Travelocity acquires India’s Travelguru

August 19, 2009 | Online Travel

In evidence of its commitment to growing its business around the world, Travelocity Global has acquired India's leading online hotel distribution network, Travelguru.

The addition of Travelguru builds on Travelocity’s existing businesses, teams and relationships in India, which include Travelocity India, its online travel agency site, various supplier and redistribution relationships, as well as global support teams in the country. It also complements Sabre Holdings’ highly successful Airline Solutions business in India and its global technology center in Bangalore.

Travelocity Global is one of the world’s largest online travel companies, with its Travelocity, lastminute.com and ZUJI businesses worldwide generating more than USD$10 billion in gross travel sales annually.

Travelguru distributes a portfolio of more than 4,000 hotels in India, most of which are independent properties, and it has a strong domestic customer-base. This focus and product breadth complements Travelocity’s existing distribution of branded, chain and luxury properties in India, which are available to travellers domestically on Travelocity India, as well to international inbound travellers booking on Travelocity’s global network of online travel sites.

Travelocity Global plans to keep both of its online travel businesses in India: Travelocity India and Travelguru.

Mr. Roshan Mendis, regional vice president of Travelocity Asia Pacific, confirmed, “Travelguru will continue to operate as a stand alone business and brand in India, focused on growing Indian hotel demand, Indian hotel supply and a wide distribution network. Travelocity India will continue its full service online travel agent (OTA) focus, which includes international and domestic air, hotel and package travel. We will look to leverage the benefits of increased access to hotel content across our sites and our distribution partners, and to leverage synergies in product, technology, partnerships and innovation across both businesses over time.”

Mr. Ashwin Damera, Chief Executive Officer, Travelguru, said, “Travelocity is a good fit for Travelguru, and I am excited about our future as part of Travelocity Global. The mutual vision we have for Travelguru is to continue the successful hotel business we have today, and to grow and evolve by working hand in hand with Travelocity’s local and global team.”

Both Travelocity India and Travelguru businesses will work together to bring significant benefits to Indian hotel suppliers, with increased distribution and greater demand, redistribution partners with greater breadth and depth of Indian supplier content, and to Indian travellers with the broadest of choice of travel deals across all products in India.