Kuoni Launches Resnet

Jyoti Koul - New Delhi

In line with Kuoni India's strategy to make IT a driving force of the company and its many business segments, Kuoni recently launched its first e-commerce venture through an alliance with Air Deccan, Air Sahara, Galileo, indiatimes.com, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC) and Makemytrip.com. The company had acquired Resnet from Traveljini.com, an investee company of ICICI venture, earlier this year.

Kuoni's latest venture is a realisation that IT will provide a differential value to its customer. Resnet also marks the company's entry into the internet business as Resnet is an e-booking platform for providing negotiated hotel rates to customers enabling them to book hotel rooms across India at rates 30 to 40 per cent cheaper than the normal tariffs. Commenting on this new platform, Khalid Sohail, general manager, Resnet, said, "The key is to enter the domestic market. Resnet is mainly a travel technology application which is designed to power online reservations with integrated payment gateway to facilitate end to end online transactions. Since our target is the Indian market, Resnet along with its alliances will consolidate services from various segments to offer travel packages at incredibly low prices. This is the largest ever such alliance in the Indian travel industry. The synergy with its partners will bring froth a unique price benefit option for the users of travel and hospitality services."

According to Ranjit Malkani, chairman and chief executive officer, South Asia and Middle East, Kuoni Group, "With Resnet, we will have a distinct competitive edge with strong inroads in the internet business and one that will significantly impact the way travel pricing is viewed in India and the way bookings are conducted." While commenting on Kuoni's alliance partners for Resnet, Malkani said, "Our association with strategic alliances partners will allow us to pass on unique benefits to both our own customers as well as those of our partners, both in terms of cost or value as well as convenience of operations and services The actual cost saving can be up to 40 per cent."