Nordic OTA to launch new ArrivalGuides white-label mobile app

Nordic OTA to launch new ArrivalGuides white-label mobile app

Nordic online travel agency Travellink will be the first customer to use a new white-label destination guide app launched by ArrivalGuides and developer GuideWall.

Nordic online travel agency Travellink will be the first customer to use a new white-label destination guide app launched by ArrivalGuides and developer GuideWall.

Business-to-business content provider ArrivalGuides says the app was created to meet increasing demand from travelers in the move for information on destinations.

It quoted a study by Marketing Charts which showed that 44% of travellers use their smartphone to research travel while they’re traveling.

Chief executive Magnus Aideborn said: “If a travel operator can help their customers during the trip this will build brand and customer loyalty, but can also generate significant ancillary revenue through in-destination purchases of tours and activities.”

ArrivalGuides pointed to an Expedia commission study which showed 40% of travelers rely on online travel agents for inspiration on destinations.

The white-label app offers guides on more than 430 destinations and is available on both the Apple iOS and Android operating systems.

Ola Zetterlof, director of distribution client solutions at ArrivalGuides, said: “A lot of travel operators are struggling with their mobile strategy whether to focus on mobile (or responsive web) or an app or both. Developing and maintaining a range of apps is time consuming and can be very costly.

“Most OTA apps focus on booking functionality, but a lot of research shows that conversion rates on mobile web and in apps are not as great as the usage and even more so when looking at actual transactions form the mobile. Most people still go to their desktop for booking.”

The app is available in several languages including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, simplified Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Russian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish.

It also incorporates the travel operators own booking solutions.

“A white-label app is an easy and cost efficient option for travel operators to offer their customers a planning and booking tool and a great value-add for their trip”, added Zetterlof.