Teletext Holidays believes the relaunch of its website and Freeview channel will help drive more bookings to the trade as it moves away from solely focusing on late deals.
The company unveiled a new website, revamped Freeview channel, internet-connected TV and new mobile apps, including one for the iPad, on Thursday. The new facilities will be unveiled to consumers through a £5 million ad campaign starting on January 5.
Teletext claimed the site’s “cloud” technology would transform the way people search for holidays. Managing director Victoria Sanders said: “People find they are constantly comparing prices and having to re-enter the same information. We’ve ironed out the irritations.”
The company has expanded its range and will move beyond focusing on special offers. “We’ll still be a lates provider, but we will also be about long-haul, adventure travel and escorted tours,” said Sanders. Teletext will carry offers from Kuoni and Sandals among others.
Online users will see a series of options such as beach, family, ski, city or cruise, and answer one of four questions – how many people they plan to travel with, when, where and for how much? Any answer will throw up offers.
The old analogue TV service will cease at the end of this month, but Teletext will maintain and enhance its TV presence with a revamped service on Freeview channel 101
and a new internet-connected service to which tens of millions are expected to have access to by 2014.