Agoda signs collaborative agreement with Japan’s JTB
Agoda, one of the fastest growing online travel agents (OTA) and part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq:BKNG), today announced its partnership with JTB Corp., the largest travel network in Japan, to strengthen and expand online sales and distribution of Japanese accommodations.
The agreement will leverage Agoda’s best-in-class technology and marketing capabilities with JTB’s extensive local sales network to help achieve two key objectives –to refresh Rurubu Travel and JAPANiCAN travel sites, through mutual technology and product collaboration; and expand Japanese accommodation inventory on both Agoda.com and JTB’s sites.
Agoda’s technology will be employed to enhance the competitiveness of Rurubu Travel and JAPANiCAN by helping them to target their inventory and products to a wider consumer audience. In addition, under the agreement, Agoda and JTB will conduct user research to better understand the needs and habits of Japanese accommodation providers.
The partnership will improve accessibility to the Japanese accommodation market nationwide, including hotels and ryokan, for both international and domestic travelers, thus helping to boost local economies by opening up tourism in Japan beyond the traditional tourist areas.
“We strive to innovate travel through technology, so we are very excited by the new opportunities this agreement with such a respected partner affords. We will be able to offer Agoda customers previously inaccessible choices of quality accommodation at great prices throughout Japan by accessing JTB’s extensive inventory. Meanwhile, our technology expertise will help JTB to achieve its online travel ambitions for growth more efficiently,” said John Brown, CEO, Agoda.
Agoda and JTB plan to launch the renewed Rurubu Travel and JAPANiCAN in late 2019.
About Agoda
Agoda is one of the world’s fastest growing online travel booking platforms. From its beginnings as an e-commerce start-up based in Singapore in 2005, Agoda has grown to offer a global network of 1.8 million properties in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, offering travelers easy access to a wide choice of luxury and budget hotels, apartments, homes and villas to suit all budgets and travel occasions.
Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is part of Booking Holdings (Nasdaq: BKNG) and employs more than 3,700 staff across 53 cities in more than 30 countries. Agoda.com and the Agoda mobile app are available in 38 languages.
About The JTB Group
The JTB Group was founded in 1912 as the Japan Tourist Bureau with the objective of contributing to the Japanese economy by bringing foreign visitors to Japan. During the subsequent 100 years, the Group served as a driver of growth in Japan’s tourism industry while establishing itself as a leading innovator in its mission of contributing to society through its businesses. The JTB Group is building a vast network that currently consists of 508 facilities in 143 cities and 39 countries and regions.