TravelPerk partners with Skyscanner to enable safe travel
TravelPerk, the largest global travel management platform, has announced a partnership with leading global travel marketplace Skyscanner to provide travellers with daily data on Covid-19 travel restrictions, including point-to-point travel information, documents required for travel, and details of destination-specific restrictions and requirements.
The partnership allows travellers to make informed choices when booking trips at a time when international travel is reopening amid a complex network of Covid-19 restrictions. Daily insights are provided through TravelPerk’s TravelSafe API, which allows third-party travel agencies and others to provide their customers with timely information on point-to-point travel restrictions and requirements on both arrival and return destinations. The API, which is TravelPerk’s first product offering for the wider travel industry, is powered by TravelPerk’s own dataset, gathered from official sources such as the UK Commonwealth Office, and local governmental websites and cross-referenced by policy analysts. The service also includes information on local restrictions and requirements, including quarantines, testing and proof of vaccination, and advice on documentation such as passenger locator forms.
TravelPerk’s TravelSafe API now powers Skyscanner’s interactive map, which helps travellers understand where they can go and the rules in place to travel to any destination around the world. Since integrating TravelPerk data, Skyscanner has seen a significant shift in customer satisfaction, reporting an increase of 40% for their Journey Experience and Product Market Fit score, measuring ease of use and perceived usefulness of the map on mobile specifically.
By integrating the TravelSafe API, both Skyscanner and TravelPerk play a major role in enabling a safe and smooth return to travel, building traveller confidence through the provision of live updates on travel restrictions and requirements.
This news follows TravelPerk’s recent $160 million Series D funding announcement that will fuel the next phase of its rapid global growth and will help the company enhance its offerings in safety, flexibility, and sustainability.
Ross McNairn, Chief Product Officer at TravelPerk, said: “It’s been a tough year for the travel industry and for people who love to travel. We are starting to see travel reopening again, but the situation remains uncertain, complex and fast-changing, with a variety of restrictions likely to be in place for specific destinations and routes for some time to come.
“At TravelPerk, we want to equip travelers with the tools and information they need to start booking trips again, confidently and safely. Our TravelSafe API is designed to do just that and, by making it our first product that is available to the wider travel sector, we hope to support the entire travel ecosystem as it recovers from the disruption of the last 12 months. We are delighted to be partnering with Skyscanner and are very proud to be working together on a common mission to help both leisure and business travelers begin traveling again.”
Piero Sierra, Chief Product Officer at Skyscanner, said: “We know there’s a huge amount of pent-up demand for travel right now – according to our travel pulse, 54% of travellers visiting Skyscanner this month are currently planning a trip, while 40% are thinking about it. This is the highest intent we have seen in over a year. However, we’re also aware that more needs to be done to rebuild traveller confidence following a year unlike any other.
“When asked what would encourage them to book an international flight, nearly 1 in 2 (43%) travellers cite greater clarity on restrictions and straightforward guidance around international travel. We launched our map to address that need, providing travellers with transparent, easy to understand information and helping them navigate the constantly in-flux landscape that is international travel during these Covid-impacted times. But we didn’t stop there – we are always looking for ways to improve our experience for users and meet traveller needs in the best way possible. With the integration of TravelPerk’s TravelSafe API, we are taking our map to the next level, ensuring it’s truly helping travellers understand where they can go and what rules they’ll need to comply with in order to travel.”