Travelocity’s European business today launched its French consumer travel Web site. Called Odysia, a variation on the French word for “Odyssey,” the site gives Travelocity Europe its first consumer-direct online presence in France.The site features highly advanced, fully integrated ‘dynamic packaging,’ enabling travelers to design and package an entire trip from beginning to end in about five minutes. Destination, airline, choice of hotel, its location and the type of room, car rental and a wide range of travel amenities can be reviewed and booked on the site, which uses the slogan ‘everything proposed, nothing imposed.’

“We are very excited to launch our entry into the French online consumer direct market,” said Damon Tassone, incoming President of Travelocity Europe. “Online travel buying in France is growing substantially, and we think we are entering the marketplace at a great time.”

This is the second step in Travelocity Europe’s multi-channel growth strategy in France. In March this year it acquired VFinance, owner of Boomerang Voyages, a French tour operator selling a wide range of package holidays through travel agencies. The acquisition also included 10 offline travel agencies located in major French metropolitan areas.

Travelocity Europe now operates consumer travel Web sites in France, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. It also operates four sites in Germany in partnership with the Otto Group business Otto Freizeit und Touristik GmbH (OFT).

Travelocity France is based in Paris and run by managing director Jan Oetjen, who reports to Tassone.
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