Wholesaler Gullivers Travel Associates has agreed a tie-up with Lowcost Travel Group to supply product for the new easyJet Holidays venture.
Lowcost beat off competition from the On Holiday Group to secure the contract for the easyJet deal that could see the emergence of a challenger to the big two traditional tour operators Thomas Cook and Tui Travel.
The GTA deal will run from the outset of the EasyJet Holidays venture which is due to launch in the spring. GTA offers tens of thousands of rooms per night in its city destinations served by EasyJet across Europe.
The agreement covers GTA’s two star to five star hotel stock. Stuart Ellis, senior director FIT sales, operations and commercial for GTA, said: “GTA is delighted to build upon our strong existing commercial partnership with Lowcost Travel Group.
“By working together, GTA and lowcost are able to deliver extensive hotel inventory at market-leading rates, ensuring that easyJet Holidays customers will have the benefit of the very best combination of choice and value”.
GTA and Lowcost Travel Group will undertake co-marketing activity and deliver special offers to promote the city destinations and a substantial part of the overall marketing budget for easyJet Holidays will be dedicated to developing the city programme.
GTA has also appointed a project manager based at the Lowcost Travel Group offices to act as liaison manager.
Paul Evans, chief executive office of Lowcost Travel Group, added: “To support our aggressive and dynamic plans for the new business it was vital to find a cities partner who leads the field in that sector. We are thrilled to have closed the deal with GTA”.