TUI continues digitalisation campaign – Cooperation with start-up Utrip
TUI Destination Services, pooling the Group's services including its transfer services, tour reps or excursions in the holiday destinations, is teaming up with the US start-up Utrip to launch a pilot project enabling travellers to combine individual activities for their holidays at the push of a button. Upon entering their preferences in various categories such as arts and culture, cuisine, adventure or shopping in Utrip's platform, TUI customers receive a personalised itinerary for the duration of their trip, including TUI or third-party excursions as well as tips for restaurants or attractions. In order to create this customised travel programme, Utrip's artificial intelligence algorithm sorts through millions of potential combinations within a matter of seconds. The platform does not only enable holidaymakers to save an enormous amount of time in planning their trip, but also offers them more relevant recommendations.
"Today's holidaymakers expect a personalised online experience," says David Schelp, Managing Director TUI Destination Services. "Our collaboration with Utrip now enables us to combine our portfolio of unique destination activities with the wishes and preferences of our guests to offer them the most highly personalised travel experience currently available in the market."
"Integration of our meta data and algorithms in TUI's extensive portfolio of excursions and activities will not only create an enhanced customer experience but also help increase TUI's conversion rates through personalisation", explains Gilad Berenstein, Utrip founder and CEO.
During the forthcoming pilot phase, the Group will initially provide the new digital offering to British customers for the four destinations New York City, Cancun, Tenerife and Punta Cana.
The collaboration with Utrip has resulted from the partnership between TUI Group and the Californian start-up accelerator Plug and Play Tech Centre. Plug and Play regularly brings together corporations and start-ups to enable them to discuss innovative solutions and to potentially connect and collaborate, as in the case of the Utrip project.