Hopper’s Post

Been a couple of weeks since I came back from a long-ish trip of Asian countries. Found some interesting products/ services in the travel space. - My habit for airline search used to be going to MMT site and choose the best option. Due to a bad experience with them (and losing some good amount of money), I switched to Skyscanner followed by going with the service that offered the best deal. While I was aware of skyscanner, I simply assumed that an aggregator like MMT would be close enough (for a long time) but I saw a fair bit of price difference. Admittedly, it was also due to difference in level of service (like checked in baggage allowance) but I preferred the options if I didn’t have to buy the add-on service. - There is a popular app “klook” which many travelers from Asia and Europe seemed to be aware of. This app is an aggregator for different tours you can take from any city. Surprisingly they had excellent deals and would cost at least 20% lower than even a hard bargain from local agents. - bookaway and 12go are top services in local (within country) transportation. Several years ago, in Europe, rometorio used to be popular but was surprised to come across these 2 apps as the top in local transport category. - The proliferation of online reviews and ratings has really upped the service game. Hosts of any service (stay, restaurant, tour, shops, etc) were very very particular about what rating they got. In many places they wanted me to fill the review in front of them. Nothing surprising but still the extent to which it has changed the behaviour and made it as a prominent goal for these small businesses was surprising. - India must be a uniquely challenging market for cab aggregator companies. In all the countries where I traveled and those that had grab/ gojek, I didn’t face any issues with cancellation, not turning on AC or anything else that’s more common here. - Hotels were so much cheaper in most countries I visited. Could see the inflation of hotel stay prices in India. - I think the quality of intercity bus services in India were significantly better. Haven’t found the level of comfort and service in these other countries.

Paytm Partners FlixBus To Expand Its Intercity Bus Travel Services New Partnership: Paytm partnered with FlixBus to offer intercity bus bookings on its app. Strategic Goals: The collaboration aims to enhance Paytm's travel services and expand FlixBus's customer reach in India. FlixBus Expansion: FlixBus, operating in over 40 countries, started its India operations earlier this year. Recent Paytm Updates: SEBI issued a warning to One97 Communications for non-compliance. SoftBank exited Paytm with a $150 Mn loss. Travel Segment Growth: Paytm saw a 19% YoY increase in flight bookings in Q4 FY24 and expanded its ESOP pool and merchant health plan. Read More: https://lnkd.in/gVXUQP2z

Paytm partners with travel aggregators to strengthen its travel segment One 97 Communications Limited (OCL), the parent company of Paytm, on Monday announced that it has partnered with travel aggregators such as Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Wego, driving towards growth in its travel segment. During the fourth quarter of FY24, Paytm had maintained its upward trajectory in market share among OTAs, with flight bookings showing year-on-year increase of around 19 per cent, surpassing the industry’s growth rate of around approximately 3 per cent. This growth, it added, is further underscored by around 15 per cent on-year rise in international ticket bookings in April showcasing Paytm Travel as the preferred destination for competitive prices and seamless services in travel bookings. Paytm has also witnessed growing preference among travelers, including those from small cities and towns, for their commuting needs. https://lnkd.in/gRD8wR2c #paytm #partners #travel #aggregators #skyscanners #googleflights #wego #international #ticket #bookings #preference #travelers #small #cities #towns #travel #traveling #traveladvisor #travelindustry #travelagent TraveLICE TraveLICE Customercare

