Singapore based online travel agent (OTA) Agoda inked new deals last week with JTB Corp (JTB), Japan’s largest travel network, and LINE Travel, a newly-formed one-stop travel booking service in Taiwan.
In joining forces with two of Asia’s leading travel industry players Agoda, one of the world’s fastest-growing online booking platforms and part of Booking Holdings, is strengthening its distribution of accommodations while increasing online sales at the same time.
Nest Hotel Osaka Shinsaibashi – one of the accommodation listed on Agoda .
Agoda said its agreement with JTB, which has a vast global network of 508 facilities in 143 cities and 39 countries and regions, has two key objectives. One is to expand Japanese accommodation inventory on both Agoda.com and JTB’s sites leveraging the OTA’s marketing and technology know-how.
The other is to “refresh” Rurubu Travel and JAPANiCAN travel sites, both subsidiaries of JTB. Agoda will use its technology to enhance their competitiveness by helping them target their inventory and products to a wider consumer audience.
Rurubu is the booking site for travel in Japan, while JAPANiCAN provides instant online bookings for hotels, ryokan, bus tours and other activities.
Agoda and JTB plan to launch the “renewed” and upgraded Rurubu Travel and JAPANiCAN by the end of next year.
According to Agoda, the partnership will improve accessibility to the Japanese accommodation market nationwide, including hotels and ryokan, for both international and domestic travellers. This will help to boost local economies by opening up tourism in Japan beyond the traditional tourist areas.
Additionally, under the agreement Agoda and JTB will conduct user research to better understand the needs and habits of Japanese accommodation providers.
John Brown, CEO of Agoda, said travellers will benefit from the partnership as they are able to find hotels and resorts on both its and JTB sites.
“We will be able to offer Agoda customers previously inaccessible choices of quality accommodation at great prices throughout Japan by accessing JTB’s extensive inventory. Meanwhile, our technology expertise will help JTB to achieve its online travel ambitions for growth more efficiently.”
LINE Travel, a one-stop travel booking service
In the agreement with LINE Travel, which came a day after the deal with JTB, Agoda will be the sole travel accommodation supplier for LINE Travel’s userbase in Taiwan.
LINE Travel is a new five-way partnership, announced on August 8, between Japan-based communications giant LINE, Agoda and Taiwan-based Lion Travel, KKday and Tripresso to create the online travel metasearch to enhance the purchase experience.
The service is currently being rolled out to LINE users across Taiwan who will have access to a vast range of travel services, from global accommodation options to airline flights, travel experiences and group trips.
Starting November 28, LINE users in Taiwan can log into Agoda through their LINE accounts to directly book accommodation, from hotels to apartments and vacations rentals. They will also be able to share their travel itinerary with friends in their network and acquire LINE Points rebates on qualifying bookings.
“Digitally savvy, mobile-first consumers in Taiwan increasingly turn to one-stop apps like LINE Travel, so we’re thrilled that through this partnership LINE’s 19+ million customers can access Agoda’s extensive range for properties including hotels, villas, hostels or Agoda homes,” said Spencer Low, managing director for Greater China at Agoda.
• Featured image (Agoda’s Singapore office) credit: Agoda
