TravelPort To Set Up 200 retail outlets
TravelPort Holidays (India) Pvt Ltd, one of India’s fastest growing travel services firm, is set for massive expansions by setting up a chain of 200 retail outlets and increasing the number of franchisees from the current one hundred to three hundred by the end of the current financial year. It will also focus on B2B online play and expand on its overseas presence. The expansion programme comes in the wake of 20% Year on Year growth over the last three years.
As part of the expansion plan, it will set up eight franchisees in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and four more in other parts of Andhra Pradesh like Vishakapatnam and Vijayawada. Other towns are also being considered for setting up self service travel kiosks and TravelPort owned outlets.
Commenting on Andhra’s market potential, Ms. Heena Akkhtar, Chief Operating Officer, TravelPort said Hyderabad is a booming travel market with a lot of IT companies, BPOs & Financial services firms thriving and expanding. "Corporate travel and leisure travel are two segments that will see compounded growth in Hyderabad. With a million square feet of retail coming up in Hyderabad, interest in retail travel is also growing. This presents exciting opportunities for TravelPort franchisee outlets and TravelPort owned outlets," she added
"With more than one hundred franchisees across India, TravelPort already has a commendable offline presence. The infusion of retail outlets, over and above the franchisees, will give TravelPort a very strong offline presence with its network spread even in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. In the meantime, its online model is steadily capturing market share and fast emerging as a leading hotel and airline reservation portal. "The combination of the online and offline distribution model, and a strong emphasis on corporate clientele, gives TravelPort a clear edge," she adds.
Akkhtar believes that the tourism sector in India is poised for exponential growth and TravelPort is well placed to capitalize on this. As the first travel company to introduce the franchisee model in India, TravelPort is the business leader in this segment. The company’s Free Individual Travelers (FIT) division, MICE division and branded Corporate Loyalty Schemes (CLS) are market leaders. It is the largest domestic inbound tour operator for Goa.
"Rise in double income households and disposable incomes has led to increased spend in leisure travel, which is expected to grow by 40% over the next two years," says Heena Akhtaar. "There is also going to be a quantum growth in the luxury tours and travel to exotic destinations. We foresee vertical growth for TravelPort in all these segments."
The company is in the next quarter launching "Club Class by TravelPort" – a division exclusively catering to exotic destinations and super luxury tours. The division will focus on the Indian outbound market and initially offer services to selected destinations like South America, Korea, Japan and East Europe. It will also venture into new fields like experiential travel and honeymoon travel besides renewing focus on adventure and wildlife travel, sports travel and religious tours.
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