May 13, 2010 08:01 ET

Gowalla Debuts Revamped Website and Expanded Trips Feature for People to Share Excursions at Home and Abroad

Trips From National Geographic and The Washington Post Offer a Unique Way to Discover Travel Spots and Share the Journey As-You-Go

AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwire - May 13, 2010) -  Gowalla, a mobile and Web service for people to capture and share their spot in the world, today launched a revamped website at Gowalla.com highlighting an expanded Trips feature. Everyone can add and share their favorite local places and unique expeditions with those in their Gowalla network to follow and complete.

Now, people can add a description to each Spot in a Trip, making it easier to share relevant information about each place. Any Spot descriptions will be displayed at the location permanently so if a friend checks-in somewhere, they can learn more about what you've shared on that place. Upon completing a trip, people will receive a digital Pin in their Gowalla Passport that can be shared on Gowalla or other social sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

The enhanced functionality offers businesses, campaigns and organizations personalized and branded passport pages to reach audiences, distribute unique content and traveler advice, as well as inspire new consumers. To highlight the new Trips feature, National Geographic and The Washington Post are joining with Gowalla to offer people unique content -- including place descriptions, editorial insights, maps and community-taken photographs -- at Gowalla.com or with their smart phone using the Gowalla mobile application.

"We've been amazed by the creativity of people who are sharing their favorite places on Gowalla, whether it is a jaunt around their hometown, a review of top-notch zoos or a historical city walk through the oldest town in Norway," said Josh Williams, Gowalla CEO and Co-Founder. "We are thrilled to be working with National Geographic and The Washington Post to offer Trips to people enjoying our service along with unique incentives to participate in the fun."

"Gowalla provides a new avenue for National Geographic to connect people across the globe with incredible destinations," said Robert Michael Murray, Vice President of Social Media for National Geographic Digital Media. "Through Gowalla Trips, we can extend National Geographic digital travel experiences to people on the go and inspire them to explore and discover the places around them in a deeper, more meaningful way."

The first collection of branded Gowalla Trips will include hand-selected destinations provided by National Geographic and The Washington Post:

• National Geographic is launching its Gowalla Passport with 15 unique city walking tours in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Each Trip -- such as New York Museum Mile, Miami's Art Deco District and London's "Covent Garden to Buckingham Palace" -- features 8-15 Spots for people to discover and explore. People who visit each Spot in a Trip with Gowalla will have a special National Geographic digital Pin added to their Gowalla Passport. To access the National Geographic walking tours with Gowalla, follow National Geographic at www.gowalla.com/natgeo.
• The Washington Post is adding several Trips culled from its "Going Out Guide" to Gowalla for people to enjoy and experience the nation's capital. The Going Out Guide's Trips on Gowalla feature not-to-miss tourist attractions, the city's best burgers and nightspots that boast dancefloors. Created by The Washington Post writers, these Trips are a great way to discover the best Washington has to offer. Follow The Washington Post on Gowalla to access the Going Out Guide at www.gowalla.com/wpost.

Creating a Customized Gowalla Trip Is Easy
Individuals are also creating and curating their own personal excursions both here and abroad to share with others. To create a Trip:

1. Simply sign in to your Gowalla Passport at Gowalla.com
2. Visit a Spot page
3. Click the "Add to Trip" button

You'll be able to name your Trip, give it a description, add up to 20 Spots of your choosing, and then publish it to Gowalla. Your published Trips will be viewable on Gowalla by your friends. Often Gowalla chooses to "feature" Trips created by its community by making them available to everyone.

To discover more Trips featured by Gowalla or created by your friends, please visit www.gowalla.com/trips.

About Gowalla
Gowalla is a mobile and web service that gives people around the world a new way to communicate and express themselves through the everyday places and extraordinary settings they enjoy. Through their Gowalla Passport, people can capture and share their spot in the world with friends and family, while discovering new places, events and trips as they go. Gowalla offers businesses, campaigns, and organizations the unique opportunity to reward loyalty, reach new consumers, and to create memorable experiences.

Based in Austin, Texas, Gowalla was launched in 2009 by Josh Williams and Scott Raymond. The company is backed by notable investors including Greylock Partners, Alsop-Louie Partners, Founders Fund, and other prominent angel investors.