In a bid to bank on the flourishing travel sector, Walmart-backed E-commerce firm Flipkart is coming up with a hotel-booking service, providing “superior service” with its partner travel website Cleartrip.
Flipkart Hotels will help 3 lakh domestic and international hotels with room bookings. The company aims to offer flexible travel and booking-related policies along with easy EMI options.
“Flipkart Hotels will provide access to affordable hotel stays convenient for the customers. Flipkart Flight has been on a steady path of growth in the travel industry since we entered this space,” said Adarsh Menon, senior vice president, of Flipkart. “With Flipkart Hotels, we are strengthening our commitment to provide a better experience and superior service to our customers across metros and beyond tiers.”
Flipkart Hotels will clearly make full use of Cleartrip’s knowledge of travel customers and sectors. Users can take advantage of third-party discounts using the new service, which is accessible through the Flipkart app.
“With our banking partner’s financial offerings, the customers will unlock great value in this segment and enhance Flipkart’s capabilities as a preferred one-stop shop for the travel booking needs of Indian customers,” said Menon.
Flipkart acquired Cleartrip last year to help itself bolster its digital commerce offerings for customers. The move allowed Flipkart to foray into the travel and tourism market and compete with rivals like MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Booking.com, and EaseMyTrip. Flipkart expected the tourism sector to go great guns with the economy recovering from the pandemic.
Flipkart said 2022 has been promising for the hospitality industry, with significant demand from both the domestic and international accommodation market. Novel travel trends such as exploring unfamiliar destinations, workstations, long stays, and vacation rentals are becoming conventional.
In the last quarter, the travel industry burgeoned 70 percent against a CAGR of 60 percent over the last two years. The next festive quarter is expected to be more propitious, for the overall travel industry, according to Flipkart.