How Vamoos travel app's latest launch can improve the customer journey

“Travel agents and tour operators are very good at selling and delivering, but managing the time in between not so much,” says Alistair Luxmoore, founder and chief executive of Vamoos. “We fill the gap by helping build anticipation.”

By using Vamoos agents can provide their customers with the tools they need to plan the details of their trip ahead of time, for example choose a treatment from their hotel’s spa menu or browse local restaurants.

“We’re taking that two-week holiday and making it start from the minute they book,” explains Luxmoore. “And [prepping the app ahead of travel is] quicker than an agent getting an envelope out and putting a stamp on it.”

TECH IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Vamoos Connect, a new development rolled out in February that brings travel companies and hotels together, has taken the platform one step further. Users can now order a drink from the resort bar or choose a pillow from the in-room menu on the app, as well as utilise all the other services hotels offer.

“This is about impressing clients and adding the ‘wow’,” says Luxmoore, explaining that handing over the updated app at the time of booking will “drive loyalty and repeat bookings”.

Also to support travel professionals Vamoos launched dual branding last July, which gives agents the opportunity to prepare the app for a client and hand it over with the agency’s own branding.

“We recognise it’s the agent that has the relationship with the client, so this means they can put their stamp on it,” says Luxmoore.

Vamoos is free to use before travel, so agents can download the app, familiarise themselves with the platform functionality and then pay per customer. Cost depends on the size of the agency but averages around £1 per client.

Luxmoore’s top tip for first-time users is to “start simply”. “Customers get 90% of the benefit from 10% of the features, so don’t try and build a rocket ship on the first attempt,” he says. “There’s plenty of time to scale up and start using different features down the line.”