Road trips become a big option for travel sellers

Technology suppliers have been forced to adapt quickly to account for changes in consumer behavior as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.  

Spain-based Travel Compositor is one such provider, having traditionally built booking engines for travel agencies, online travel agencies, tour operators and tourism organizations.

But since the outbreak of COVID-19 it has, it says, devoted 40% of its resources to development an entirely new system that will take into account travelers who wish to avoid air trips and, instead, travel by road.

The "Routing" platform was created in two months and allows users to add and book services along a particular road trip, all with a single payment point.

These would include hotels, activities, events, transfers and insurance, as well as ground transportation, rail and ferries.

CEO Manuel Arahones says: "This demand is not something temporary, as trends already point to car travel or private tours over regular tours.

"Routing will be a great tool that we are sure will stand the test of time and will help our clients to sell more and better trips, today and in the future.

"And, for us, having done something like this, has been the best motivation we could find to continue working more and better than ever. The success of the team, of its work, doing something extraordinary in such extraordinary times, has been the kind of inspiration that feeds back and takes us even further."

* Check out this interview with Aragones recorded during The Phocuswright Conference 2019 in Florida.