LateRooms and Super Break parent unveils new booking technology
Malvern Group, the parent of LateRooms and Super Break, has launched new technology that it claims will transform the booking experience.
Called Wizian, it allows customers to book a number of products, including hotel, excursions, travel, theatre tickets and meals, all in one place.
The technology, which took two years to develop, will be available from April in tiered-level white label packages to travel and leisure brands.
Malvern said several major UK household names have already signed up ready for spring and summer launches, but it refused to disclose names.
Chairman Hugo Kimber said: "Malvern Travel Technology came into being because we saw that the trip planning and booking space was really under fulfilled in terms of the type of technology consumers were demanding. We did a lot of consumer research two years ago to validate what we thought was a good idea and fortunately for us, consumers agreed."
A YouGov poll of 2,000 Brits in January, commissioned by the Malvern Group, found that concerns over Brexit and a weak pound mean UK travellers are more trusting in the multi-element packaging market more than ever.
Almost half (47%) of UK consumers singled out financial protection (ATOL security) and convenience (47%) as their main reasons for opting for a package trip.
It found that while two thirds of consumers still opt for the ‘classic travel bundle’ of accommodation (67%) and flights (65%), over a third (36%) of respondents expressed a demand for the convenience of bus travel (from the airport, around destination and key tourist spots), abd closely followed by train travel (32%).
One in 5 (19%) expressed a demand for restaurant bookings and 27% said they’d like to be able to book museums/attractions and theatre/shows tickets.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season