19 November 2002
Press Release
OTC TO SUPPLY BUILD-YOUR-OWN TECHNOLOGY TO ZUJI
Leading UK e-travel group licenses its breakthrough technology to
Asia Pacific’s largest online travel company
Online Travel Corporation (OTC), the UK’s leading online supplier and retailer, has announced it will provide its breakthrough Build-Your-Own technology to Zuji, the largest online travel company in Asia Pacific.
This agreement, which will cover Australia with an option to expand into other Asia Pacific countries, follows on from a series of breakthroughs for OTC throughout 2002 in the Asia Pacific market – an area where the company has signaled a clear intention to expand. OTC also recently announced that it is the largest online player in Australia with almost 16% market share.
Zuji (www.zuji.com) currently offers access to more than 700 airlines, 56,000 hotels and 50 car rental companies. Following on from the agreement, OTC will supply Zuji with its unique dynamic packing technology, allowing customers to tailor-make their holidays in one seamless web experience. The technology will be integrated into Zuji’s user interface, and will enable customers to build holidays online by combining flights, hotels and in due course other travel components.
OTC’s Sydney office, created when the company purchased leading wholesaler Sydney Travel Centre in August 2002, will handle fulfillment of all holidays booked using this ground-breaking technology.
Mark Jones, CEO at OTC commented: “Our Build-Your-Own technology was the first of its kind on the market when it launched in October 2001, and was heralded as breakthrough in travel at the time. We are delighted to be working with Zuji - another leading online travel provider - to offer our revolutionary solution, providing their customers with the ability to create holidays on the web.”
Jones continued: “Throughout 2002, a number of the UK’s leading travel providers have begun to address this burgeoning market, in a bid to participate in the tailor-made boom. As the architects of Build-Your-Own technology, OTC is committed to continue leading the way. Our strategy is to license this breakthrough technology to other travel providers, both in the UK and overseas, and thereby help fuel OTC’s global expansion.”
OTC has also today announced its latest trading update, which indicates that the company anticipates growth in its leisure travel divisions of over 80% in 2002, and overall growth across all divisions of 50%. The company has said it will also achieve positive earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA), before exceptional items in the second half of 2002.
- Ends -
About Online Travel Corporation (OTC)
Online Travel
Corporation plc (OTC) is the UK's largest online travel supplier and retailer,
owning and powering websites with over 1.6m users a month.
Sites include
Bargainholidays.com, the UK's leading package holidays website;
Onlinetravel.com, the fastest-growing independent travel site; A2btravel.com,
the UK's most comprehensive online travel resource; top ferry holidays site
Ferrybooker.com; leading golf site ifyougolf.com and Europe's top ski website
ifyouski.com.
OTC provides
travel content and fulfilment services to over 60 leading online forces. Through its partner sites the
company has access to a potential customer base of over 16 million online
users.
In October 2001
the company launched Build-Your-Own (BYO), the market's first-ever solution
enabling customers to tailor-make package deals online by combining flight and
accommodation options.
OTC is quoted on the
Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. Additional
information is available at www.onlinetravelcorporation.com.
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