2000 agents by 2017
Merakey, a start-up online travel agent launched in July 2016, plans to add over 2000 travel agents to its platform by March 31, 2017.
Till date the company has over 500 travel agents using the portal and over 1000 confirmed bookings for hotels and packages. Sanjoy Bose, Head-Marketing, Merakey, says, “We are the only online travel agent in India based out of Kolkata with sales, operation and support teams. We offer instant payment option with no transaction fees. Our visa division (Zenith Hospitality Group) is authorised by Singapore High Commission to issue online visas. We have our own offices in Bangkok, Dubai, London, Singapore and Dhaka so we can assure the best services and prices.” The company aims to have 7,500 bookings and 2,000 active agents on the platform by March 31, 2017. Merakey supports its travel trade partners with direct sales in different cities across India, online marketing through emailers, digital marketing awareness through various social media platforms, he adds. Merakey plans to penetrate operations in Tier II and Tier III markets in India and will also explore the South Asian markets. “The B2B products we are offering at present are instant confirmation worldwide, hotel accommodation, transfers, sightseeing and packages. We have insurance, bus services, cruises, forex, visa, homestays in the pipeline which will soon be other additions to our offerings,” says Bose.
Elaborating on the growth strategy of Merakey, Bose points out, “In the long run we would like to integrate with all the major Global Distribution Systems (GDS) and wholesalers including channel managers to increase our inventory to offer the best available prices and move to the B2C platform. Today on an average about 40 per cent of travellers plans their travel via mobile devices and we will take full opportunity of mobile technology.”
We have insurance, bus services, cruises, forex, visa, homestays in the pipeline which will soon be other additions to our offerings