Jovago partners with SiteMinder to introduce seamless online distribution for hotels

Lahore, Pakistan–Pakistan’s No.1 hotel booking website, Jovago.com, has announced its partnership with the global hotel industry’s leading cloud platform, SiteMinder, to mark its first time enabling seamless online distribution for hotel clients. The agreement enlists Jovago.comamong the more than 300 channels integrated with SiteMinder’s Channel Manager and means mutual hotel clients can now seamlessly update their inventory and room rates to the booking portal.

“As the leading channel management provider for hotels globally, partnering with SiteMinder was an obvious decision,” says Eduard PosthumusMeyjes, global head of revenue management at Jovago.

“We aim to bring top-notch technology to our hotel partners across all our markets in Asia and Africa and SiteMinder offers the right technology to grow our supply of real-time bookable inventory for our customers.”

As the No. 1 and fastest-growing OTA in Pakistan, Jovago.com‘s partnership with SiteMinder creates massive opportunity for its large client base of hotels to reach and attract guests, and increase both occupancy and revenue in return.

Lisa Horne, general manager – South Africa at SiteMinder, says, “We are very happy to partner with Jovago, providing our hotel customers yet another channel to market their inventory and availability through. We are particularly proud to provide the first channel management solution that integrates with this on-demand hotel booking platform in Pakistan. Each of Jovago’s hotel clients benefits from their local presence, and commitment to developing both the continental and global travel market.”

Hotel managers whose properties are listed on Jovago.com say they are excited about the opportunities the website’s partnership with SiteMinder will bring.

Jovago launched an extranet application for its hotel clients earlier this year, allowing them to reach operational excellence with the online channel by giving hotel managers real-time access to, and control over, their room rates and inventory.

The booking portal says an integration with the market’s leading channel management solution was the logical next step, to offer its hotel clients value-added services.

About SiteMinder

As the leading cloud platform for hotels, SiteMinder allows hotels to attract, reach and convert guests across the globe. We serve hotels of all sizes with award-winning solutions for independents and groups alike, wherever they are in the world.

SiteMinder’s products include The Channel Manager, the industry’s leading online distribution platform;TheBookingButton, a wholly-branded booking engine for direct bookings via the web, mobile or social;Canvas, the intelligent website creator for independent hoteliers; and GDS by SiteMinder, a single-point of entry to a six-figure network of travel agents and the world’s major GDSs. With more than 20,000 hotel customers and 400 of the industry’s top connectivity providers as our partners, today we have presence in more than 160 countries on six continents.

For more information, visit www.siteminder.com or visit the team at HITEC, stand #1611.

About Jovago

Jovago.com is an online hotel booking service with offices in Pakistan, Nairobi (Kenya) and 10 other offices accross the continent. Jovago is founded by Africa Internet Group and has Rocket Internet, MTN, Millicom, AXA, Orange and Goldman Sachs as its investors. Jovago.com, Pakistan’s No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to provide them with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services. Jovago.com has over 2000 local hotel listings in Pakistan and over 200,000 hotels around the world.

Jovago provides a step by step guide to plan your travel this year

If you are one of those who have been long trying to make your travel happen, this post is exactly meant for you! Most of the times, we fail to make things happen just because we lack the correct guidance to get our plans executed. In this article, Jovago, the leading online hotel booking website in Pakistan provides step by step guide to finally make your long planned trip happen!

Step 1: Arrange your funds

Bitterly nothing comes for free! The best way to save for your travel is to put a set amount aside as soon as you get your monthly paycheck. Treat it as if you have some obligatory monthly fee to pay which cannot be touched no matter what! Period. Preferably open a separate savings account to deposit your money devoted to travel so that the chances of it getting used get minimized.

Step 2: Decide your destination

If you are preparing for a solo travel, start researching for potential travel spots right away. However, if you are planning to have a trip with your friends and family, you might need to share your preferences with your travel partners well in time to agree upon one destination. Since every travel requires a lot of investment, make sure to choose to visit a place which is close to your preference.

Step 3: Budget out everything in advance

This is probably the most boring and most stressful part of your travel planning. However, thanks to the emerging e-commerce websites, the estimated costs of flights, hotels, commutation and food can all be found on the online booking websites. It is always a better idea to put some efforts in budgeting your travel than to spoil your travel due to funds shortages!

