Travel Port to set up 200 retail outlets by end of FY

{image-TravelPort Holidays_23092008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Hyderabad, Sep 23: Travel Port Holidays (India) Pvt Ltd, a fast-growing travel services firm, is set for massive expansion setting up a chain of 200 retail outlets and increasing the number of franchisees from the current 100 to 300 by the end of the current financial year.

It will also focus on B2B online play and expand its overseas presence. As part of the expansion plan, it will set up eight franchisees in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and four more in other parts of Andhra Pradesh like Vishakapatnam and Vijayawada. Other towns are also being considered for setting up self service travel kiosks and TravelPort-owned outlets. In a statement, Travel Port Chief Operating Officer Heena Akkhtar said Hyderabad is a booming travel market, with a lot of IT companies, BPOs and Financial services firms thriving and expanding.

''Corporate travel and leisure travel are two segments that will see compounded growth in Hyderabad. With a million square feet of retail coming up in Hyderabad, interest in retail travel is also growing. This presents exciting opportunities for TravelPort franchisee outlets and TravelPort-owned outlets,'' she further said.

In the next quarter, the company will launch ''Club Class by TravelPort,'' a division exclusively catering to exotic destinations and super luxury tours.

It will also venture into new fields like experiential travel and honeymoon travel besides renewing focus on adventure and wildlife travel, sports travel and religious tours.

UNI