The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Travelstart

  • Travelstart marks six years in grand style

    for management of Travelstart, an online travel agency, which entered the nation’s travel market six years ago, business has been good. What better way to appreciate their historic feat than to bring out their drums and cymbals to celebrate their modest successes thus far.

    The Nigerian operations which started in 2012 quickly surpassed its other established markets such as Namibia and Kenya,  highlighting the huge demand for a tech-based solution for travelers in Nigeria. Since launching, Travelstart has catered to more than half a million Nigerians and significantly grown its extensive affiliate network.

    Speaking on the operating climate, Country Manager, Travelstart Nigeria, Philip Åkesson said company is committed to making travel easier and more affordable for travellers across the continent.

    According to him, ”We’re strongly focused on meeting our customers’ needs within the aspects of price, payment choices, trust and customer service.”

    Travelstart maintains a consistent focus on simplifying the ticket purchasingprocess  and offering customers the chance to book their flights themselves online. In Nigeria, the company additionally offers a walk-in service which allows customers build a human connection with the company. ”We recognise the importance of omni-channels and that is why we offer our customers  platform flexibility depending on their comfort with technology. Our walk-in customer service further improves the trust for the brand as our agents work with customers to make their booking,” Åkesson points out.

    According to an economic impact assessment of travel and tourism by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the total contribution of the travel and tourism industry to Nigeria’s GDP was ¦ 5,124.3bn (4.7% of GDP) in 2016 and is forecasted to rise by 4.0% pa to ¦ 7,507.7bn. The travel industry’s total contribution to employment in Nigeria, including jobs indirectly supported by the industry, was 4.5%. This is expected to rise 3.6% per annum to 2,598,000 jobs (4.2% of total) in 2027. The expected rise per annum can be attributed to the fact that Nigerians now spend more on domestic travels. Travelstart is positioned to give customers the best experience by focusing on local content that will reshape the industry.

  • Travelstart strengthens market penetration

    Travelstart Nigeria has begun to strengthen its brand presence and market penetration in the travel business.

    The firm has engaged in a series of activities that will engage its customers and business partners.

    Speaking at a  forum in Lagos, the Country Manager, Philip Akesson, described it as a platform to empower travel affiliates and provide them updates on ways to earn more commission.

    Akesson said affiliates are major stakeholders and business drivers that help Travelstart to be the leading online travel agency in Nigeria.

    He said: “With our core mission to fix travel in Africa, Travelstart is the largest online travel agency in Africa with Head Office in South Africa and offices in Egypt, Dubai. We need the expertise and partnership of our affiliates to penetrate and win in the Nigerian market.”

    The Commercial Manager, Bukky Olowude, said the brand is ready to invest more in marketing communications specifically offline to make the job of the affiliates easier thereby increasing their revenue.

    She said: “Prior to now, Travelstart has always been visible and active online. To further improve the brand’s visibility and affinity we are now ready to push the brand offline through strategic communication campaigns, therefore increasing online ticket sales for our affiliates.”

    The Affiliate Manager, Travelstart Nigeria, Azeez Alimi,  thanked the affiliates for their partnership and support.

  • African Travel Awards winners shortlisted

    African Travel Awards winners shortlisted

    The process for the selection of the 2016 Africa Travel Awards winners has started this month. The awards are for Africans to choose what they consider the best players on the travel and tourism landscape in Africa.

    A pan-African committee of travel professionals from different countries in Africa drew up a shortlist of nominees to be voted for by the public. The criteria for the choices were listed alongside the nominees.

    This will be the 4th edition. According to organiser, Mr. Ikechi Uko,the awards will be coming up on October 30 at the Travellers Night Dinner during Akwaaba African Travel Market. 22 awards will be given out. The committee members are drawn from East, West, South and Central Africa and it is not surprising that most of the nominees are from Sub-Saharan Africa.

