The founder of Maine Mystery Trip has turned his love of puzzles and mystery into a business that creates unique and fun experiences for travelers.
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Fairfield resident Joe Musumeci, director of workforce training and professional development at Kennebec Valley Community College, has a side hustle as an entrepreneur. His latest venture, called Maine Mystery Trip, offers a unique twist on travel planning.
Mainebiz: You started a travel app in 2020. What can you share about that business?
Joe Musumeci: I was running an escape room in Farmington and quickly needed another idea while everything was closed. I started creating outdoor scavenger hunts around downtown areas, which eventually morphed into the creation of a travel app called Story Trails of Maine. That app is still being actively developed as a way for people to explore Maine and keep track of all the places they visit.
MB: What is it about puzzles and mysteries that intrigue you?
JM: I love learning and figuring out how things work. The great part about puzzles and mysteries is there is not just one way to solve them. The fun part is finding a solution that works through the trial and error process along the way.
MB: Who is the target consumer for Maine Mystery Trip?
JM: Travelers who want to explore more of Maine but either don’t have the time to plan a trip or don’t have a specific place they need to go. That can apply to locals and tourists alike. We are able to create a fun experience, even if you are not going very far.
MB: How have you funded your startup costs so far?
JM: These particular businesses have been funded with a lot of time investment. I have spent a lot of time researching, planning low-budget trips and visiting different places around Maine. I spent years teaching myself to code, in order to build an app that could do what I needed it to do.
MB: How does the service work?
JM: Interested travelers fill out a brief survey on our website. We ask questions about your interests for activities, budget parameters and any special accommodations or travel preferences. Then we do our research, put together a customized itinerary of activities, meals, and lodging and send it on to the traveler. You also have the option to keep the actual location a secret until the day before your trip.
MB: What kinds of experiences and destinations are your customers requesting so far?
JM: Our most common requests are for experiencing natural wonders, arts and beaches. The fun part about the Mystery Trip, though, is that the location could be a touristy spot or it might not be. We take into consideration all of the personalized requests, including how far someone is willing to go, then decide on the surprise location.
MB: What do you offer travelers that they can’t find on their own using the web?
JM: Planning a trip, even a short one, takes a lot of time and coordination. We offer the convenience of not having to spend all of that time searching online. Even if you use AI, it is not always accurate, and the AI has not actually been to the place. Because we have been living the Maine experience, we can take the information from someone’s survey, the vibes they want, their group dynamic and truly create a personalized trip that is well-suited to the group and takes advantage of places off-the-beaten path.
MB: Can customers also book your services as a travel agent?
JM: Yes, I independently operate as a travel agent and am happy to coordinate logistics and create customized itineraries for any kind of trip.
MB: What do you do when you’re not working on the app?
JM: I spend time traveling or thinking about places to travel with my family. I can also be found playing games, tackling DIY projects or learning some new random skill I may or may not actually need.
MB: What’s the long-term vision for your business?
JM: The goal is to continue helping people to adventure and discover new things around Maine. My love of learning drives me to create new experiences that also help people to gain that sense of discovery. I enjoy the opportunity to get local communities involved. In Farmington, we have been running a special puzzle race every summer for several years, getting people into local businesses to complete mystery challenges and interact with the local owners.