Ghali Jorio ’22, founder of AfriTrip Advisors Morocco, recently discussed his travel company on the Startup Cornell podcast. Jorio’s startup, which is part of this year’s eLab cohort, offers private and customized trips to Morocco.
Generally, the company’s trips include a private driver, hotels, meals, activities, and visits. The accommodations are customized based on customers’ interests and budgets, as well as their reason for traveling.
On the podcast, Jorio explained what makes Morocco a great travel destination, from the delicious food and welcoming people to the enriching activities. Travelers can visit important historical and cultural sites in cities like Fez, Casablanca, and Marrakesh, and they can also explore the Sahara Desert.
“There are a lot of small details that really touch people when they come to the country,” Jorio said on the podcast. “I’m very excited to be working on this country and promoting it, and it’s my honor as a Moroccan to be able to do that.”
Jorio comes from a family that deeply values travel, and he has visited many countries across the world. Growing up, he mainly traveled to Europe and Asia, but he began wanting to travel to more African countries after spending two years in South Africa. That was when he first began organizing trips to Morocco, Tanzania, and South Africa.
After taking a break from the company to concentrate on his studies and travel more, Jorio restarted the business with a new focus on Morocco. Over time, he hopes to also offer trips to other African countries.
Jorio said his favorite part of his college experience has been the entrepreneurship resources at Cornell, including eLab, Life Changing Labs, the Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship, and the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor.
“There are a lot of great entrepreneurs and great mentors within the Cornell entrepreneurship ecosystem who really care about the student founders and help them,” he said.