13/10/2015 07:55 AST
Ezytrips, a Bahraini homegrown technology startup, has launched an online travel portal eyeing a share of the growing online bookings business.
Drawing inspiration from Bookings.com, www.ezytrips.co is now live and operating through a franchise agreement with Bahraini firm
Dadabhai Travel and Tours, the company’s general manager Nitin Menon told a Press conference yesterday at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa.
According to Mr Menon, research done by the startup’s founders showed that the country lacked reliable travel firms offering the full spectrum of flight and holiday bookings services online, backed by local customer support.
“We are aiming for that niche through our offering of full bilingual (Arabic and English) functioning, 24x7 and 365-day live customer support, and Dadabhai Group’s credentials,” he said.
The portal which uses the Sabre Global Distribution System, was conceived in Bahrain and developed
in India.
An investment of $500,000 has been made into the venture thus far, Mr Menon said.
“We selected Bahrain for the launch of our operations due to the kingdom’s strategic location, human capital and, importantly, because of its policies and commitment to supporting the development of small and medium enterprises.”
“A key aim of our portal is to provide smaller travel agencies a platform for business growth, in addition to other end users,” he said.
“Our basic brand promise is to facilitate and simplify the booking of flights and other holiday and travel-related needs and services.”
Mr Menon said more than 180 full service and budget airlines worldwide are a part of the portal’s network as well as many hotels, travel insurance providers, car rental and transfer firms.
The 3D secure online payment gateway is powered by CrediMax and Visa, he added.
With this, Ezytrips has now appointed four franchisees in the Middle East and GCC countries and has close to 100 travel agents working through its online portal.
Discussions are also ongoing to finalise franchise agreements for India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong.
The company expects to have close to 500 travel agents working for the portal by the second half of next year.
Dadabhai Travel Bahrain general manager Shahnaz Al Qaseer, who also addressed the media, said that through the new online venture, the 35-year old company would look to further grow reach, extend knowhow to other agencies and continue to provide the broadest range of facilities and choice to customers.
The Ezytrips franchise owner for Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE has 14 full branch offices across the three countries.
It further operates four general sales representative offices, each for a designated airline, and 10 additional offices within the premises of large corporates making it one of the largest travel and tour agencies in the GCC.
Gulf Daily News
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