Meet Tony Jefferson | Founder & Owner of TravelingSession.com

When I retired from the Air Force, I was already working on TravelingSession.com as a side project. I didn’t have a real direction for the site yet, so I took a contract in my field. The job was challenging and engaging, but it seemed as if I was the only one concerned about the project. Simple things like defining the basic requirements became a hassle. After a year, the requirements for my position changed, and I was out of a job. I was relieved, in all honesty. I decided to take six months to dedicate to the website. About two months into my hiatus, a friend recommended me for a position. I didn’t want to start working that soon, but I went in for an interview because a friend recommended me. The pay was under what I expected, but I could see where I could add value to the organization.

After the interview, they ghosted me. They wouldn’t return phone calls or answer emails. I didn’t want the job, but that left me feeling some type of way. That’s when I made my full-time transition to entrepreneur.

Let’s say you wanted to buy a shirt. So, you go online and find a shirt you might like. What’s the first thing you do? Check the reviews. Let’s say the shirt has nothing but 5-star reviews. That means it’s a good shirt, right?

What happens if everyone who gave the shirt a 5-star review is tall and wears the shirt tucked? But you’re short, and you want to wear the shirt untucked. Do you see the problem? The reviews focus on the shirt, not the person buying the shirt. In the same way, most travel websites focus on the destination.

The site centers around a one-of-a-kind travel review system. You can write travel reviews, rate destinations, and share photos and videos of places you’ve traveled. An algorithm calculates community member ratings and matches travelers to destinations based on their personal preferences. Our travel profiles give travelers a place to portfolio their travel reviews and content, which all ties together with a map interface.

The idea came to me while serving in the US Air Force working in IT. I spent most of my service overseas which led to a love of travel. It was only natural to combine what I was good at and what I loved.

The challenge was turning this concept into something tangible. I had an idea, but I didn’t have a clear vision of how the end product would look. On top of that, there wasn’t anything like what I envisioned to use as a reference. It took a few years and several iterations to get the platform running, and there’s more to come down the pipe.

I designed the platform to inspire people from all walks of life to get out and see the world. The travel industry is changing, but most websites focus on booking rooms, selling tickets, and repeating the same information about the same destinations. I wanted to create a space where travelers can get unbiased opinions from people with similar travel styles. Through our proprietary review system, personalized approach, and intuitive map interfaces, TravelingSession.com empowers individuals to explore, connect, and share their travel adventures in a way that aligns with their unique preferences and interests.

First, I have to thank my wife, Shivonya, and kids Larry, Yolanda, and Jasmine. We had to give up on some of the extras we enjoyed when I decided to work on this full-time. And they never complain about the countless hours I spent locked in my office. Next, I have to acknowledge my parents, Joseph and Zona, for their support, even when they didn’t understand my vision. Even as an adult, it means a lot to have parents who support my dream.

And finally, I have to shout out my good friend Danny Hernandez. When I originally came up with the idea of starting a travel website, he registered the domain for me and lit the fire under me to get started.