WestBridge backing for Travelguru

Travelguru will facilitate travel and hotel bookings via Net

BY A CORRESPONDENT
February 4, 2006

WestBridge Capital Partners has announced backing for travelguru, which is positioned as India's first Metasearch Travel Solutions Company. Through Travelguru, internet users will be able to book online travel via 300 airlines and 55,000 hotels. Travelguru said in a press release that the company, which started as a Harvard Business School project in 2004 has now tie-ups with leading hotels and airlines in India and abroad. Travelguru has been working for an year developing travel technology.

In January, venture capital Norwest Partners had announced support for YatraOnline, another company specialising in internet travel and hotel bookings.

Said WestBridge Managing Director KP Balaraj: “India’s travel industry is expected to be a $32 billion market by 2008. The future of the internet and the manner it will change people’s habits is undoubted – one of the largest gainers from e-commerce is travel, accounting for over 50% of global e-commerce activity. The Indian traveler today is more informed, wants more for less and is constantly looking for value. We believe that the many travel choices and cheaper prices on Travelguru will give consumers the best value for their money.”

According to Ashwin Damera, co-founder and CEO of Travelguru, “In a scenario where there are not just multiple airlines but where fare structures are dynamic and focused on making travel affordable, a service of this nature brings all options to the customer. Imagine traveling to Delhi and having to choose from over 100 hotels to stay in. With a service like this, Travelguru simplifies the customers’ decision-making process and adds tremendous value. To cite some global examples, in the US, nearly 50 per cent of all airline tickets sold are sold online, and sites like Expedia and Orbitz sell a major portion of this. Even in China, Ctrip sells nearly half a million hotel room nights a year. Travelguru will replicate the user experience and value proposition of these established sites for the Indian traveler.”

Besides being able to book and plan their travel on-line at www.Travelguru .com, travellers can also book by calling the company’s toll-free number (1 600 22 4878) from anywhere in India. Travelguru’s metasearch technology ensures that travellers get a larger number of permutations and combinations of flights and hotels when compared to other on-line websites. Importantly, Travelguru only provides travelers with flight fares and hotels rooms that are actually available as opposed to throwing up lower fares that are never available. This is closely linked to the company’s ‘4 Mantras’ – Transparency, Choice, Convenience and Savings.

Travelguru is a travel solutions company offering travellers the opportunity to plan their travel in a transparent, hassle-free, quick and smart way. Strategic partnerships and alliances with travel industry leaders give Travelguru the edge as an aggregator of travel services. Backed by next generation, real-time, metasearch technology, Travelguru throws up a wider range of travel options for domestic and outbound international travelers.