A former pro athlete is stepping into the travel space with a bold claim: what if booking a trip didn’t come with hidden fees or inflated prices?
That’s the idea behind World Playground, a newly launched platform founded by Brooks Laich, which aims to give everyday travelers access to the same base rates typically reserved for industry insiders.
Marketed as a first-of-its-kind booking site, World Playground offers what it calls “true net rates” on hotels, cruises, and travel insurance—meaning the prices are presented before traditional markups or commissions are added. In cases where commissions do apply, the platform says those earnings are returned to users in the form of travel credits, flipping the typical business model on its head.
It’s a direct challenge to how most travel sites operate. Traditional booking platforms and agencies often generate revenue through a mix of commissions and pricing structures that aren’t always visible to consumers. World Playground positions itself as a transparent alternative, designed to ensure travelers consistently get the best possible value.
For Laich, the venture is personal. After playing more than 750 NHL games with teams including the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs, he transitioned into entrepreneurship with a focus on making travel more accessible. Drawing from years of global travel during his hockey career, Laich says the platform was inspired by a desire to give more people the chance to experience meaningful trips without financial barriers.
World Playground isn’t just focused on pricing—it’s also emphasizing design and usability. The platform aims to deliver a streamlined, visually engaging booking experience, combining competitive rates with an interface that feels modern and intuitive. In a crowded digital travel market, that user experience could be just as important as the pricing model itself.
The company’s tagline, “Making the Unforgettable More Affordable,” reflects a broader ambition to reposition travel as something more attainable. By removing friction—both financial and technical—the platform is betting that more people will be encouraged to explore destinations they might have previously considered out of reach.
Of course, the real test will come as travelers begin to compare prices and experiences against established platforms. Transparency in travel pricing has long been promised but not always fully delivered, making consumer trust a key factor in whether World Playground can gain traction.
Still, with a recognizable founder and a clear value proposition, the platform enters the market with momentum. If it can deliver on its promise, World Playground could signal a shift in how travelers think about booking—less about navigating fees, and more about simply planning the trip.