The decision by Singapore based OTA Zuji (recently acquired by Webjet from Travelocity) to launch the ArrivalGuides white-label apps as their key mobile solution follows successful implementation of ArrivalGuides destination content online and in emails. The brand new white-label app, available on iOS and Android, now allows Zuji to offer their customers ArrivalGuides destination guides throughout the whole travel cycle, in the key channels (online, email and mobile) they interact with their customers.
(TRAVPR.COM) SWEDEN - November 14th, 2013 - The white-label App, developed by ArrivalGuides together with travel app developer GuideWall, contains all 450+ destination guides in the ArrivalGuides portfolio in all available languages. To avoid roaming costs when traveling, both the guides and maps are available for free offline use.
Desmond Phua, Head of Customer Experience & Direct Channels at ZUJI says “The Travel Guide App is a natural extension to our partnership with Arrival Guides. Not only would customers be able to download and print a pdf copy of the travel guide from their confirmation email, they are also able to download the ZUJI branded travel guide app into their smart phone and carry a handy travel guide to whichever destinations they go. This allow them to explore more of the sights and sound, the food and culture of the destination and creating a memorable experience of the destination.”
The director of distribution client solutions at ArrivalGuides Ola Zetterlof says “Most OTA apps focus on booking functionality, but a lot of research shows that conversion rates on mobile web and in apps are not as great as the usage and even more so when looking at actual transactions from the mobile. The key value for travelers using apps must surely by when they are traveling. Very few OTAs offer this, but we can see a large interest from our partners all over the world to offer this service to their customers as a value-add and to increase brand loyalty and sales.”
The new Zuji apps also include the possibility to book flights, hotels, packages, cars and insurance as well as thematic search for destinations (release Nov 23rd). Future releases will include weather and social sharing functionality. Clearly, mobile is a channel with huge potential, but mobile travel booking significantly lags behind mobile travel research. eMarketer expects the gap to narrow slightly by 2016, but the number of actual bookers still will be only half that of travel researchers.
Zuji expects the release of the apps with content in English as well as simplified and traditional Chinese to boost the upcoming launch of the brand in Hong Kong.
“More than half of Chinese travelers who access the Internet through a mobile phone have researched travel destinations with their phones, and one in four have booked/purchased travel products such as hotel rooms or flights.”, says Douglas Quinby, PhoCusWright's vice president of research in a research update on Chinese mobile adoption.
About Zuji
ZUJI is one of Asia Pacific’s leading online travel agencies, a position the company has held for more than 10 years. ZUJI was recently acquired by Webjet. Webjet is Australia’s largest and most successful online travel agency and also operates offices in Canada, USA, New Zealand, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore.
About ArrivalGuides
ArrivalGuides is the global leader in supplying B2B destination content solutions to the travel industry. Over 240 travel companies use the information to increase their online business offering. ArrivalGuides provide updated information for over 450 destinations, in various languages. ArrivalGuides has created a unique network of information sourced and updated directly by the official tourist bureaus. ArrivalGuides head office is in Gothenburg, Sweden, with sales offices in Germany, Italy and the US.
About GuideWall
GuideWall is a platform for businesses to create branded mobile apps with online and offline destination guides. It is also a free mobile app to keep track of your online and offline destination guides curated by you, your friends or experts that you trust. The company GuideWall AB is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
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