A new travel website that allows agents and homeworkers to sell packages online and attract new customers, is preparing to go live.
Travel.co.uk, due to launch later this month, allows customers to search for traditional and dynamic packages, compare options and choose whether to book via an agent, homeworker or operator.
Travel.co.uk will strive to stop users straying by offering pictures and videos of hotels, reviews from TripAdvisor and maps from Google Maps.
“Only about half of customers are buying on price only. This site allows them to compare holidays by factors that are important to them, such as weather or star rating,“ said travel.co.uk director Ray Mason.
Agents have the chance to choose which product they wish to sell, and at what price. They can promote their business by adding a picture and information about their services.
“The site is especially good for homeworkers, as not everyone is aware of their local homeworker and this a good way to introduce themselves,” said Mason.
Travel.co.uk delivers the booking and funds to the agent and then invoices them for a fee 10 weeks before departure.
“Once they have the sale, agents can sell add-ons and they have the opportunity to capture the customer for life. There is no charge until a booking is made,” said Mason.
Customers are able to leave feedback about the service they received from the agent, and each retailer will eventually have a feedback score.
At launch, the site will sell packages only but will eventually sell flight or hotel only.
Travel.co.uk was previously owned by Comtec bu tis now run as a separate company by former Comtec employees Mason and Mike Ramsden.