Woolworths enters online travel arena
Woolworths’ website is to feature travel deals in a partnership with PPA group, a member of the Guild of Travel Management Companies.
PPA Group will supply a dynamically packaged white label travel service through the www.woolworths.co.uk/travel site, offering flights, hotels and car hire.
The high street retailer said if the site is successful, it plans to have travel desks in its shops.
“We have 821 locations that we can utilise,” said a Woolworths spokesman. “We have some very large stores and we could find space.
“Travel is a booming market and internet technology is allowing us to get into business areas that traditional we haven’t been able to get into at a low price. Five years ago we wouldn’t have been able to do this, but now we can.”
Woolworths.co.uk claims 250,000 unique visitors per day.
The travel site will be promoted through online advertising and email marketing to the retailers’ registered subscriber base.
PPA Group commercial director Graham Richardson said: “This is a significant strategic partnership where we are delivering a service to an established retailer that wants to be the best multi-channel retailer on the high street.
“The power of the Woolworth brand will attract new consumers and create greater confidence in the online travel market. The travel service is a natural addition to the Woolworths’ online offering.”
PPA Group has been providing travel services and back office technology to the travel trade through its BOSS system for almost 20 years. More recently it has supplied online leisure travel services to clients including Asda and LBC Radio.
Lastminute.com travel director John Bevan said: “It’s great to see that Woolies is realising the opportunities and demand which lie within online travel. We welcome any competition, however we’re not too worried as our target audiences are miles apart.
“As one of the original online travel companies with a proven brand presence in this arena, it’ll be interesting to see whether people will want to buy a holiday from the people they buy their pic n mix from.”
Report by Phil Davies and Bev Fearis
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps