Dynamic packaging takes off

DYNAMIC packaging is getting to be more popular as it offers travel customers the chance to create their own packaged holidays, combining flights and accommodation for the specific dates they prefer.

Said Kim Stockham, spokesperson, Zuji, “The technological innovation of‘dynamic packaging’ (DP) for domestic and international holidays has been introduced to some of our sites (India, and some of our travel partner network B2B sites) and is coming soon to many of our other sites in Asia Pacific.

”There are many ramifications for dynamic packaging which will bring in more complex travel bookings apart from the simple point to point ones.

“Stand-alone hotel bookings, and point to-point travel is our ‘bread and butter’, but ahead dynamic packaging will allow us to begin to offer more complex travel choices to our well travelled, net savvy consumer base.

“We are constantly enhancing our site features and services. Most importantly,introducing and growing dynamic packing is a focus, and our teams will be working with suppliers to see how we can best promote supplier products as part of integrated marketing campaigns, where wholesale or packaged rates are opaque to the customer.We’ll also bring many of these new site features across to tour B2B, travel partner network sites.

”Zuji has seen phenomenal growth, not only in flight sales, but in hotel sales as well.The company saw year-on- year percentage growth in sales in the high double digits on a large base. This growth has been fuelled by new and existing consumers, and coordinated destination campaigns across all of its Asia Pacific sites in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan,Korea and India, its seven core online travel sites.Over the next two years Zuji is expected to see high growth.

“In particular we are very focused oncontinuing our exceptional growth in hotel sales, but as stand-alone hotel bookings and as part of packaged offerings. As part of this effort, we are introducing more coordinated merchandising and retailing strategies across our network of sites in Asia Pacific, as well as sites in North America (Travelocity.com) and Europe (lastminute.com). Aiding this is our continued development of our network of partner ‘Preferred’ hotels in Asia Pacific. Currently, around 30,000 hotels participate in our net rate hotel program,and have direct relationships with us for the delivery of real time inventory to Zuji customers, and net rates,” she said.

Zuji has become an attractive place formany advertisers looking to reach a huge audience of travellers in specific countries,across Asia Pacific, or even globally through its network of Travelocity.com (NorthAmerica) and lastminute.com (Europe) sites.These advertisers include banks, travel good suppliers, airline, hotels and chains as well as destination promotions.

“We expect to continue to offer some advertising opportunities ahead when it makes sense for our customers, and ideally,where there is a tangible value-add linked to the promotion, “ said Stockham