Peer-to-peer booking platform forays into Asia to challenge agent commission model

30 May 2018 2106 | World Travel News

TRVL, a Amsterdam-based hotel booking and price comparison site that offers commissions to individual consumers for every booking they make, recently forayed into the Asian market with India being its first stop following its launch in June 2017.

While users from India were able to sign up previously, the website now supports payments in Indian rupees and is offering local customer service. It has also secured extra server capacity to handle the increase in traffic.

The site has made its move into the Asian market

CEO of TRVL Arthur Hoffman, who launched Expedia in India 10 years ago, said: “We have also added the full inventory of Agoda, Priceline’s specialist in Asia earlier this year. In addition, we are running Indian marketing campaigns on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.”

TRVL already has presence in global markets like the US, Australia, New Zealand and pan-Europe, and there are plans to expand into more English-speaking Asian markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong, before introducing more languages in future.

Jochem Wijnands, TRVL’s founder, shared: “Our own research shows that more than 50 per cent of all bookings are done for others. These are people that book for their family, friends or colleagues and truly act like an amateur travel agent. They are often passionate about travelling, but don’t get any love from other companies in this space.”

The company rejects the notion that its unique end-consumer commission model cuts out traditional travel agents. “Many independent travel agents have signed up for TRVL and benefit from the deals we offer and commissions they get paid,” shared Wijnands.

“Our sales team has been signing India-based professional travel agents who appreciate the ease of use of our platform, competitive commission structures, and the fact that it is free to use, with no annual commitment,” added Hoffman.