Online home rental site signs deals with Thomson and Hoseasons
Direct Holiday Bookings has signed deals with Hoseasons and Thomson, putting it on target to list more than 150,000 properties by the end of 2009.
The online holiday home rentals website, which lists holiday homes from wellknown agents and private owners, has added a further 50,000 properties after striking the deals with Hoseason, Thomson, and other leading holiday companies.
The site has seen traffic treble each month since it launched in May 2008 with 10,000 properties.
Managing director Andrew Gibson said: “We are fast approaching our target to list more than 150,000 properties by the end of next year, which would secure our position as European market leaders.
“We’ve incorporated the latest Web 2.0 developments to the site enabling users to place their own reviews and recommendations as well as being able to liaise directly with owners to get the best deals.
“I think a major factor contributing to the success we’ve experienced so far is the current economic situation. It has meant that consumers are savvier than ever when it comes to cutting costs on holidays and finding that rented accommodation represents good value.”
The company is looking to target strategic partners in the US to increase its range of properties in this country.
Demand for properties in the US is currently very high accounting for a large percentage of searches on the site.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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