Travelwings: Experiencing life beyond barriers and limitations

Globe-trotting is one of the many pleasures of life. Experiencing life through various cultures not only enhances the mind but also develops one's appreciation for beauty and diversity. Whether it is the passion to simply travel and explore or a well-deserved vacation from the corporate world, a friend to help you find the best flights and hotels is always beneficial.

Travelwings.com is the friend every traveler needs, driven by the vision to provide customers with experiences they can relish for years to come. It is through their extensive research and affordability that they have managed to gain the success that has ranked them as one of the fastest growing companies.

CIO Bulletin had the opportunity to talk to Albert Fernando, the founder and CEO of Travelwings, who built the brand with a passion for travel and a hyper-sensitivity to the customer experience.

Q. Why was Travelwings.com founded? How has the company grown since its inception?

Established in 2015, Travelwings is a bespoke online tourism brand that excels at delivering unique travel experiences. Headquartered in Dubai with offices across Africa, Travelwings has established a strong presence in the travel domain and is constantly evolving to offer the best travel experiences. Since its inception, the company has recorded over 300K bookings annually, catered to 1 million+ travelers, and gained a strong foothold in 32+ nations traversing across the Middle East, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Morocco, Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, and many more.

Q. What are Travelwings.com’s mission and vision?

Driven by a vision to build an enduring travel brand that offers authentic and exclusive travel experiences, Travelwings offers curated travel ventures made possible with innovative technology and first-hand knowledge of every destination.

Travelwings' mission is to position itself as the world's most trusted e-commerce tourism brand known for its world-class technology, exceptional customer service, customer-centric approach, and seamless user experience.

Q. What are the different types of travel services offered by Travelwings.com?

Inspired by the idea of taking customers on an enchanting journey without bounds, Travelwings offers:

Specially Curated Packages: With Travelwings, the world is your oyster! Be it embarking on a cruise adventure, traveling to a spectacular destination, or indulging in a luxurious staycation, we offer it all with our tailor made packages, easy-to-book flights, budget-friendly deals, and more.

Unique Travel Experiences: Be it going on adventure treks through the wilderness in Rwanda, scuba diving in the pristine waters of the Maldives, or gazing upon the man-made marvels in Dubai, our myriad of packages cater to a diverse range of travelers.

Exceptional User Experience: Designed to maximize convenience, and comfort, Travelwings’ website works like a PWA and guarantees the fastest flight booking experience with booking completion in just 11 clicks. Furthermore, the web app is lightweight, intuitive, easy to access, works like a native application, stores offline data, and eliminates the need to download the app.

One-Stop Shop: Travelwings offers a wholesome travel experience with services like holidays, accommodation, flights, transportation, activities, Visa services, PCR test bookings, and more, making it the perfect one-stop travel shop.

Q. What do you think are the reasons for which the travel and tourism market in the UAE has received Travelwings.com with open arms?

The travel and tourism market in the UAE has warmly embraced Travelwings.com for the following reasons:

Personalization: Travelwings' strong focus on tailoring travel experiences to individual preferences allows the brand to enhance customer satisfaction and foster loyalty.
Customer Satisfaction: Travelwings places great emphasis on providing exceptional customer service. Such dedication to customer satisfaction has garnered positive reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations, solidifying its reputation.
Local presence: Being a homegrown brand has offered a competitive advantage in understanding the local market dynamics, cultural nuances, and insider knowledge. These factors instill a sense of familiarity and comfort in our customers, making Travelwings a trusted choice for UAE travelers.

Q. What are the benefits customers get through Travelwings.com that they would not receive from other travel firms?

Equipped with 25+ years of expertise, a seasoned team, a well-knit network, and excellent supplier relationships, Travelwings has become a pioneer in the world of online travel. It is also one of the leading online travel agencies in the UAE and Africa, with a focus on bespoke travel experiences, innovative services, and customer satisfaction. The brand diversified its core offerings beyond airlines, apartments, hotels, and vacation rentals to include tours, cruises, activities, packages, and much more, making it a one-stop destination for all things travel.

Moreover, our dedication to providing a delightful travel experience ensures that our customers feel supported throughout their journey. We believe that handholding through the booking process enhances customer satisfaction, generates brand loyalty, and builds long-lasting relationships.

Q. What are some of the challenges Travelwings.com overcame while growing into a well-established market favorite?

Travelwings journey from being a startup to becoming a beloved market favorite is an arduous one. However, the brand's resilience, adaptability, and customer-centricity played a pivotal role in successfully surmounting these challenges and capturing the hearts of travelers.

The Post Pandemic Shift: Foremost was the quick adaptability to the ever-changing market dynamics that ensured relevance and resilience post-Covid-19 pandemic. As travel patterns shifted, Travelwings.com promptly reevaluated its strategies, introducing innovative offerings and adjusting operations to meet evolving customer needs.
Filling The Gap between Expectations and Delivery: Our adeptness in leveraging supplier contracts to deliver precisely what customers expect has been a critical factor in our growth. By establishing strong partnerships with reliable vendors, we secured access to a diverse array of travel services, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Enhancing the Customer Experience: We continually refined our website, booking process, and customer support to provide a seamless and delightful experience, garnering trust from travelers.

Q. Would you like us to highlight something important happening in your company that we may have missed asking about?

At Travelwings, we are excited about our latest advancements in regenerative AI and the testing of enhanced models of personalization targeting. We're developing cutting-edge algorithms that will enable us to anticipate the needs of our customers and deliver timely, well-tailored communication.

By harnessing the power of regenerative AI, we're revolutionizing the way we engage with our customers, leading to higher satisfaction rates and lasting relationships. This innovative approach has positioned us as pioneers in personalized travel services that redefine the customer experience, creating unforgettable and seamless journeys for all our valued patrons.

Q. What are Travelwings.com’s plans for the future?

Guided by our vision to deliver exceptional customer satisfaction and our ability to navigate the ever-changing travel landscape, Travelwings envisions becoming the most preferred and trusted platform for travelers around the world.

A brief biography of the CEO

Albert Fernando is the founder and CEO of Travelwings. Mr. Fernando possesses a wealth of experience and expertise, making him a respected leader in the industry. In 2022, CEO Insights 2022, a program that honors emerging chief executives across the Middle East, bestowed Albert Fernando with the title of "Top 10 Leaders in the Middle East." While the CEO Monthly program felicitated Mr. Albert with the “Most Influential CEO 2022 In The United Arab Emirates” award.