Melo Villareal
Safezone together with Agoda.com boost travel sector with free data access
SafeZone, a mobile application that allows its registered users to access the internet for free, without any Wi-Fi or data charges whatsoever, has recently built a partnership with the world-renowned accommodation platform Agoda.com. SafeZone, with the tag line “the free side of the Internet”, now allows Smart, Sun, and Smart Bro network subscribers to access Agoda.com for free.
Safezone partners with Agoda
Aside from Agoda.com, SafeZone also allows free access to websites like Facebook and Twitter to its registered users. More information is available on SafeZone’s website: www.safezone.ph
SafeZone not only benefits its users, it also benefits online digital business that rely on web traffic to keep running. Online businesses like these would include publications, various advertisers, and ecommerce platforms.
Voyager Innovations Inc. CEO Benjie Fernandez sees the recently-built partnership of Agoda.com and SafeZone as an opportunity for the country’s hotel industries and the rest of the travel and tourism sector to improve:
“Making it free and easy to book accommodations through Agoda.com via SafeZone means that Filipinos will be more mobile. They will visit other islands and travel to other countries. This will most directly help our local hotel industry, but Philippine companies in related fields, such as in air travel, should also see a boost,” Fernandez said.
Agoda.com’s 2015 survey promises a bright future for the partnership
A survey conducted by Agoda.com last April and May 2015 showed that the number of travelers relying on the Internet for finding relevant information is growing. The survey was conducted on Agoda.com’s 5 500 users from all parts of the world. The results showed that “online forums”, with a score of 34%, was the source that the respondents found most reliable when looking for travel-related information. Coming next to “online forums” was “blogs and independent websites”, with 28%.
Other online sources that the respondents chose ranged from forums, blogs, and travel apps.
“Online forums” and “blogs and independent websites” are collectively known as online sources, and when combined would give a striking score of 71% of the entire voting population. This data made Agoda.com conclude that majority of its users are relying on the Internet for planning their travels.
With the results of the survey and the recent partnership of Agoda.com and SafeZone, VP for Partner Development at Agoda.com Lennart van der Beek sees a bright future.
“We are excited to partner with the new innovation, SafeZone. And look forward to working closely together on strategic initiatives that empower even more Filipinos to securely and conveniently book their accommodation of choice online,” van der Beek said.
With SafeZone and Agoda.com, Smart, Sun, and Smart Bro network subscribers may now book rooms in Agoda.com’s 600 000 hotel partners worldwide for free. Aside from booking, the said subscribers may also compare prices of hotels, and find the hotel that suits them best, instantly and conveniently, without data charges.
To book using Agoda for free users can simply visit http://www.safezone.ph/free-
