Easy Trip Planners, which operates the EaseMyTrip brand, has acquired 55% of hotel booking application cheQin for $376,000.
The deal strengthens EaseMyTrip’s hotel channels according to a release and puts it in a “great position to give its customers a wide range of innovative hotel booking options.”
CheQin’s algorithm serves up the top five lowest offers from hoteliers. The app also enables hoteliers to see real-time booking requests.
Nishant Pitti, cofounder and CEO of EaseMyTrip, says: “EaseMyTrip is focusing on the growth of its non-air segments. This acquisition is a step towards revolutionizing the hotel business altogether. Through cheQin, which is a unique app in the hotels industry, EaseMyTrip will diversify its hotel booking experience through technology support. We sternly believe that cheQin provides unparalleled options in all segments and has the potential to scale and strengthen cross-selling. We are thrilled to take this opportunity and look forward to stepping into a new era of hospitality with both the company’s joining hands.”
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Venu Somineni, founder of cheQin, says: “Everyone enjoys bargaining over anything. Booking a hotel is no different. The robust bargaining algorithm of cheQin would draw in a ton of customers in no time. We really believe that cheQin can work miracles for last-minute, bulk, long-term, and short-term bookings. We expect to strengthen the market in the years to come, thanks to our partnership with EaseMyTrip.’’
The statement adds that cheQin has recently formed partnerships with 5,000 hotels in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
Easy Trip Planners launched in 2008 and has grown through its move from a travel agent to consumer model to an online direct model.
The company went public in early 2021 and later that year announced the acquisition of B2B hotels platform Traviate.
Earlier this month, the company announced an EaseMyTrip Franchise to provide a face-to-face retail experience for customers.
The company will provide “onboarding, liaising, managing, marketing” support to anyone who has a network of high net individuals and is looking to set up a travel business.