Zuji acquires Korea's number 1 travel website: Nextour
Announcement posted by ZUJI 09 Mar 2004
Korea is the first of the new markets to be entered by ZUJI by end 2005, including China
Leading Asia Pacific online travel company ZUJI today announced its acquisition of 'Nextour', Korea's No.1 Internet Travel Website*, and confirmed that ZUJI intends to establish a presence in New Zealand, India, China and other South East Asia markets by end 2005.
The announcement was made by ZUJI's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Scott Blume, in Seoul, Korea today as the deal was finalised:
"One year ago ZUJI was basically still in start-up mode, but we had an innovative dream, a robust business plan and the conceptual and financial support of 16 Asia Pacific airlines and Travelocity. During the past six months ZUJI has matured and grown organically in our start-up markets, and through acquisition in Taiwan. ZUJI is now the number one, two or three online travel agency site in each market. ZUJI's acquisition of Nextour in Korea immediately establishes ZUJI as the number one online travel website in Korea and confirms ZUJI's position as the absolute leading online travel company in Asia Pacific."
Jo O'Brien, General Manager ZUJI Australia said, "For Australian based travel suppliers, the acquisition of Nextour significantly extends ZUJI's consumer reach throughout Asia Pacific. ZUJI has unmatched ability to promote travel products to over one million travellers at the click of an email 'send' button, and access to millions of travellers through ZUJI sites. This translates to incredible speed to market, and an extremely cost effective distribution channel for travel suppliers to reach travellers, now including those located in Korea."
While announcing the deal, Mr Blume confirmed that ZUJI builds its business around a simple philosophy: maximising the return on investment in technology and resources by reaching millions of Internet users. This translates to massive scalability for the business. Further, ZUJI complements a 'high-tech, low-touch' approach to travel booking and fulfilment with a commitment to ensuring the content, transaction currency and language of each ZUJI site is relevant to the customers in each country.
"To meet the varying needs of travellers across Asia Pacific we recognise the value of operating country-specific sites, which are managed by locally-based teams who build strong supplier relationships. These local teams oversee site content, site look-and-feel and operational aspects with a view to ensuring there is a strong connection between what each ZUJI site offers, and what local travellers want: tempting travel choices and great travel deals."
There are an estimated 57 million Internet-connected people in ZUJI's current five markets**, of which Koreans comprise 26 million. As a result of the Korea acquisition, ZUJI now has more than 1 million Members in Asia Pacific, and estimates that it reaches 2/3 of all Internet users in core markets through alliance partnerships.
"ZUJI's foremost commitment is to our customers, no matter where they're based in Asia Pacific. Buying travel with ZUJI allows travellers to purchase with confidence online, recognising that ZUJI is backed by 16 airlines and Travelocity, and partners with some of the worlds most trusted payment and online brands (VISA, MasterCard, VeriSign, Yahoo!, MSN). ZUJI is committed to providing our customers with the best online travel tools and services in Asia Pacific, which means delivering great domestic and international travel options, great travel deals, 24X7 access to site, and the ability to search and book travel with us in real time.
"Both BuyLow Travel (ZUJI's October 2003 acquisition, Taiwan) and Nextour (Korea) were companies at the forefront of online travel innovation in their respective markets. Even though they were market leaders in one country, they recognised that the online travel business requires both upfront and ongoing capital investment to maintain, promote and continually enhance site functionality. We anticipate that there are other one-market sites also facing similar reality-checks across the Asia Pacific region," Mr Blume concluded.
ZUJI is Asia Pacific's leading online travel company.
ZUJI is a joint venture of 16 leading airlines operating in Asia-Pacific and Travelocity, the most popular travel site in the United States. The airlines are All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Japan Air System, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, SilkAir, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.
ZUJI has Internet travel sites and offices in five Asia Pacific countries. In Australia the url is www.zuji.com.au (English language).
ZUJI other site urls are:
Singapore: www.zuji.com.sg (English language)
Hong Kong: www.zuji.com.hk (English and Chinese language)
Taiwan: www.zuji.com.tw and www.buylowtravel.com.tw (Chinese language)
Korea: www.nextour.co.kr (Korean language)
ZUJI's Head Quarters are located in Singapore.
In Australia ZUJI partners with:
* Yahoo! in Australia (also a partner in Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea to power the travel channel)
* ninemsn "Getaway Travel" in Australia, the #1 online portal in Australia to power the travel channel
ZUJI's partners in other markets:
* Yahoo! in Taiwan to power the 'Travel Overseas' channel
* MSN in Singapore and Korea to power the travel channel
* AsiaOne, news portal in Singapore to power the travel channel
* Taiwan Top Tours, China Times Travel Services for Taiwan domestic itineraries
* Naver.com Korea to power an exclusive store in the travel section
* Korean Air for provision of 'Honeymoon' and 'Woman' travel portal
ZUJI is also Asia Pacific's most comprehensive online travel retailer, empowering travellers to create their own journeys allowing travellers online access to a comprehensive range of travel products and including more than 300 airlines, 33,000 hotels, 50 car hire companies and more than 3,000 activities and attractions.
