Popular Urban Navigation Site HopStop Expands to 57 Global Markets, Introduces Advanced Search Features and Localized Content Powered by Leading Brands
By Hopstop, PRNESunday, June 19, 2011
NEW YORK, June 20, 2011 -
HopStop (
leading provider of pedestrian navigation and mobile transit
services, announced today the expansion of its platform into 20 new
metropolitan markets, now totaling 57 global markets. Additionally,
HopStop has introduced advanced navigation tools and highly
customized, local content through partnerships with Hertz, Yelp,
Limos.com and Zvents to enable its growing audience of more than 4
million monthly users to better experience their cities.
“HopStop has a very passionate customer base, and we’re
dedicated to providing a scalable platform that helps them easily
get from point A to point B. Responding to what we’ve consistently
heard from our users, these new tools offer them more control over
their navigation experience, new markets to explore, and easy
access to the most relevant, local information,” said Joe Meyer,
CEO of HopStop. “With 72 percent of HopStop visitors using the
service within 24 hours of their last visit, we’ve expanded the
functionality and features of our platform to create even higher
value and engagement for current and new users alike. Advertisers
will also have more ways to connect with HopStop’s active, savvy
users through highly geo-targeted ad campaigns that contain locally
relevant messages and offers based on their specific travel plans
and whereabouts.”
Based on extensive user feedback, HopStop has expanded its
existing routing platform with new navigational tools to offer
users additional modes of transportation, customized content based
on their location, enhanced search functionality, and social tools
for increased utility.
More Transportation Options
Through a partnership with Connect by Hertz, HopStop users can
now select hourly car rental as a preferred mode of local
transportation in addition to bicycle, bus only, subway/rail only,
subway/rail or bus, taxi, and walking. HopStop users will be able
to access customized walking directions to and from the nearest
Connect by Hertz location to reserve and pick up their vehicle, and
also receive round-trip driving directions integrated within the
search result for a complete, door-to-door navigational experience.
Taxi directions now include accurate time and fare estimates, as
well as discounted, real-time black car bookings powered by
Limos.com.
“We want to help everyone enjoy the benefits of using a car to
meet their everyday travel needs, without necessarily having to own
one, and now all HopStop users will have seamless access to our
service when planning their next local trip, all within a
navigation service that they’ve come to know and trust,” said
Amanda Delorme, Director of Advantage Marketing at Connect by
Hertz. “By partnering, we will also launch a unique advertising
program to engage HopStop’s audience of active, on-the-go urbanites
who can gain the most from hourly car services.”
City-Specific Content
Introducing local time and weather information for each US
market, HopStop will also offer users easy access to
locally-relevant content including popular places based on its
search data, reviews of the best nearby businesses on Yelp, daily
deals powered by Groupon, and events provided by Zvents. Through
integrations with these leading services, HopStop has created a
robust local experience for users of its transit-routing
service.
“HopStop has always done a great job of helping people navigate
a city and we’re excited they are using our API to integrate Yelp
content into their user experience,” said Geoff Donaker, COO, Yelp.
“Routing your way across town can turn into a real urban adventure
if you have Yelp reviews to highlight great businesses and local
spots along the way.”
Easier Ways to Navigate and Search for the Best
Route
Creating an easier way for local residents and tourists alike to
reach their preferred destination, HopStop now offers one-way,
round-trip and multi-stop search options within its main
navigational menu. In HopStop’s new search interface, users can
also customize their route with a number of advanced options that
will further enable them to narrow their search and find their
preferred route. Additionally, HopStop users can navigate not only
within their chosen market, but from city to city as well via
Amtrak and regional bus routes.
New Social Media Tools to Connect with
Friends and Check-In in Advance
Through integrations with Twitter and Facebook, HopStop now
offers its users an innovative Advance Check-In tool to let friends
know where they’re going and when they will arrive. HopStop users
can also share a URL-shortened direction link through tweets or
Facebook posts, thereby enabling friends to navigate to that
location and meet them. HopStop will also feature user-submitted
photos on each of its custom market homepages for all 57 cities, as
well as a live-feed of HopStop-related conversations on
Twitter.
About HopStop
HopStop (
leading location-based service, provides door-to-door walking,
biking and mass transit directions to city residents and tourists
alike. The company is building the first national network to
facilitate and encourage intra-city as well as city-to-city travel
by aggregating hundreds of transit systems into one streamlined
navigational user experience. The company’s
environmentally-friendly service is currently available in 57 major
markets including Albany, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago,
Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas
Dover/Wilmington, Hartford, London, Long Island, Los Angeles,
Miami/South Florida, Milwaukee, Moscow, New Jersey, New York City,
Paris, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence,
Putnam/Westchester County (Metro North), Raleigh, Sacramento, San
Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Saint Petersburg (Russia)
and Washington, DC. HopStop also offers point-to-point directions
and mapping services (and the locations of nearby subway stations
and bus stops) via a wide array of mobile applications (
including industry-leading iPhone (
and Android (
apps, a popular mobile site (
advanced SMS capabilities for requesting and receiving directions
while on-the-go. HopStop is based in New York City, and is financed
by private investors.
For media inquiries, contact:
Julie Nicholson
Weber Shandwick for HopStop
+1-212-445-8371
.
Tags: Hopstop, June 20, New York
