Tech start-up reimagines role of travel agent
Travel agents will play a significant role in new travel start-up Lola – the latest venture from Kayak co-founder Paul English.
Formerly known as Blade Travel, the new name was unveiled last week with the company explaining it is derived from longitude and latitude – “a system that made it easier to navigate the world with a new level of precision.”
“In that sense, the name Lola captures our vision. We’re creating something that will do the same by identifying what’s right for each traveler and by helping make their trips as effortless, enjoyable, productive and rewarding as possible,” it said in a blog post.
The Boston-based company, which has revealed plans to launch a new consumer travel app in the new year, is currently advertising positions for travel agents.
The advert on its website says: “We are building the future of excellent customer service and we need the right people on our team to deliver on this promise.
“You’ll be empowered to make decisions, and use your experience interacting with our customers to create the best travel service ever.”
The recruitment drive is representative of the company’s mission to create something unique.
“We’re re-engineering how travel agents work,” English was reported as saying in the Boston Business Journal. He underlined his importance of bringing “humans” back into the travel planning and booking processes.
In addition to the forthcoming consumer app, the company has plans to “transform” travel agent-facing technology – an app that will interface with global distribution systems (GDS).
Although currently a US venture, Lola could have implications for the wider travel landscape. And, just as Kayak eventually made its way Down Under, so too could this latest project.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
app kayak Lola Paul English start-up technology travel agentsLatest News
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