Tesco offers online travel
Supermarket operator gets into the holiday business
December 13 2002
Tesco has become the first UK supermarket to launch an online travel service.
Tesco.com has formed a partnership with independent travel agent Travelcare to offer a full range of travel services including bookable online flights and accommodation, worldwide holidays, city breaks, cruises, ski holidays and car hire.
Tesco is aiming to capitalise on the popularity of buying travel online, which has been one of the early successes of e-commerce. Travelcare has access to some of the cheapest deals and the site will focus on advertising these special offers. The site will be trialled for three months and officially launched next year if successful.
Tesco.com chief executive of John Browett, said: “Our partnership with Travelcare has secured very competitive deals on thousands of holidays and flights. There’s something for everyone – whether they want to book their family summer holiday or snap up a late winter bargain. Customers are increasingly shopping at Tesco.com not just for groceries, but also electrical goods, flowers, wine, insurance and banking, so why not travel too? We believe there is huge potential in embracing the online travel market.”
The site enables customers to research their holidays, flights or services and then make a booking either online or by calling a dedicated agent. Customers booking holidays through the site will also receive Clubcard points for their purchases and during the three-month trial, they will also be credited with an additional 5,000 Clubcard Points on holidays with selected tour operators.
Browett said: “Tesco.com is already the world’s largest online home shopping for grocery business and provides the number two online banking service. Introducing an online travel site combining with the most established and popular travel agency Travelcare seems the natural progression.”
