TPF group

TPF group s.r.o., operating under the brand name Travelking, is a digital travel platform specializing in curated stay packages. The company was established in Brno, Czech Republic, in 2014 by co-founders Tomáš Čmelík, Peter Kóša, and Lukáš Fecko. Initially launched as Slevoking, a discount portal, the founders bootstrapped the venture with their own funds, which included the proceeds from Čmelík selling his motorcycle. Their early strategy involved personally driving to hotels in Central Europe to build partnerships before the platform was even fully operational.

The business operates primarily as an online marketplace, connecting customers with a broad selection of hotels and accommodation providers. Revenue is generated by offering curated travel packages, which often include accommodation bundled with other services like wellness access or tickets to attractions. The platform serves a customer base interested in short-term getaways, wellness stays, and experiential travel, primarily in Central Europe. The process involves customers purchasing a voucher through the Travelking site and then arranging the specific dates directly with the hotel.

A significant milestone in the company's history was its rebranding from Slevoking to Travelking in 2019 to better reflect its focus on travel experiences rather than just discounts. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a strategic pivot towards domestic tourism and rentals of private cottages, which helped the company navigate the industry-wide downturn. In 2022, TPF group was acquired by the German-based Travelcircus, a company with a similar business model. This transaction was structured as a merger, with the original founders retaining a role in the company to drive further European expansion. Following the merger, the product offering expanded to include more experience-based packages, such as accommodation bundled with tickets to major attractions like Disneyland or Harry Potter studios. The company operates in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland and features over 1,000 hotels across nine countries.

Keywords: travel packages, online travel agent, Central Europe tourism, wellness stays, staycations, experiential travel, hotel booking platform, TPF group, Tomáš Čmelík, Peter Kóša, Travelcircus, short-term holidays, vacation packages, European travel, Brno startup, travel deals, discount travel, family holidays, romantic getaways, city breaks