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Sprice.com, the world’s leading travel search engine, has grown its hotel database in Asia Pacific to more than 200 leading travel vendors – including Amari Hotels, hostelworld.com, and MakeMyTrip.com. Since the website’s launch in 2006, it has been experiencing significant growth – just in the last six months, Sprice.com saw its regional visitorship double.
Vikas Gulati, Vice President of Sprice.com in Asia Pacific, attributes the success of the website to the proliferation of the Internet in the region. According to the Internet World Statistics, Internet users in Asia Pacific region have grown almost 500% over the past decade. With today’s consumers becoming increasingly technology-savvy, and web-based applications rising in popularity with its comprehensive and user-friendly interface, the reliance on traditional mediums such as TV and newspapers is declining.
“We are now seeing over 500,000 visitors from the region every month as well as an additional 400,000 through partner networks. With well-known brands such as Asiatravel and Travelocity on board, Sprice.com users now have an even wider research database and more choices, in terms of variety as well as travel deals,” added Gulati.
“One of the key highlights of the recent partnerships with Amari Hotels, hostelworld.com, and MakeMyTrip.com, is the extensive offering for consumers. For example, hostelworld.com provides the budget travel-goer with options for hostels, inns and packaged tours, while Amari Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel chain, offers deals to its properties across the country. Meanwhile, MakeMyTrip.com has almost one-third of India’s domestic marketshare and 22% marketshare in the region, making it the largest online travel portal in Asia Pacific.”
Despite the current economic climate, Gulati is confident that travel will prevail throughout the region. “According to the recent Online World Report, while the world is experiencing an overall drop in travel, online bookings in Asia Pacific have risen by 17%. With the growth of low-cost carriers and expansion of flight routes, we strongly believe that leisure travel will not take a back seat. The surge in our visitorship is a true testament to that.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
