TRAVLR co-founders Lani and Simon te Hennepe.
- Travel website TRAVLR has signed a strategic alliance with ASX-listed 8common Ltd targeting the ‘bleisure’ market
- The deal gives gives TRAVLR access to corporate clients such as Woolworths and Amcor and more than 100 government departments.
Travel website TRAVLR, which lets people plan and book trips in the Pacific and Indonesia, has formed an alliance with listed software solutions company 8common Ltd (ASX:8CO) to incorporate its employee travel and expense management system Benefits8 in travel planning.
8common Ltd’s client base includes major corporate clients such as Woolworths, Mitre 10, Boral, Rabobank and Amcor, along with state and federal government agencies including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the NSW Department of Education.
Based on research that more than two-thirds of people away on a business trip want to extend their time away to incorporate a leisure component, TRAVLR co-founder Simon te Hennepe is keen to target what’s been dubbed the “bleisure” market.
TRAVLR was launched by te Hennepe and his wife Lani a decade ago after they had initial success with The Bali Bible. The site focuses specifically on New Zealand, Fiji, the Pacific Islands and Indonesia.
“In 2019, bleisure travel – adding a leisure portion of travel to a business trip – will become a hugely popular way to make the most out of business travel, with 68% of business travellers globally taking at least one bleisure trip per year,” te Hennepe said.
“It’s great to be partnering with 8common and Benefits8 who have recognised the need for innovation and a new technology platform that powers and allows the whole experience of booking and planning travel to be effortless and enjoyable whilst also maintaining the highest compliance standards.”
The Expense8 Corporate Travel module features an easy and secure approval process for both managers and employees to meet strict government and corporate compliance requirements, including a pre-trip approval function to let employees easily plan and book corporate travel.
8Common Executive Chairman Nic Lim said the benefit of his company’s software is it keeps the lines clear between business and leisure travel,
“Benefits8 customers will have access to an enhanced travel booking experience through TRAVLR featuring an industry leading network of flights, hotels and resorts, Agoda homes inventory, cruising, as well as more than 200,000-plus experiences and activities from across the globe,” he said.
The deal comes 18 months after TRAVLR raised $5 million from New Zealand investors to develop its services.
The one-stop site incorporates other platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda and airlines.
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