Travel companies jump on the deal-wagon to get business moving

MUMBAI: Travel and tourism companies are seeking to resuscitate business by slashing holiday package rates, selling customised road trips and tying up with self-drive car aggregators and plane charter operators as people remain apprehensive of mass transport modes amid Covid-19. In addition, companies have tied up with health and wellness certifiers to assure guests that the properties are safe, as demand for travel has begun to revive gradually after plunging to nil during the lockdown, said industry executives. Mahindra Holidays has reopened 20 of its 69 properties since June 15, said MD Kavinder Singh. The number will go up to 35 in 15 days and the company hopes to reopen all its properties by October, he said. Singh said Mahindra Holidays is tying up with self-drive mobility enabler Zoom Car for trips. The company is also in talks with plane charter operators to ferry holidaymakers, he said. 77557052Scheduled airlines such as Indi-Go are betting big on charter operations, said executives aware of the matter. “The holidays business across Thomas Cook and (its subsidiary) SOTC reopened in phases post May 4,” said Thomas Cook chairman Madhavan Menon. The company is offering a 30% discount on holiday packages, zero cancellation charges, free rescheduling until 10 days prior to departure and what it claims are guaranteed refunds, according to president Rajeev Kale. MakeMyTrip’s hotel booking volume has touched 12-14% of pre-Covid levels, said COO Vipul Prakash. Nearly all travel companies have tied up with health and wellness certifiers. While Make-MyTrip said it has tied up with Deloitte to launch a safety compliance and audit programme, Mahindra Holidays said it has sought certifications from France’s Bureau Veritas that all its resorts are safe.

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