Matador Network Named to Inc. 5000 as GuideGeek Travel Genius Expands Its Reach

SAN FRANCISCO — Inc. has included travel publisher Matador Network in the magazine’s Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies for 2024. This recognition follows a year of rapid growth and widespread recognition for Matador Network fueled by the launch of its AI platform and travel genius GuideGeek last year.

“With GuideGeek, we set out to create a whole new way for travelers to plan and book trips using GenAI natural language assistants,” says Matador Network CEO Ross Borden. “GuideGeek is also becoming an entire platform for global travel brands and destinations. Dozens of tourism boards have built on our platform to launch their own fully-customized AIs specific to their brand, content, data and partnerships."

Travelers can ask GuideGeek any question about travel and receive instant answers from the AI on WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger. Since launching in 2023, GuideGeek has amassed over 1 million users and fielded over 10 million travel questions from real travelers in more than 50 languages. In recognition of GuideGeek, Matador Network was named a 2024 Most Innovative Company by Fast Company, and a 2024 Skift IDEA Awards finalist in the Best Use of AI category.

Matador Network has created custom versions of GuideGeek for destinations around the world, including Greece, Aruba, Illinois, Manitoba and many more. These custom versions of the AI prioritize the rich and extensive data held by destination marketing organizations (DMOs or tourism boards) and engage visitors in conversation via the destination’s website and social media channels.

In addition to the success of GuideGeek, Matador Network continues to build its core business of custom content for brands, such as a stunning video promoting the new Jeep Wrangler 4xe Hybrid SUV featuring a very recognizable three-time Olympic gold medalist. Matador also produces global media campaigns featuring many of the world’s top influencers for destinations as diverse as Vermont and Saudi Arabia and Visit Britain and Destination Canada. 

The prestigious Inc. 5000 ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment — its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. The list is based on three-year revenue growth. To earn its spot on the list, Matador Network posted revenue growth of 133% from 2020 to 2023.

“One of the greatest joys of my job is going through the Inc. 5000 list,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Mike Hofman. “To see all of the intriguing and surprising ways that companies are transforming sectors, from health care and AI to apparel and pet food, is fascinating for me as a journalist and storyteller. Congratulations to this year’s honorees, as well, for growing their businesses fast despite the economic disruption we all faced over the past three years, from supply chain woes to inflation to changes in the workforce.”

About Inc.

Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work achieves a monthly brand footprint of more than 40 million across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since its launch as the Inc. 100 in 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Matador Network

Matador Network is the world's No. 1 media brand for modern adventurers and creator of the free travel genius, GuideGeek. With more than 16 million followers across social media, Matador has become a leading travel brand through its production of article features, city guides, creator-first content and original videos. Matador is the top-ranking travel brand on TikTok and its videos are viewed more than 150 million times per month. It has content distribution deals with American Airlines, Hearst Media and GSTV, and works with brands like Ford, REI, Samsung, YETI, Southwest Airlines, Visit California and Microsoft. matadornetwork.com