Acknowledging the demanding nature of the travel professional’s role, RateHawk remains steadfast in its commitment to developing tools and technologies that empower travel professionals, effectively elevating them to the status of super agents.
RateHawk.com, an online system for booking hotels, air tickets, and transfers for travel professionals, announced its major rebranding initiative that encompasses an updated corporate identity, strategic reimagining, and the unveiling of a new logo. The new identity will be officially unveiled at the World Travel Market in London.
The idea behind the rebranding is to honor the invaluable role of travel agents, advisors, and other industry professionals worldwide. RateHawk recognizes them as unsung superheroes who navigate challenges daily, adapt to a constantly evolving landscape, and consistently exceed expectations to ensure their clients’ utmost satisfaction. The pandemic crisis added further complexity, as the industry had to quickly adopt digital transformation at a level that would typically take years to achieve. Travel agents were compelled to reinvent their customer and supply-chain interactions in a world of social distancing and expedite the integration of digital technologies into their daily operations.
Felix Shpilman, CEO of Emerging Travel Group, RateHawk’s parent company, commented: “The rebranding mirrors the natural evolution of RateHawk. With a seven-year history, RateHawk has evolved from a B2B hotel-booking system into an advanced platform that offers one of the most extensive hotel supplies in the market and provides a comprehensive spectrum of travel services. What sets us apart is our product-driven DNA, which guides our approach in all endeavors. This forward-thinking mindset positions RateHawk to drive innovation in an industry historically known for its resistance to change and limited online presence.
“Our aim is to liberate our partners from the challenges of navigating digitalization on their own. RateHawk remains committed to actively engaging with its partners to tailor its products to their specific requirements. We develop tools that empower professionals to enhance the sale of travel services, introduce solutions that enable conducting business remotely, pioneer new payment methods and procedures, all while delivering exceptional customer service. With RateHawk, partners can rest assured they are not alone in their demanding profession – they are supercharged with top-tier products and professional assistance. The rebranding initiative is a reflection of these transformative strides,” added Felix Shpilman.
The new visual identity adopts a black and yellow palette, preserving RateHawk’s established legacy while making it more vibrant and memorable. The brand’s core yellow color, symbolizing energy, excitement, and enthusiasm, acquired a new, more vivid and dynamic tone.
The updated logo maintains the continuity of the original design, retaining the iconic hawk imagery from which RateHawk derived its name. Much like a hunting hawk that surveys the landscape from above, RateHawk empowers travel agents to spread their wings and expand their horizons, enabling them to navigate offerings efficiently and secure the best deals and rates for their customers. The new logo's outline exudes increased confidence and boldness, aligning seamlessly with the hawk symbol.
Introducing a novel element to the design system, the yellow spotlight serves as a symbol of the powerful stream that energizes RateHawk’s partners, supercharging and empowering them to excel in their roles.
The new RateHawk website reflecting the changes will be unveiled on November 6, 2023, while the first physical manifestation of the rebranding will be featured at the World Travel Market in London from November 6 to 8, 2023. Localized versions of the rebranded platform will be released throughout November 2023.
RateHawk is a subsidiary of Emerging Travel Group, a global travel company. With a diverse team of over 2,600 employees in 80 countries, Emerging Travel Group achieved a net turnover of $1 billion in 2022.
RateHawk employs over 500 professionals in commercial roles worldwide and has offices in London, Berlin, Milan, Lisbon, Warsaw, Dubai, Limassol, and Wilmington. The platform is used by more than 54,000 travel professionals worldwide. In the first three quarters of 2023, RateHawk's net booking value surged over 100% year-over-year. The platform features one of the most extensive hotel inventories in the market, with a selection of 2.2 million accommodations carefully aggregated and curated from 210 suppliers, reinforced by 80,000 direct hotel contracts, along with flights of over 350 airlines and transfers in 150 countries. RateHawk also seamlessly distributes its hotel inventory through API to global Online Travel Agencies (OTAs), tour operators, and technology companies.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
