Almosafer, the Middle East’s leading online travel brand, has announced a transformation which only a handful of digital brands have ever attempted across the world. As one of Saudi’s most loved travel brands and the biggest online travel brand from the region, Almosafer will be embracing a new omni-channel approach which will give its customers the choice and freedom to book their travel exactly in the manner that they want – the ultimate personalisation.
As the flagship brand of SEERA Group’s Consumer Travel Unit (formerly Al Tayyar Travel Group), Almosafer is developing a next generation booking experience across online and offline touchpoints, leading to a more personalized approach. Even if booking previously online, customers will be able to visit a retail outlet for a personal consultation and travel advisors will be able to understand their travel requirements and previous trips in seconds. Vice versa, offline customers will be able to amend, or add to their bookings online.
Whilst the likes of Amazon are dipping toes into taking a physical presence, Almosafer, which began on social media as a home-grown travel facilitator in 2012 and has evolved to become the most powerful online travel platform from Saudi Arabia, now has physical retail stores in Riyadh and Jeddah. The brand has further plans to open another 50 retail outlets across KSA by Q1 2020 and Almosafer will also adopt the omni-channel approach when it expands to other markets outside Saudi Arabia.
Commenting on this revolutionary change, Muzzammil Ahussain, EVP of Almosafer said: “Almosafer has immense brand recognition and loyalty in Saudi and with this transformation, we are showing our commitment to our customers. This is not about offering face-to-face bookings, call centre bookings or digital bookings and channelling our customers to either route – this is about us offering a more adaptable and flexible booking experience across various intertwined user journeys. At a time when global travel brands are scaling back on a bricks and mortar presence, it’s incredibly exciting to me that we have this opportunity to take what we’ve created online and move the brand to have a physical presence. We don’t sell an “off the shelf” product so this move is brave, bold and dynamic.”
“We pride ourselves on our deep understanding of our audience, having been in the market for more than seven years. Our local knowledge gives us a big advantage as we are aware of the needs of travellers in the region, which is key to delivering a great experience for our existing customers and attracting new ones. We know that some travel plans can often be complicated and intricate and there is a certain ease which comes with being able to communicate these specific requirements to one of our travel advisors, face-to-face or over the phone with one of our call centres – the omni-channel approach is about convenience, offering more choice and delivering a first-rate service.”
To celebrate this new era for the brand, the Almosafer visual identity has been reimagined, embracing the omni-channel future. A new logo and colour scheme utilised across an updated User Interface (UI) on the digital platforms and concept store designs, has been carefully designed to give a consistent brand experience.
Almosafer will continuously work on optimizing the omni-channel experience for its customers, to create unique and tailored offerings for travellers from Saudi Arabia and beyond. This includes yet more relevant and localized services, such as the recent introduction of the new payment methods Apple Pay in KSA and Knet in Kuwait.