Moroccan tour operator Monarch Travel is expecting a good year this year. Its revenues should increase by more than 100 million dirhams compared to 2017 to reach 300 million at the end of 2018, confides to “Matin-Éco”, Ali Benaddou, CEO of the group. The recipe? Monarch Travel, which has just celebrated its 21st anniversary this month, has launched Bookit.ma through its Web subsidiary Synergy Travel.
This is a new online hotel reservation platform based on a new business model. Customers can consult the offers of tourist accommodation establishments currently listed on the platform, book and pay once they arrive at the hotel. The establishments concerned are hotels, apart-hotels, residences, all-inclusive clubs and riads (3, 4 and 5 stars). “We noticed that Moroccan customers were reluctant to pay online. We then adapted to its needs and specificities by launching Bookit.ma,” declared Benaddou on June 27 in Casablanca.
For the moment, the platform has joined forces with 350 Moroccan establishments. In the medium term, the group plans to include as many foreign hotels. If this model already exists in Morocco thanks in particular to foreign reservation platforms such as Booking or Expedia, Monarch Travel intends to differentiate itself.
First of all, hotels will pay the platform its commissions in dirhams and not in currencies as is required by foreign sites. Then, Benaddou plays the card of proximity with his tourist partners and knowledge of Moroccan establishments. “We select partner hotels and we know perfectly well what each one offers, the quality of its services and its compliance with regulations, particularly in terms of stars.”
A way of reassuring customers about the reliability of the offer. Another way to give them confidence: the platform is in the final phase of PCI-DSS certification. The objective is to ensure the confidentiality of personal data communicated by customer. Because even if the latter does not pay on the site, he must nevertheless communicate his banking details.
With this platform set to expand, Bookit.ma positions itself “already as a key player in online booking in Morocco and aims to very quickly become leader in this segment,” declares the management of the group.
