02 September 2008

Online travel agency launched

Dotcom specialist Maz Darvish and travel trade veteran Laurence Woodhams have launched a new online travel agency - SqueezeHolidays.com,

Darvish, who is chairman of the new venture, previously acquired and streamlined cheapholidaydeals.co.uk, helped with the development of AffiliateFuture, and created Henoo.com.

Woodhams, who will take the board position of commercial director, led Farebase and founded CWT, where he developed web selling solutions for text and call centre operations such as Holidays by Phone and Airtours.

He has also provided strategic counsel to Holiday Taxis and ResortHoppa.

Backed by Neutron Ventures, initially SqueezeHolidays.com will offer accommodation only, focusing on popular beach destinations.

But longer term plans are to develop it into a full service online travel agency.

Darvish said it had chosen the name SqueezeHolidays.com because the companyÃ¢â¬â¢s mission is to squeeze consumersÃ¢â¬â¢ modest budgets to provide the best possible travel solutions.

He said the credit crunch means consumers are determined not to miss out on their holidays and so are seeking competitive deals online in their droves.

Woodhams added: Ã¢â¬ÅâœThis is a crowded marketplace, but there are very few online operations that have everything right in every aspect of their operations.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœOur strategy is to develop the site by incrementally increasing services while maintaining the highest level of service excellence. Ã¢â¬Åâœ

By Bev Fearis