you'll receive three guides of your choice, a haunt silk scarf, matchbook, a haunt key tassle, a complimentary travel planning consultation call, a custom 3 day itinerary for any city of your choice from our roster, and 15% off on booking services!
How Your Donation Will Make a Difference:
Every dollar you contribute will play a crucial role in turning this dream into a reality. Your support will help launch a brand that transcends travel, offering a lifestyle that embraces the beauty of escapism.
Let's make haunt a reality together – a place where every traveler finds a home away from home. Join me on this exciting journey, and together, let's redefine the way we explore, connect, and create lasting memories.
Thank you for being a part of haunt's story.
With gratitude and so much love,
Corinne
Organizer
Corinne Hamilton
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA