Webjet

Webjet Limited
Public
Traded as ASX: WEB
Industry Travel
Founded 1998 (19 years ago)
Founder David Clarke, John Lemish, Allan Nahum
Headquarters Melbourne, Australia
Key people
 John Guscic (01 Feb 2011 - Current)
Services Travel Booking
Website www.webjetlimited.com

Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB) is a digital travel business spanning both global consumer markets (through B2C) and wholesale markets (through B2B). The company has operations in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Singapore and Hong Kong. Webjet Ltd's Registered Office is located in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia).

Brands

Webjet

Established in 1998, Webjet is an online travel agency (OTA) in Australia and New Zealand.[1]

Online Republic

Webjet acquired the online travel booking group, Online Republic, in May 2016 for $NZ85 million. Online Republic is a global e-commerce group based in New Zealand.[2]

WebBeds

WebBeds is Webjet’s B2B travel provider brand, established in February 2013. WebBeds currently operates under the brands Lots of Hotels, Sunhotels, Fit Ruums and JacTravel and Totalstay.[3]

Lots of Hotels

The WebBeds business launched with the establishment of Lots of Hotels in Dubai, during late 2013.[4] In November 2015, Lots of Hotels North America was launched.[5]

Sunhotels (Europe)

Webjet acquired European online hotel provider Sunhotels in September 2014.[6][7] In August 2016, it was announced Sunhotels (as a subsidiary of Webjet Limited) was set to assume control of over 3,000 hotel contracts owned by European tour operating group, Thomas Cook. The transition of this partnership deal is expected to be complete by January 2019.

FIT Ruums (Asia)

Launched in November 2016, FIT Ruums focuses on B2B travel distribution for worldwide hotel accommodation and transfers in Asia. FIT Ruums has offices in Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, India, Thailand, China and Japan.[8]

JacTravel

Acquired in September 2017, JacTravel is a global hotel accommodation supplier, specialising in inbound group travel services to the UK, Ireland and Europe. JacTravel is headquartered in London and has offices throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, the Middle-East and North America.[9]

Totalstay

Previously known as Exclusively Hotels, Totalstay.com was launched in Europe in 2006. Totalstay is a hotel booking tool for travel agents.[10]

History

1998

Webjet was established by former Jetset Travel Chief Executive David Clarke, Allan Nahum and John Lemish in 1998.[11]

2000-2002

The company was publicly listed on the ASX in 2000 through a reverse takeover deal with Roper River Resources NL.[8] Roper River Resources NL became Webjet NL on 18 April 2000 and was later changed to Webjet Limited on 15 June 2000. On 31 May 2001, Webjet became 100% automated, allowing customers to fully complete their bookings online.[12] Webjet launched a WAP website in May 2002 for mobile phones and offering SMS customer support.

2007-2009

In December 2008, Webjet launched a website for customers in the United Kingdom.

2010

In April 2010, Webjet commenced operations in North America through a joint venture with Mathias Friess, formerly General Manager Global Sales and Distribution of the Virgin Blue Group of Airlines, and Head of Sales North America for Lufthansa.[13] Webjet entered into a joint venture with Westminster Travel in Asia to initially cover the establishment of Webjet in Singapore and Hong Kong. This was followed by the launch of Webjet in Canada in December 2010.

2011

In February 2011, John Guscic was appointed as Webjet’s Managing Director, after serving on the Webjet board since 2003.[14] In the same month, Webjet launched Lots of Hotels.

2012

In April 2012 Webjet signed as a major sponsor of the Melbourne Football Club, with players sporting the Webjet.com.au logo on the front of their club guernseys less than 24 hours after the deal was struck.[15] In the same month, Webjet also partnered with Australian loyalty program flybuys.[16] Later that year in July, they entered into their first international franchise agreement with BidTravel in South Africa.[17]

2013

In March 2013, Webjet acquired Zuji in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore.[18] In November 2013, Webjet signed a two-year deal as the principal sponsor of Sydney Thunder for the 2012/203 and 2013/2014 seasons.[19]

2014

In February 2014, Webjet and Sydney FC agreed to a new major commercial partnership which renewed their status as the principal partner of the team since the beginning of the 2012/2013 Hyundai A-League season.[20] Webjet entered into a binding Heads of Agreement to acquire the SunHotels Group in Europe,[21] and was fully acquired by September 2014.[22]

2015

In February 2015, Webjet began accepting Bitcoin on holiday package bookings, making it one of the first Australian retailers to accept the electronic currency in their payment process.[23]

2016

In May 2016, Webjet formally disclosed its acquisition of former rival Online Republic through the airing of a video in national TV, showing the Airport Rentals (Australia) brand. On November 9, 2016, Webjet formally announced the sale of ZUJI Hong Kong and ZUJI Singapore to Hong-Kong based travel technology group, to Reckon Holdings Limited and Sharp Focus Pacific Limited, subsidiaries of Uriel Aviation Holding Limited.

2017

In June 2017, Webjet announced the conclusion of its joint venture with Mathias Friess, by selling its remaining interest in Webjet in North America. Webjet re-acquired the rights to Webjet.com, with the remaining brand and operations transitioning over to ‘Flyus.com’.[24]

In August 2017, Webjet announced the purchase of UK-based Jac Travel (who in turn had acquired its rival Totalstay in 2015).[25]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About Webjet - Webjet". www.webjet.com.au. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  2. ↑ "Webjet Acquires NZ-based Online Republic - Power Retail". Power Retail. 2016-06-06. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  3. ↑ "Our Story - Webjet Limited". Webjet Limited. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  4. ↑ "Lots of Hotels - Webjet Limited". Webjet Limited. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  5. ↑ "Our Story - Webjet Limited". Webjet Limited. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  6. ↑ "Sunhotels - Webjet Limited". Webjet Limited. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  7. ↑ "Webjet buys SunHotels to expand accommodation arm". Financial Review. 2014-07-15. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  8. ↑ "Webjet signs with Chinese travel partner". SBS News. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  9. ↑ "JacTravel - Webjet Limited". Webjet Limited. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  10. ↑ "Totalstay - Webjet Limited". Webjet Limited. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  11. ↑ "Webjet announces board shake-up". The Age. 2010-08-18. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  12. ↑ "Webjet Redies For 100% Automation - Webjet.com.au". media.webjet.com.au. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  13. ↑ "Former Virgin Blue exec brings online travel agency Webjet to US - tnooz". tnooz. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  14. ↑ "Webjet Ltd (ASX: WEB)" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  15. ↑ "Dees take flight with Webjet - melbournefc.com.au". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  16. ↑ "More bells and whistles for Coles FlyBuys". Financial Review. 2012-04-20. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  17. ↑ "Southern Africa Franchise Move By Webjet and BidTravel | Travel Trends". Travel Trends. 2012-07-24. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  18. ↑ Ogilvy.com.au. "Webjet Limited acquires Zuji in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore - Media release - MinterEllison". www.minterellison.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  19. ↑ "Webjet signs with Thunder". Sydney Thunder. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  20. ↑ "Sydney FC And Webjet Agree New 2 Year Partnership". Sydney FC. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  21. ↑ "Significant Webjet Growth Acquisition in Europe". Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  22. ↑ "Sunhotels - Webjet Limited". Webjet Limited. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  23. ↑ Tan, Su-Lin (2015-02-04). "Webjet starts accepting Bitcoins for holiday packages". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  24. ↑ "Company to re-acquire rights to webjet.com domain name from joint venture partner". Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  25. ↑ "Webjet Is Buying JacTravel as Wholesaler Consolidation Intensifies". 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
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