The Hindu Business Line : Kuoni launches revamped e-booking platform

(From left) Mr Amitabh Pandey, Group General Manager (IT Services), IRCTC; Mr Mahendar Swaroop, CEO, Times Internet, Indiatimes; Mr Nikhil Dhodapkar, GM Marketing, Air Sahara; Mr Ranjit Malkani, Chairman & CEO, India & Asia, Kuoni Travel Group; and Ms Seema Luthra, CEO and President, Galileo, at a press conference in the Capital on Tuesday. — Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Aug. 24

KUONI Travel Group India on Tuesday announced the launch of a refurbished e-booking platform for providing negotiated hotel rates to customers. The platform - Resnet - is expected to add around Rs 100 crore annually to the company's topline over the next two years.

"We expect a contribution of Rs 100 crore by Resnet to our topline over next two years. However, its possibilities are limitless, if unorganised players in travel are organised," Mr Ranjit Malkani, Chairman and CEO (Indian Subcontinent and Middle East) at Kuoni, said here.

Switzerland-based Kuoni entered India in 1996 by acquiring SOTC and its revenues have grown from Rs 52 crore in the first year of operation to Rs 660 crore in 2002.

"We are already the largest travel company in Asia in first six years of operations. We will now become the largest in the world in next five years," Mr Malkani said. Apart from SOTC and Resnet, which Kuoni acquired from ICICI for Rs 3 crore, it has also acquired SITA and Tourclub in India so far. After acquiring Resnet in April, the company is putting alliances in place to relaunch the platform.

Currently, Kuoni has tied up for Resnet with Air Deccan, Air Sahara, Galileo, indiatimes.com, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) and makemytrip.com. The company is looking at more partnerships that do not clash with the interests of its existing partners.

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