UK e-commerce site lastminute.com has teamed with South African-based Tourvest (Tourism Investment Corporation) for the launch of its localised last minute distribution channel, lastminute.co.za.
Under the joint venture agreement, Tourvest, which holds a 74.9% stake in the joint venture, has contributed local travel expertise, products and supplier relationships. The local site will share a similar look and feel to existing lastminute.com sites in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia and Italy.
Tourvest CEO Steve Griessel sees the partnership with lastminute.com as an important inbound SA Tourism channel, which will increase SA`s appeal as an exciting holiday destination for the foreign market.
"It is especially important for us to focus on sound business fundamentals," he says. "This is to ensure that operating costs are scalable and the business is able to reach breakeven as early as possible, without losing its ability to expand rapidly as lastminute.com grows its share of the South African online market."
New key supplier relationships have been created in SA with the Relais Group, Protea Hotels, Orient Express, Rovos Rail, Nationwide, the Three Cities Group, Conservation Corporation, Global Resorts and others.
"The launch of a South African version of our Web site is a further step in extending the online last minute marketplace globally," comments lastminute.com CEO and co-founder Brent Hoberman. "In Tourvest we have found an ideal partner to complement our offering."
Standard travel offerings are via lastminute`s sister company travel.co.za, which deals with normal itinerary-based travel bookings.
The South African lastminute.co.za operation is located in the Fourways Crossing Centre, Johannesburg, and offers both the fully e-commerce-enabled Web site and a call centre sales channel.
Lastminute`s DealWatch, which allows live deal advertising, will shortly be available on World Online, iafrica.com, Ananzi, GetawaytoAfrica.com and the MSN site.
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