National newspapers to launch travel agency
Sister publications The Times and The Sunday Times are planning to launch their own digital retail travel agency, TTG Luxury has learned.
The national news outlets, part of the News UK group, said the new venture would enable consumers to plan and book holidays “inspired” by the publications’ travel content across the globe.
The company said the new travel agency would be staffed by “a small team of expert travel consultants” who will focus on selling “exclusive itineraries and unique travel experiences” when it launches in early 2025.
Victoria Sanders, director of travel at News UK, said the new agency would provide “options for both online and offline booking”.
“This innovative retail operation cements our commitment to our readers and our industry partners - maintaining those important deep-rooted relationships,” added Sanders.
“It will allow readers to seamlessly transition from reading about destinations to booking personalised trips.”
News UK is currently recruiting staff for the travel agency and is looking for candidates with a “strong background in luxury travel and tailor-made holidays and an understanding of The Times brand and readership”.
“By launching Times Travel in-house, The Times retains full control over the customer experience, ensuring the brand is consistent throughout the entire journey,” explained Sanders.
“This also helps the company gather valuable insights, increase customer loyalty, maintain editorial integrity and create a smoother process from reading travel content to booking trips.”
Sanders added that all suppliers to Times Travel will have to be “editorially approved”, which will include “due diligence on a company’s background, its track record in operations and customer service, its commitment to sustainability and animal welfare, its customer ratings and our experts’ direct experience of it”.
“While it’s not explicitly required for hotels or properties to have been featured in The Times’ travel section, there is likely a preference for properties that align with the publication’s editorial content,” she said.
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