Is Amazon travel’s newest metasearch site?
Amazon Prime Day is fast approaching – which, historically, wouldn’t mean much in terms of news for the travel industry. But this year, Amazon has a dedicated page to “Prime Day Travel Deals” with big name brands including Carnival Cruise Line, Southwest Airlines and Tripadvisor experiences brand Viator. Car rental companies Turo, Sixt and Avis are also participating.
The opportunity to sell with online retail giant is appealing, according to the travel brands included in the July 16-17 shopping event.
“Consumers are interested in unique experiences, and this Prime Day offering puts cruise vacations in front of a targeted audience that we want to reach,” said Amy Martin Ziegenfuss, chief marketing officer of Carnival Cruise Line.
She continued: “Amazon has been a great partner as we’ve worked together on other activations, so making our cruises available for Prime Day builds on our partnership and adds value for customers of both of our brands.”
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Similarly, Viator, which recently partnered with Amazon Alexa, expressed excitement about selling through Amazon.
“As the first travel experiences marketplace to offer an Amazon Prime Day deal in the [United States], we’re excited to bring our more than 300,000 activities, tours and experiences directly to the millions of travelers who shop on Amazon every day,” said Laurel Greatrix, vice president of brand and communications for Viator.
The partnership, Greatrix said, is one of “thousands” of ways Viator is seeking to reach travelers where they are already shopping as they continue to expand distribution for its operators.
Amazon said it is offering discounted flights, experiences and rides with Amazon Travel – with Prime members eligible to receive deals such as 30% off base fares with Southwest Airlines or 20% off experiences with Viator, for example.
It’s unclear whether Amazon will continue to offer travel products after the close of Prime Day.
While this marks the first time Amazon has offered a full page of travel deals, the company offered a Prime Day deal with Priceline last year. And while Amazon did not immediately reply to a request for comment, there has long been chatter around its potential to enter the online travel marketplace.
