Travel portal goes consumer friendly

Youtravel.com, the accommodation booking site, is planning to extend into flights before Christmas. It is part of a move by the site to become a one-stop shop for holidaymakers.

The move also aims to reposition Youtravel.com – which previously focused on the business community – as a consumer site.

Youtravel.com sales and marketing director Paul Riches says: “The website’s predominant business is trade distribution. But now we want to bring in flight bookings to increase our customer base.”

Consumer traffic accounts for just 5% of its business but it is hoped that this will grow to 15% with the introduction of new services. As well as flights, it will offer insurance and transfers to attract more leisure customers.

Youtravel.com spends £3.5m a year on marketing and is planning to spend about half of its budget over the next year on promoting the site. It has yet to finalise details of its marketing strategy, but Riches says it will be primarily digital marketing and working in conjunction with its suppliers.

Launched in 2006, You-travel.com offers accommodation in Europe, North Africa, Florida, Dubai, Mexico and the Caribbean.