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eToursb2b to set up more intl subsidiaries by Oct

Chetan Kapoor - Mumbai

Yogesh Rathi CEO eToursb2b

After setting up a 100 per cent subsidiary in the United States, eToursb2b is en route to set up more subsidiaries in Singapore, Europe and the Middle East by October this year. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Yogesh Rathi, its CEO, disclosed, "We aim to have mass customer acquisition in the Asia Pacific region and set up 100 per cent subsidiaries - first in Singapore in August as it is the travel hub of the region, followed by Europe and the Middle East by October. Our aim is to be a local player in these regions."

At present it partners with a consulting company in Singapore, whereas Emquest UAE, a 100 per cent subsidiary of Emirates Airlines is its partner for client distribution in the Middle East. "We are expanding our reach this year and have a clear mandate of building an Indian GDS. For that, it is integral to first acquire customers and then leverage on them. Globally there are many players distributing non-air inventory but unlike others we take the onus of settlement as well," he adds.

Rathi believes that the global economic slowdown and the ongoing recession will only work in favour of the distributor. "With the recession, we will have to provide value to not only our suppliers but also the retailers. The suppliers would want their inventory to sell during this period and we will have to add value while being neutral and balance the demand and supply in the distribution channel."

Also, with turbulence in the aviation market and as focus of distribution shifts towards non-air inventory, the company plans to add car rentals, holidays, insurance and foreign exchange. Rathi says, "We have always focussed on non-air inventory distribution and have 70 partners today. We are a platform creating global reach for small suppliers without charging any fees and work only on transaction fee besides classifying and validating the products for the benefit of the retailer."