Step 4:  Plan your activities during travel

Nothing happens on its own! Just reaching your destination without having a clue about how to spend time there wouldn’t make your travel any fun. All the planning should be done ahead of reaching the destination to make your travel as smooth and memorable as possible.

Step 5: Get set, Go!

It is a simple rule. You won’t know until you go! Once you think you have planned everything out, rest assured that you are all set to go and experience your long awaited travel!

Jovago provides a list of healthy items for Sehri during travel

Fasting becomes even more challenging when you are traveling. To ensure good health during your entire journey, it is extremely important to carefully plan all your meals. Needless to say, Sehri marks the start of your day and your fast therefore should be the healthiest one. If you are one of those who struggle with the lack of Sehri options every Ramadan, this article is exactly for you. Jovago Pakistan hereby provides a list of healthy yet fulfilling Sehri options that will keep you charged and on your toes during your entire travel.

Oatmeal dishes

Starting your day with an oatmeal provides an energy booster for the entire day. Rich in vitamins, minerals and lipids, oatmeal is considered fourth healthiest food worldwide which possesses endless benefits for our health. Start your travel with a bowl full of oatmeal to fuel up your entire journey!

Raw fruits and whole grains

One of the basic concerns during travel is to find food options which are handy and can be consumed on-the-go! In this case, it is best to bag some fresh fruits and granola bars in your bag which can be consumed anytime during your travel. Rich in nutrients and minerals and easy to carry, fruits and grains make one of the most gratifying and energy-rich Sehri option during your travel.

Lots of Yogurt and yogurt made products

With Ramadan also comes the scorching heat of early summers which makes fast even more challenging! Having yogurt during the early day cleanses and prepares our digestive system for the strenuous journey ahead. Yogurt made products such as Lassi , Chaas and Smoothies, therefore become excellent options to fuel yourselves for the rest of the day!

Water all the way

There is no other way to keep yourself hydrated to combat this hot and humid weather than to consume the right amount of water. Some people prefer to have caffeine over water during their Sehri which further dehydrates the body during the rest of the day. It is therefore recommended to have a good amount of water during your Sehri. However, be careful to drink water gradually and slowly while eating Sehri; as drinking too much water too quickly sometimes dilutes the stomach acid content and causes bloating and indigestion.

Five Lies That Every Traveler Tells

Travelling is not a piece of cake. Sure it provides one of the most exotic experiences, it is hard to ignore that travel has its own goods and bads. You are not the only one to double think the travel stories shared by your friends and families. Almost every traveler lies about some aspects of their travel. However, here’s the good news! Jovago Pakistan has highlighted all those lies that almost every traveler tells. So next time, whenever you hear these lines, make sure that you don’t buy it completely!

1. It costed me almost nothing!

Sure, the recent online booking websites have reduced the costs of travel to a great extent; still, no travel is ever cost free. Travel requires spending, in fact spending quite a lot most of the times! The old saying that nothing in the world comes free of cost applies as much here as in any other context.

2. I can keep travelling alone forever!

Humanbeings are social creatures. The need of belonging and togetherness doesn’t erode away even when you are miles away exploring the world on your own. It’s ok to plan a lonely travel once in awhile to feed yourself with some ‘me time’, but let’s not deny that there comes a time when we start missing our loved ones.

3. I always ate their local food and I absolutely loved it!

One of the biggest adjustments that one needs to make when travelling to another country is to accept their local food. The home food is hard to forget no matter where you go and how much you are enjoying your travel.

4. I can keep travelling forever and ever!

Once in awhile, one feels the urge to travel to refresh themselves from their daily hustles and bustles of life. However, the fact that even travelling can be exhausting is simply undeniable! It feels good to be on the go for a while, but let’s accept that no one wants to keep moving forever!

5. I didn’t even get time to check my Facebook during travel!

No travel is complete without the Facebook check nowadays i! So if any of your friends didn’t reply to your Facebook message during their travel, you now know that you can buy any other excuse except for this one!

Share with us your experiences if you have ever been lied by your travelling friends in the comment segment below!

How to avoid hassles of a flight delay?

If you are one of those who think, like any other misfortunes there is nothing that can be done to prevent a flight delay, this article is exactly meant for you! With smart and strategic planning, the chances of preventing oneself from the hassles of a flight delay can be greatly reduced. Read below some highly easy and effective ways compiled byJovago Pakistan, that can greatly help you to make your travel comfortable and memorable.

