Tech start-up reimagines role of travel agent

Tech start-up reimagines role of travel agent
By admin


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.

Latest News

  • Events

Vivid entice globally-renowned chefs for Vivid Food 2024

From near and far, some of the hottest names in the culinary world will appear at Vivid Sydney this year as part of Vivid Food, embracing the festival’s 2024 theme, ‘humanity’, and highlighting food as a fundamental part of the human experience, connecting us all through the universal language of cuisine. This year’s roster of […]

  • Aviation

Air New Zealand returns to Hobart and Seoul

Air New Zealand will resume flying to Hobart, it revealed today in its summer schedule update. It also announced it will be returning to Korean capital Seoul. Both the Auckland to Hobart and Auckland to Seoul routes will be seasonal services, with Air New Zealand operating three direct flights a week to each destination over the summer […]

  • Destinations

European Waterways targets multi-generational families with ‘Floating Villa’ deal

In today’s fast-paced world, finding quality time for multi-generational bonding can be a challenge. European Waterways’ hotel barge cruises offer families the opportunity to enjoy the ultimate luxury vacation with a private charter experience. They say  “it’s like having your own private ‘floating villa’ in a different village every day, made extra special by a […]

  • Cruise

Luxury Escapes launches ‘sail away’ sale

Luxury Escapes has announced its biggest cruise event of the year.  The limited-time Sail Away Sale gives cruisers the chance to experience luxury at a cheaper price point. The selection of handpicked offers include exclusive add-ons such as generous onboard credit, bonus value, pre & post-cruise stays, and more.  Destinations including Europe, Asia, Australia, and […]

  • Aviation

Rex-owned National Jet Express (NJE) adds weekly charter between Brisbane and Orange

National Jet Express (NJE), a Rex Group member, today announced the commencement of weekly charter services between Brisbane and Orange in NSW for mining and civil contractor These services represent NJE’s eighth destination on the East Coast since commencing services from Brisbane in July 2023, and its first port in NSW. “We are delighted to […]

  • Aviation

Bonza hires restructuring advisory amid turbulence at Miami-based owner 777 Partners

The financiers of low-cost regional airline Bonza have hired restructuring advisory KordaMentha to give them advice on the operations of the airline. Bonza, which launched in January last year, is a budget airline based on the Gold Coast. They fly to regional areas such as Cairns but do not fly to Sydney or Brisbane (they […]

  • Events
  • Tour Operators

Best friends or frenemies? What is the REAL relationship between sales and marketing?

It’s the age-old business conundrum and a conundrum that becomes all the more important when budgets are squeezed.  Which is more important, sales or marketing? The answer depends on who you ask, Journey Beyond’s Justine Lally and Alicia Triggs say. (Lead Image: Justine Lally  and Alicia Triggs ) Journey Beyond is an experiential tourism group […]