Swiss Travel Update: Navigating the New 'Half Fare Travelcard Plus' Recently, CFF and other Swiss transport companies rolled out an intriguing offer for frequent travellers. The concept? You top up your #SwissPass account, get a bonus, and then use this credit to purchase transportation tickets. More details here: https://lnkd.in/dpN9H8G7 However, there's a twist in the tale! The new offer, dubbed "Half fare Travelcard Plus," seems to create more puzzles than it solves. Here’s why: > The branding closely resembles the highly popular "Half fare travelcard." Yet, contrary to what the name suggests, the 'Plus' version is not an upgraded version of the original. In fact, it doesn't even include the basic "half fare travelcard" as a standard. SBB does note that the offer might not be beneficial without the original travelcard, but the naming convention already set a different expectation. > It’s a classic case of branding ambiguity. The use of "Plus" in product names has been a global trend to denote an enhanced version of a basic product. Take, for instance: >> Apple's iPhone "Plus" models feature larger screens. >> TIDAL's "HiFi Plus" subscription promises superior audio quality. But then, there are outliers like Apple TV (a device) and Apple TV+ (a streaming service that may need the device, but not always), which are distinct products, not extensions of each other. This brings us to a crucial question about product naming and consumer perception: was there any user testing or market research conducted for the naming and concept of the 'Half Fare Travelcard Plus'? How does this align with consumer expectations? Daniel Boos #SwissTransport #PublicTransport #BrandStrategy #UserExperience #Marketing

🚨 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗵: Nubank is launching a travel booking platform for its high-income Nubank Ultravioleta customers. “𝗡𝘂𝗩𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘀” will be available to the customers over the next few months offering air and hotel bookings. NuViagens guarantees the best price. If the customer finds a more attractive offer for the purchased flight or hotel within 24 hours, Nubank Ultravioleta will refund the price difference. Additionally, in the flight purchasing experience, the platform offers price monitoring and indicates the best purchase time. By following the app’s recommendations, when the ticket reaches the lowest price relative to the flight history, Ultravioleta customers receive free protection that automatically reimburses up to BRL 500 if the flight price drops within 30 days after purchase. NuViagens also allows purchases in up to 8 interest-free installments via NuPay, an exclusive payment method for Nubank customers, for all air tickets and accommodations, as well as 1% cashback that grows at 200% of the CDI. Dedicated 24-hour travel-related support via the app’s chat or phone is also available, providing even more peace of mind from start to finish of the trip. “After launching the Global Account for the high-income segment, we are excited to offer an even more complete experience for those planning a new trip. With NuViagens, Ultravioleta customers will have a differentiated solution, with access to a practical, secure platform that will simplify the planning of leisure moments – all with the certainty of having made the best choice and with the guarantee of the best price.”, says Livia Chanes, CEO of Nubank in Brazil. More info: https://lnkd.in/eBNGHbce Find this helpful? [ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 ] Anything to add about this subject? [ 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 ] Nice story, Marcel. Next! [ 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 ] 

We are thrilled to share some more exciting news! PlanPay has entered into a strategic and innovative partnership with Roomstay a leading-edge hotel booking engine, powering the direct booking channel for some of your favorite hotels in ANZ 🌐✨ This collaboration marks a significant step forward in providing travelers with a seamless and convenient experience when planning and paying for their accommodation. RoomStay, known for its cutting-edge technology and user-friendly platform, has become synonymous with increasing direct bookings for hotels and by joining forces with PlanPay, a pioneer in digital layaway/lay-by payments, we aim to enhance the overall travel experience for our users. The partnership empowers travelers to not only discover and book their ideal accommodations through RoomStay powered hotels, but also to utilize PlanPay's modernized layaway/lay-by model for flexible and interest-free payments. This means that planning your next getaway becomes not just a transaction but a journey in itself, filled with anticipation and financial ease. Imagine a world where planning your travel is as enjoyable as the trip itself. With RoomStay and PlanPay, it's not just a vision – it's a reality. Plan ahead, pay effortlessly, and immerse yourself in the joy of seamless travel experiences. 🏨💳 #PlanPayRoomStayPartnership