    The committee members include: Denis Gathanju, a passionate journalist and photographer based in East Africa; Sandra Idossou is an Afropolitan hotelier, trainer, mystery shopper, consultant, writer, author, traveller, publisher;  Chiquita Afuluenu Johnson is the former national tourism consultant for the Republic of Liberia and CEO of West Tourism Management; Monique Swart is the Founder of the African Business Travel Association (ABTA).

    Other members include Ali Diouf, an experienced journalist from Senegal, Sheikh Tejan; and an experienced tourism administrator from The Gambia. Charity Githinju, a travel expert based in Tanzania. Siphelele Luthuli is a travel consultant and communication expert from South Africa. Khomotso Kelsall also a South African-based travel consultant. From Uganda is Barbra Adoso, a leading tour operator, and Nancy Sam Quartey from Ghana. Other tour operators include Benin Republic-based Olanma Ojukwu and Fifi Rurungwa, a Kenyan-based Rwandan operator. Rwanda- based Catherine Mutuale, Nigerian based Atinuke Nwakohu and Kenyan Annet Nashipae are all travel consultants. The Ghanaian journalist Samuel Doe is joined by Nigerian blogger Olori Supergal and Tunis Silas from The Gambia.

    This is self-explanatory and doesn’t go to the biggest or grandest airport, but to that airport that provides the best travel experience to passengers: Banjul Airport, Gambia,  Tambo Airport, Jo’burg, South Africa, Cape Town Airport, South Africa and  Kotoka Airport, Accra, Ghana  and Lome Airport, Togo.

    African Aviation Personality:  Carla Da Silva, Air Mauritius,  John Mirenge, Rwanda Air.

    Best Airline in Africa: Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar, Turkish. Best short haul Airline in Africa: RwandAir, Kulula, ASKY , South Africa Airways (SAA).

    Best online booking platform in Africa:  Wakanow.com, Kenya Airways, Tala Tours Ghana, Travelstart and Jumia Travels.

    Tourism Marketing Award (for Marketing within Africa): South Africa Tourism. 2. Magical Kenya and many other categories.

  • Travelstart, KLM partner to launch campaign

    Travelstart, KLM partner to launch campaign

    Travelstart.com.ng, an online travel agency in Nigeria, has developed a partnership with KLM to organize a marketing campaign with the aim to increase awareness and to promote flights booking and destinations KLM flies to.

    During this campaign, KLM will be rewarding travel consumers with some travel incentives, including free round trip tickets to Amsterdam, visa procurement assistance to Holland and free hotel accommodation for the lucky winner.

    Travelstart Nigeria has distribution rights to sell KLM tickets, which can be booked through its website. KLM, also known as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operates more than 200 aircraft and serves more than 130 destinations. Travelstart said customers can  access KLM flights on its website; this, they say, has made flight booking online even more convenient for Nigerians travelling to France, Amsterdam, Paris and other destinations KLM flies to.

    The KLM/Travelstart marketing campaign which started in April, 2015, draws on marketing strategies to promote KLM flights and destinations to Nigeria travel consumers, to provide broader brand visibility and increase database for both brands. The campaign is in two phases; the first phase ran for two weeks and gave successful results – increased conversions and leads. During the first phase, Travelstart’s followers and fans were asked trivial questions about KLM on their social media platform; winners were picked randomly and awarded some gifts. The campaign made its online debut with an extension on Travelstart Nigeria homepage, www.travelstart.com.ng and on Facebook.com/TravelstartNigeria.

    The second phase of the campaign will begin on the 25th of May and end on the 14th of June, 2015; it entails a travel competition where Nigerians can submit their names and email addresses to be entered for the competition.

    Speaking about the campaign, Lilian Obinna-Igwe, Country Manager of Travelstart Nigeria, said, “We are happy to partner with KLM and we appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this campaign, without question this partnership is beneficial to us, apart from giving out to Nigerian, it helps us to promote KLM flights and destinations to Nigerians.

    “ We are confident this partnership will cement the already existing relationship Travelstart Nigeria has with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and we also look forward to more collaboration with them going forward”

    The second phase of the campaign will be promoted through all marketing channels including social media from the partners. With all these resources in place, the campaign will reach more people within a short period of time.