ZUJI has an online member base exceeding 1 million travellers and has aggressive expansion plans in Asia Pacific. ZUJI's target countries for future expansion include New Zealand, India, China and other South East Asia markets.
The announcement was made by ZUJI's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Scott Blume, in Seoul, Korea today as the deal was finalised:
"One year ago ZUJI was basically still in start-up mode, but we had an innovative dream, a robust business plan and the conceptual and financial support of 16 Asia Pacific airlines and Travelocity. During the past six months ZUJI has matured and grown organically in our start-up markets, and through acquisition in Taiwan. ZUJI is now the number one, two or three online travel agency site in each market. ZUJI's acquisition of Nextour in Korea immediately establishes ZUJI as the number one online travel website in Korea and confirms ZUJI's position as the absolute leading online travel company in Asia Pacific."
Jo O'Brien, General Manager ZUJI Australia said, "For Australian based travel suppliers, the acquisition of Nextour significantly extends ZUJI's consumer reach throughout Asia Pacific. ZUJI has unmatched ability to promote travel products to over one million travellers at the click of an email 'send' button, and access to millions of travellers through ZUJI sites. This translates to incredible speed to market, and an extremely cost effective distribution channel for travel suppliers to reach travellers, now including those located in Korea."
While announcing the deal, Mr Blume confirmed that ZUJI builds its business around a simple philosophy: maximising the return on investment in technology and resources by reaching millions of Internet users. This translates to massive scalability for the business. Further, ZUJI complements a 'high-tech, low-touch' approach to travel booking and fulfilment with a commitment to ensuring the content, transaction currency and language of each ZUJI site is relevant to the customers in each country.
"To meet the varying needs of travellers across Asia Pacific we recognise the value of operating country-specific sites, which are managed by locally-based teams who build strong supplier relationships. These local teams oversee site content, site look-and-feel and operational aspects with a view to ensuring there is a strong connection between what each ZUJI site offers, and what local travellers want: tempting travel choices and great travel deals."
There are an estimated 57 million Internet-connected people in ZUJI's current five markets**, of which Koreans comprise 26 million. As a result of the Korea acquisition, ZUJI now has more than 1 million Members in Asia Pacific, and estimates that it reaches 2/3 of all Internet users in core markets through alliance partnerships.
"ZUJI's foremost commitment is to our customers, no matter where they're based in Asia Pacific. Buying travel with ZUJI allows travellers to purchase with confidence online, recognising that ZUJI is backed by 16 airlines and Travelocity, and partners with some of the worlds most trusted payment and online brands (VISA, MasterCard, VeriSign, Yahoo!, MSN). ZUJI is committed to providing our customers with the best online travel tools and services in Asia Pacific, which means delivering great domestic and international travel options, great travel deals, 24X7 access to site, and the ability to search and book travel with us in real time.
"Both BuyLow Travel (ZUJI's October 2003 acquisition, Taiwan) and Nextour (Korea) were companies at the forefront of online travel innovation in their respective markets. Even though they were market leaders in one country, they recognised that the online travel business requires both upfront and ongoing capital investment to maintain, promote and continually enhance site functionality. We anticipate that there are other one-market sites also facing similar reality-checks across the Asia Pacific region," Mr Blume concluded.
ZUJI is Asia Pacific's leading online travel company.
ZUJI is a joint venture of 16 leading airlines operating in Asia-Pacific and Travelocity, the most popular travel site in the United States. The airlines are All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Garuda Indonesia, Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, Japan Air System, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Brunei Airlines, SilkAir, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines.
ZUJI has Internet travel sites and offices in five Asia Pacific countries. In Australia the url is www.zuji.com.au (English language).
ZUJI other site urls are:
Singapore: www.zuji.com.sg (English language)
Hong Kong: www.zuji.com.hk (English and Chinese language)
Taiwan: www.zuji.com.tw and www.buylowtravel.com.tw (Chinese language)
Korea: www.nextour.co.kr (Korean language)
ZUJI's Head Quarters are located in Singapore.
In Australia ZUJI partners with:
* Yahoo! in Australia (also a partner in Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea to power the travel channel)
* ninemsn "Getaway Travel" in Australia, the #1 online portal in Australia to power the travel channel
ZUJI's partners in other markets:
* Yahoo! in Taiwan to power the 'Travel Overseas' channel
* MSN in Singapore and Korea to power the travel channel
* AsiaOne, news portal in Singapore to power the travel channel
* Taiwan Top Tours, China Times Travel Services for Taiwan domestic itineraries
* Naver.com Korea to power an exclusive store in the travel section
* Korean Air for provision of 'Honeymoon' and 'Woman' travel portal
ZUJI is also Asia Pacific's most comprehensive online travel retailer, empowering travellers to create their own journeys allowing travellers online access to a comprehensive range of travel products and including more than 300 airlines, 33,000 hotels, 50 car hire companies and more than 3,000 activities and attractions.
ZUJI has an online member base exceeding 1 million travellers and has aggressive expansion plans in Asia Pacific. ZUJI's target countries for future expansion include New Zealand, India, China and other South East Asia markets.