Nubank launches NuViagens, a travel booking platform for high income travelers #Nubank Ultravioleta is thrilled to announce the launch of #NuViagens, an exclusive platform within the Nubank app designed to simplify travel planning for high-income customers. This new feature offers a comprehensive solution for booking air tickets and accommodations, ensuring the best prices and providing a host of exclusive benefits. This platform guarantees the best price, offers price monitoring for flights, and provides payment flexibility. If customers find a better price for their purchased flight or hotel within 24 hours, Nubank Ultravioleta will refund the difference. Additionally, customers can make purchases in up to 8 interest-free installments via NuPay and receive 1% cashback that grows at 200% of the CDI. Nubank was co-founded by David Vélez, Cristina Junqueira, and Edward Wible. This fintech giant continues to innovate and expand its services, now venturing into the travel segment with the launch of NuViagens. Investors: Nubank has been backed by prominent investors over the years, including Sequoia Capital, Tencent, and Berkshire Hathaway, among others. This strong backing has enabled Nubank to continuously expand and enhance its offerings. NuViagens targets high-income individuals looking for convenience and reliability in travel planning. The platform provides an integrated solution for booking flights and accommodations, ensuring customers get the best prices and offering exclusive benefits like free price drop protection and dedicated 24-hour support. Livia Chanes, CEO of Nubank Brazil, expressed excitement about this new offering, emphasizing the goal to provide a complete and secure travel planning experience for customers. With features like price monitoring, flexible payments, cashback, and free travel eSIM, NuViagens is set to revolutionize how high-income individuals plan and enjoy their travel experiences. The announce on #Nubank website in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/s541W   - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

🚌 Paytm Partners with FlixBus to Expand Intercity Bus Travel Services. In a strategic move, Paytm has partnered with FlixBus to enhance its intercity bus travel services, aiming to provide more options and convenience to travelers. 🔍 Partnership Details: - Collaboration:Paytm and FlixBus - Objective:Expand intercity bus travel services 🚀 Strategic Implications: - Service Expansion:This partnership will allow Paytm to offer a wider range of intercity bus travel options, enhancing its travel services portfolio. - Customer Convenience:Travelers will benefit from a more comprehensive selection of routes and schedules, improving overall travel convenience. 📈 Market Potential: - Travel Market Growth:The intercity bus travel market is experiencing growth, driven by increasing demand for affordable and convenient travel options. - Competitive Advantage:By partnering with FlixBus, Paytm can leverage FlixBus's extensive network and expertise, gaining a competitive edge in the travel services market. 🔮 Future Outlook: - Enhanced User Experience:The collaboration aims to improve the user experience by providing seamless booking and travel options through Paytm’s platform. - Market Penetration:With the integration of FlixBus services, Paytm is poised to capture a larger share of the intercity travel market, attracting more users to its platform. Paytm's partnership with FlixBus marks a significant step towards expanding its intercity bus travel services, offering enhanced convenience and options for travelers, and strengthening its position in the travel industry. Flix #Paytm #FlixBus #IntercityTravel #BusTravel #Partnership #TravelServices #BusinessGrowth #StartupNews #MicroShots #NewsUpdates

The travel industry has seen a big shift toward digitalisation since the global pandemic, with businesses needing to revamp their operational systems to navigate all the challenges posed by the lockdowns. This also led to an expectation from consumers that all transactions should be able to be handled electronically. In this interesting piece for Travel And Tour World, Sergio Vargas Johansson, Managing Director of Travel at Joyned, shares his thoughts on the fact that many travel companies are finding it difficult to meet these tech-savvy demands, resulting in a gap in the customer purchase experience, and how they can address this. #travelindustry #traveltech #tech #PR #PRcoverage

New Partnership Alert: Laasie Partners with Skipper to Revolutionize Travel Bookings and Loyalty Programs With this partnership, Laasie and Skipper aim to disrupt traditional travel booking models and elevate customer loyalty to new heights. By combining Laasie's instant reward marketplace with Skipper's user-friendly platform, travelers will now enjoy unparalleled benefits, including instant rewards and personalized booking experiences. "We are thrilled to partner with Skipper to bring a new level of innovation to the travel industry," said Ellis Connolly, Chief Revenue Officer at Laasie. "This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to provide hotels with the tools they need to enhance guest loyalty and drive revenue. Together, we are setting a new standard for travel bookings and loyalty programs." Read the full release here: https://lnkd.in/g-RSqGpD #partnerships #innovation #loyalty #rewards #marketing #revenue