Price comparison website hotelly.com could offer travel agencies a new way of generating calls ahead of the switch-off of Teletext Holidays on analogue television next year.
Hotelly.com creates a dynamic package using low-cost, charter and scheduled airlines, and bed banks. It then adds a level of commission agreed with the client and a panel of advertisers.
Agencies appear in the package holiday search results according to their customer service rating from previous clients, who receive free supplier failure insurance if they leave feedback. Agencies must be ATOL protected to feature on the site.
Customers book over the phone and agencies then pay hotelly.com a fee per call.
Hotelly.com compares accommodation-only or package holidays and provides hotel reviews, maps and video footage. The UK version of the US site is backed by On Holiday Group chief executive Steve Endacott, and former Teletext Holidays managing director Matt Cheevers.
Endacott and Cheevers said agencies could use hotelly.com as an alternative sales channel to Teletext Holidays, which is to be taken off analogue television in about a year.
The site has signed up 10 call centre agencies so far, but hopes to work with more independent agencies and consortia.
Endacott said: “Customers like to research online but still want the reassurance of booking with someone over the phone. This is an alternative way for travel agencies, who traditionally used the Teletext service, to generate calls.”
Hotelly.com commercial director Vishal Jain believes the site will be the only one to offer the “real” price.
He said: “On other comparison sites, prices are subject to change throughout the booking process, but hotelly.com shows the user the final booking price from the outset.”
Hotelly.com is also in talks with financial services and insurance comparison sites about providing a white-label service.