Travelata

Travelata.ru operates as an online travel agency within the Russian Federation, specializing in the aggregation and sale of package tours. Founded in 2011 by Alexey Zaretsky and Stanislav Satsuk, the company was established to streamline the process of booking travel. Both founders brought prior experience as management consultants at McKinsey & Company to the venture. Zaretsky possesses a background in electrical engineering from Technion – Israel Institute of Technology and an MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business, with experience in R&D and project management at Israeli tech companies. Satsuk also had experience in sales and business development before co-founding the company. In 2021, Zaretsky stepped away from daily operations to focus on new projects, with Satsuk taking over as CEO.

The company's business model is centered on providing a comprehensive online platform where Russian consumers can compare and purchase all-inclusive tour packages. The platform aggregates offers from over 120 tour operators, allowing customers to find competitive pricing on trips that typically bundle flights, accommodation, meals, transfers, and medical insurance. Revenue is generated through commissions on these sales. The service is designed for a completely digital experience, from initial search to receiving travel documents via email. While the primary focus is on package tours, customers can also book hotels separately. To cater to clients who prefer offline interaction, Travelata launched a franchise network of physical offices in 2016.

The company's product is a search and booking engine, accessible via its website and mobile applications for iOS and Android, which were released in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The platform provides real-time price comparisons for tours to approximately 60 countries, featuring a selection of over 128,000 hotels for travelers departing from 100 Russian cities. To enhance user experience, the company utilizes technologies like machine learning and data analysis to offer personalized recommendations and forecast price changes. Key milestones include the first online tour sale in January 2012, and securing significant funding rounds, including $5 million in 2013 and $7 million in 2014 from investors like MCI Management and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Keywords: online travel agency, package tours, Russian tourism market, travel booking platform, tour aggregator, travel technology, Alexey Zaretsky, Stanislav Satsuk, tour packages Russia, online travel booking, franchise travel agency, holiday packages, travel price comparison, digital travel agent, Russian OTA, all-inclusive tours, vacation packages, travel deals, hotel booking, flight and hotel packages