Hotelbeds outlined its five-year plan to its trade partners at World Travel Market today.
The TUI-owned online company, which supplies hotels, airport transfers and excursions to airlines, operators and agents, says the plans will see it “ buck the global and travel sector trends”.
“Whereas the travel industry is generally making cut backs or players are maintaining current positions Hotelbeds.com is announcing major investment plans,” said Carlos Munoz, MD B2B Division.
He said the group plans to grow its 6000-strong workforce by 18% worldwide over the next five years, largely in Asia.
It plans significant expansion in the source markets and destinations of the Americas, mainly Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Columbia and the US, and Asia, in South East, Korea and India.
“We also want to maintain and grow our home markets in Europe, particularly in the Eastern European countries,” said Munoz.
IT spend will increase by 43% and sales and marketing spend by 40%, he added.
“Our ambition is to increase total transaction volumes by 25% for 2011 and continue with high levels of growth to remain a significant player in this market.”
Click here to view original article by Bev Fearis, Travelmole, Monday 7th November, 2011
