TravelMail launch delayed

The launch of the new travel super-portal for the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers and Teletext Holidays brand has been put on hold for up to two months. Travolution has learned that an early version of TravelMail.co.uk, which was due to be unveiled in the first week of March, did not meet the expectations…

The launch of the new travel super-portal for the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers and Teletext Holidays brand has been put on hold for up to two months.


Travolution has learned that an early version of TravelMail.co.uk, which was due to be unveiled in the first week of March, did not meet the expectations of bosses at the Daily Mail & General Trust.


It is now understood that an improved site is not expected for at least another two months.


The TravelMail project has been widely anticipated in industry circles amid a flurry of activity in the travel channels of other national newspaper brands.


The Guardian and Times recently re-launched their travel sections with massively enhanced functionality and content.


TravelMail is expected to replace the existing ThisIsTravel brand and act as an aggregator for travel editorial content from across the Associated Newspapers portfolio, the press division of the Daily Mail & General Trust.


A spokesperson said: “After initial technical testing the depth and quality of the site did not reflect the brand.


“As a result, the decision has been taken to launch the site at a later date (approx early to mid May), to ensure that it offers customers the level of quality and service that they are used to from the Daily Mail group.”


Earlier this week Ray Mason stood down as managing director of Teletext Holidays Online to oversee the completion of the TravelMail project.