NEWS| Travelocity launches in India

The global online travel services company Travelocity has officially launched its suite of services in India. The company says that the trend of booking online for travel destinations is picking up in the country.

The soft launch happened in March. Travelocity India MD Himanshu Singh says that one of the highlights is the dynamic packaging whereby one can choose destinations, preferred airlines as well as hotels.


The aim is to provide as much flexibility as possible. The company offers access to 8000 hotels across 126 Indian cities. One can also choose overseas destinations like Frankfurt and Chicago, and book flights. Globally the site offers access to 72,000 hotels, 1000 cruises.

One can also use the online travel agency (OTA) to tailor one's schedule and add extra destinations. The company has an arrangement with different Indian airlines as well as with hotels. In India, over the past year, it has extended relationships in the hospitality industry to beyond the five star and four star hotels.

The aim is to cater to every budget and class of airline traveller. Singh says that the response from the Indian hospitality industry has been positive. Companies that associate with it also get visibility on Travelocity's global network.

The company also has a weekend getaway feature. This looks to take advantage of the fact that 52 per cent of leisure travel in India happens over the weekend. It offers driveaways and flyaways. The site also has the concept of destination stores. One can find out information on one's favourite destination, various packages available, different airlines and sightseeing activities. The lowest cost option comes up first on the screen. Going forward, the company will add more features like Visa and car rental services.

In terms of marketing, the company is focusing on search engine marketing and online displays. It is also doing print and oudoor activities in Chennai. It will look at using television sometime in the future.

Travelocity claims to be the sixth largest travel agency in the US. In 2006, it booked $10.1 billion in travel worldwide. Travelocity is owned by Sabre Holdings which specialises in travel commerce.