PNW-based TrovaTrip coordinates group travel around the globe

A Portland-based company is helping content creators take their online communities offline and get together in real life for a fantastic travel experience.

TrovaTrip was founded in 2017 by Lauren Schneider and Nick Poggi. Schneider says she and Poggi had gone on a trip to Europe with some friends and while they had a great time, it was difficult to plan and coordinate.

“We had friends in different time zones,” she said. “We were trying to figure out who was going to book hotels, transportation, flights between different destinations, and that’s when we decided, let’s go ahead and build this.”

They launched TrovaTrip, a platform that connects hosts, travelers, and local tour operators to run trips around the globe.

“We have over 40 tour operators in the TrovaTrip platform we work with to design itineraries,” said Schneider.

The operators (who are thoroughly vetted) run the trip on the ground. They provide English-speaking local guides, book accommodations and transportation, oversee activities, and generally ensure that everyone on the trip has a great experience. The majority of Trova travelers are existing members of the host’s community who are looking for a chance to explore the world safely with like-minded people.

One of the 400 trip hosts is Seattle-based online yoga teacher and personal trainer Chelsea Hofer, who hosts yoga and adventure retreats worldwide.

“Since 2019, I’ve partnered with TrovaTrip to lead pretty spectacular journeys to incredible destinations, including Bali, Croatia, Morocco, Patagonia, Sedona, the Galapagos Islands, Sicily, Greece, and more,” she said. “In 2025, I’m thrilled to be hosting two upcoming retreats: South Africa this month and Bali in July.”

Hofer is also a wellness and fitness influencer on Instagram, where she’s built a community of nearly 400,000 followers.

“Over the years, I’ve refined my retreats to best meet my travelers’ needs, and I now have repeat attendees on every trip,” she said. “This has created a close-knit community—a little ‘travel family’ that makes each experience even more special.”

There are dozens of TrovaTrip tour operators and 100+ itineraries available. Trips are usually about 7 days, with spots ranging from 8-25 people. Categories include adventure, hiking, food, photography, wildlife, art, and health & wellness.

“There’s a wide range of experiences depending on your hobbies and interests,” said Schneider.

Aspiring trip hosts can get started by simply going to the website and creating an account.

And if you’re looking to book a trip, there are hundreds available on the website.

“You can go and browse through all these different types of experiences,” said Schneider. “There are some really incredible hosts in a wide range of communities and different types of hobbyists. We have tarot card readers a lot of podcast groups. I think of Ali Jackson. Her podcast is Finding Mr. Height, and it’s all about dating and being single as a millennial, and they just want to travel together. So, it’s really fun to see the different types of experiences and the hosts that are using the platform to bring their communities together.”

To date, TrovaTrip has managed 1,400 trips in more than 40 countries around the globe, with more than 400 active hosts. In 2024, 599 trips were completed.

“We’re really just on a mission to help people find their community everywhere in the world,” said Schneider.

Learn more about TrovaTrip here!

Susan Wyatt is a freelance writer for Seattle Refined, specializing in pets, gardening and all-around swell stuff in the PNW.