1. Always try to book non-stop flights

No doubt, the feeling of being stagnated in flight for hours and hours is no less than a nightmare, but at the end of the day, you know for sure that you will arrive to your destination on time! The connecting flights, although are usually much cheaper and easily available than the non-stop flights, there is always a chance to miss your next flight due to your current flight delay!

2. Don’t forget to have a look at the weather forecasts

For the times when you have the choice to decide your travel dates, make sure that you chose the dates when there are no predictions of rain, snowfall or any other natural calamities. It is always a good idea to book your flights at least 100 days before your departure so that you have plenty of options to choose your travel time.

3. Early to rise, early to fly

Mornings are usually the most efficient time of day for most airlines. The chances of flights running as per schedule are high during the early part of the day as opposed to late departure flights. The good news is that your chances of having vacant seats beside you is higher when you choose to fly early as it is the time of day when airlines have least passenger traffic!

4. Avoid to travel during the peak travelling times

It is always better to arrive a bit earlier or later than the peak travelling times; for example, traveling during summer break, Eid Holidays, winter and/or Spring Break. By doing so, not only will you find best booking rates online, but also reduce the probability of being vulnerable to travel uncertainties, flight delays being one of them.

These are few tips which can help you avoid hassles of a flight delay. In addition, you can read more travel tips to make your trip enjoyable.

Have more to add to the list? Share with us in the comment section below!

Jovago highlights common anxieties that a first time traveler faces

Like any first time experience, it is pretty usual to be a bit nervous before your first travel! However, as the common saying goes, there is always a first time for everything! If you are planning for your first real time travel, the chances are that you will think and rethink about it weeks or sometimes months in advance. Being the largest online hotel booking website in Pakistan, Jovago has highlighted all the common fears that a first time traveler faces:

1.Will my travelling be safe?

The rising security concerns are hard to ignore especially when you are planning to travel alone for the very first time in your life. It is pretty understandable if before your first travel, you are given all sorts of safety travel tips by your friends and family. This may sometimes make you feel a bit more nervous before your travel. However, the best way to cope up with this sort of an anxiety is to read about the experiences of people who have travelled before you to the same place. Many websites offers an exclusive reviews and blogs section on their websites to provide the travelers enough information to prepare for their travel in advance.

2.What if I miss my flight?

To miss a scheduled flight is a nightmare for every traveler not just a first time traveler. After all who wants to spend some extra hours alone at an unknown airport? It is therefore, always advisable to leave for airport well ahead in time and avoid connecting flights whenever possible.

3.How will I be treated in the land of foreigners?

Networking is a must for every traveler especially if you are travelling alone. Rest assured that usually the locals are very considerate and helpful towards the foreigners. It’s ok to ask for help around and show your gratitude on getting helped by others.

4.What if I feel home sick?

It is hard to give away the comfort of living near your loved ones. To miss your homemade food, your cozy bed, your friends’ night out is inevitable when you are miles away from your homeland. But to learn how to live outside your comfort zone is the biggest lesson any travel could ever teach.

The best way to overcome all these anxieties is to do your complete research before travelling. Acquaint yourself with the new place even before you land there by thoroughly reading and reviewing the travel tips and advices provided by the travel related websites like Jovago Pakistan.

Warid Launches New “Smart SMS” Bundle for both Postpaid & Prepaid Users

Lahore, May 2016: Warid Telecom, has launched a brand new, affordable bundle for subscribers who are looking for ease and convenience in texting.  This new “Smart SMS” bundle will allow both postpaid and prepaid users to avail service by sending SUB to 6601 or add 66 before the mobile number every time you need to send Smart SMS. For prepaid customers the charges are Rs.0.5+tax per day and postpaid charges are Rs. 15+tax per month.

“Smart SMS” is a new initiative that makes sure when their valued customer sends an SMS it gets delivered to the receiver even when their phone is switched off for a month. The moment the receiver switches their phone back on they can retrieve each and every SMS without a hitch. This offer, unmatched by any other network, will give all Warid message delivered on time through Smart SMS reliable texting.

Warid has long been a pioneer in customer service in Pakistan. The new bundle follows in the footsteps on many accessible and affordable plans that have been offered in the past by the company. With the latest technology and best offers, it is no surprise Warid has topped in customer satisfaction in the country.