SKO
19/08/2015 08:30
GENERAL
PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 0830 HRS Serko Limited
GENERAL: SKO: Serko and Expedia Group Partner to Disrupt Corporate Market
Serko Limited (SKO), a leader in online travel booking technology and expense
management for business, has today announced a new strategic partnership with
Expedia group (NASDAQ: EXPE) that will give Serko customers the ability to
search and book Expedia and Wotif branded content through Serko Online,
Serko's Online Booking Tool (or OBT). The deal opens up a new revenue stream
for Serko and sets the company on its path towards increasing its Average
Revenue Per Traveller.
This first-of-its-kind agreement allows Serko to market and promote Expedia's
inventory of 8200 properties across Australia and New Zealand, and its
inventory of hundreds of thousands of hotels globally using the Wotif and
Expedia brands.
Darrin Grafton Serko CEO said "This is a really exciting and important
partnership for Serko. For the first time, corporates will be able to book
branded Expedia and Wotif content through Serko Online, marking the beginning
of a major disruption in the global market for hotel rooms. Serko has been
successfully disrupting the corporate travel booking value chain since 2007,
and this is simply the next evolution."
The agreement is significant because it provides corporates access to a huge
increase in inventory and rates leveraging the massive global buying power of
Expedia. Expedia rates can be as much as 15-20% lower than the Global
Distribution System (GDS) equivalent which translates to significant travel
budget savings for corporates using Serko Online. What's particularly unique
for the Travel Industry is that the Serko Online tool can be integrated with
a Travel Agent's suite of tools so that they can meet their online and
offline support requirements for a corporate traveller.
Gabriel Garcia, Strategy and Business Development Director at Expedia group
said "Expedia is very pleased to be part of this strategic partnership with
Serko. With Expedia and Wotif branded content available through Serko Online
and some very sharp price points we expect to make a significant difference
in the market, continuing to position Expedia as a trusted supplier of hotel
inventory to corporates across the Asia Pacific Region".
Mr Grafton continues: "With the ongoing drive for cost savings in travel
programs and the changes in Health and Safety legislation in Australia and
New Zealand, which requires organisations to know exactly where employees are
staying - offering the ability to book Expedia inventory through Serko Online
makes perfect sense for everyone. We look forward to working closely with
Expedia and explore how we can jointly continue to disrupt the market."
ENDS
For investor relations queries please contact:
Tim Bluett, Chief Financial Officer, Serko
+64 9 309 4754
[email protected]
For media queries please contact:
Natasha Gillooly, Porter Novelli for Serko,
+ 64 21 915 297
[email protected]
About Serko
Serko is Australasia's leading online travel booking and expense management
company for businesses and is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange Main
Board (SKO.NZ). With its HQ in Auckland New Zealand, and with offices in
Sydney Australia, Xi'an City China and Gurgaon, India, Serko employs more
than 130 people worldwide.
Serko Online is an integrated Online Booking Tool used by administrators and
travellers to book flights, accommodation and car hire from the broadest
possible set of travel providers. The OBT ensures that travel bookings comply
with corporate travel management policy without limiting the users choice of
travel provider.
Visit www.serko.com for more information
Follow Serko
On Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/company/serko-ltd
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/SerkoOnline
About the Expedia group
The Expedia group (NASDAQ: EXPE) is one of the world's leading travel
companies, with an extensive brand portfolio. The company delivers consumers
value in leisure and business travel, drives incremental demand and direct
bookings to travel suppliers, and provides advertisers the opportunity to
reach a highly valuable audience of in-market consumers through Expedia(R)
Media Solutions. Expedia also powers bookings for thousands of affiliates,
including some of the world's leading airlines, top consumer brands and high
traffic websites through Expedia Affiliate Network. For corporate and
industry news and views, visit us at www.expediainc.com or follow us on
Twitter @expediainc.
End CA:00268632 For:SKO Type:GENERAL Time:2015-08-19 08:30:47
