ASAP Ventures into sponsorship at WTM

ASAP Ventures is sponsoring a World Travel Market technology seminar on “Travel Companies – Friend or Foe?” as part of the Travel Technology at WTM Seminar Program in association with Genesys, at 1400- 1500 on Tuesday, November 11 at World Travel Market this year. The seminar will reveal how businesses can control the effect of the power of the Internet to enhance their operations.

Jo Marshall, World Travel Market’s Travel Technology sales manager, said, “We welcome new insights into how to make the best use of the Internet from sponsor ASAP Ventures. They are vital for such a fast-growing sector that is outperforming the rest of the industry. Our new sponsorship program has helped to attract travel technology companies who want to promote their brand and products in the industry right across the world.”

Doug Scott, Online Strategy director for ASAP Ventures, explained, “ASAP Ventures owns a number of online business operations, including the very successful comparison site Carrentals.co.uk, which we built from zero to a turnover of over £20m in just five years. This was achieved with no offline advertising – instead we focused on maximizing the potential of the Internet and targeted PR to grow the profile of the company into one of the UK’s leading car rental websites.

“This success underlines the incredible power the Internet now has not just for the travel industry, but for all organizations – put simply, it can make or break you. Through the sponsorship of this seminar, we hope to build awareness for the evolving face of the online travel market and encourage visitors to look more carefully at the online marketing solutions available to them. We’re delighted to have the opportunity to get involved in this seminar and look forward to discussing the issues raised with the other speakers and delegates.”

Launched in 2003, Carrentals.co.uk now receives over 10,000 unique visitors every day and is regularly in the top 10 car-hire websites in the respected Hitwise reports.

In 2007, the company was restructured as ASAP Ventures, Ltd. to reflect its growing portfolio of online business activities. At the forefront of the changing online market, the company has driven a dynamic acquisition program that has seen it purchase domains including Fly.co.uk, Recycle.co.uk and hundreds more as part of its growth in online business operations.

The company also owns Self-Catering-Breaks.com, one of the largest accommodation directories featuring over 40,000 hotels and self-catering properties around the world, and has recently launched Carrentals.de in Germany, with further overseas operations planned over the next 12 months.

For more information on World Travel Market’s travel technology events plus WTM’s entire program, log on to: http://www.wtmlondon.com/page.cfm/Action=Seminars/t=m