TORONTO — Former itravel2000 and TravelBrands exec Brad Miron has resurfaced with TripXpertz, an OTA billed as the next generation of online travel agencies and a “virtual agency website network” that includes Mexico-focused MexicoXpertz.com.
Miron says package sales on the site will be driven not by price but by destination information and aspirational content.
“This site will focus on enticing the consumer through rich engaging destination focused content. Our destination partners love it – they get the concept – we provide a focused platform for engaging consumers. This is not about price or product, this is about creating demand,” said Miron, TripXpertz Founder and CEO.
He says the site will prioritize the user experience. “Consumers are tired of being bombarded with ads when they search online. Our ‘No Ads Guarantee’ ensures consumers are not led astray and confused with non-relevant ads [and] click bait. It is all about giving them relevant content.”
The first offshoot site, MexicoXpertz, will incorporate 10 sun and beach destinations launching in spring 2017. These sites will feature in-depth travel content on Mexico and Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Riviera Nayarit, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, Mazatlan, Huatluco and Los Cabos.
Miron says he plans to launch and “hyper-grow” a global network of destination-focused sites in the next 36 months. The road map for 2017 includes the launching of USAXpertz, FloridaXpertz, OrlandoXpertz, CaliforniaXpertz, LasVegasXpertz, CaribbeanXpertz and EuropeXpertz.
“Unlike traditional OTAs, we are not focused on volume,” said Miron. ”We are focused on conversion rate. We start off with enticing the consumer using social media and database partners in collaboration with our destination partners.
“The user experience will be entirely focused on the specific destination travel experience without the usual commercialization. Our sites are designed to eliminate ‘search fatigue’.”
In Canada the agency will be hosted by The Travel Agent Next Door. “By affiliating with The Travel Agent Next Door, we avoid negotiating supplier agreements and we resolve the back end infrastructure and we satisfy regulatory requirements. This allows us to focus on what we do best … build brand and demand and increase passengers travelling to destinations,” said Miron, who has partnered with call centre industry veteran Lisa (Mona) Georganes in the virtual agency to handle TripXpertz’s Canadian fulfillment.
In the U.S., fulfillment for the sites will be provided by BestDay Travel Solutions and call centres in Cancun.
Miron said the company is also launching TripXpertz in the U.S. this week and will soon launch in the UK and in other English speaking markets. French will be added in Canada in the future.
Miron was Executive VP, Marketing, Sales & Business Development at itravel2000 from 2000 to fall 2013. He joined TravelBrands in December 2013, leaving the company in summer 2015.
