The company, which has set up offices in Tampa’s historic Hyde Park district, will operate www.webjet,com independently and believes that its experience of over 10 years in the online travel business and a substantial investment from its major shareholder which is publicly traded on Australia’s Stock Exchange (ASX) will stand it in good stead as it expands to the US.
Webjet.com CEO, Mathias Friess, a former senior executive of Virgin Blue Group and Lufthansa German Airlines said, “With our Australian roots and over 10 years experience in online travel, we know how to look for good deals for international trips.
“Australians are very savvy international travelers and we know that booking international travel can be very complicated, so our international experience will serve the US market very well.”
The company did diligent research to choose a location for its headquarters which hosts the central management and marketing functions as well as the Customer Service Center operation.
Webjet.com projects a total of 20-25 employees in the first year of operation.
Friess said it chose Tampa “because of the combination of an exceptionally low cost of living, a fantastic labor pool of experienced travel agents and call center staff, and the great opportunity this city provides to start and grow a business”.
In addition to providing the cheapest airfares available, Webjet.com also offers car and hotel online bookings.
One unique element which it hopes will differentiate it too in the US is its “StayThenPay” hotel feature. For a $10 booking fee, customers can simply select a room and pay the hotel at the end of the stay.
If customers change their mind and need to cancel the hotel before arrival, Webjet cancels the reservation free of charge.
Friess says, “In today’s world, people prefer not to commit and pay in full for their leisure hotel weeks in advance. What if you change your mind? What if you find a better deal? With StayThenPay, a small booking fee gives you the freedom to be that flexible.”
Featured image credit (Globetrotting toy jet airliner vacation): Ockra/iStock
