Online travel agency aims to personalize trips
Print Edition
He Lining saw a chance in the mobile app market for a travel service after witnessing a surge of today’s travelers using online travel agents, which offer them abundant planning sources and booking capabilities.
He, 41, founded the online travel agency Weilver and developed a mobile phone app that has gained industry applause. Weilver won an honor at the Putuo District’s 2014 selection of entrepreneur stars and promising enterprises.
This selection, sponsored by the local government and launched last June, aims to discover local talented young entrepreneurs, propel the development of an entrepreneurship chain and create a new mode of business incubator.
It attracted a variety of promising business projects covering Internet, TMT, service, culture and cloud computing. The entrepreneurs are required to pitch their business and demonstrate the distinctive products and services to a jury panel.
In August, around 100 entrepreneurs participated in a three-day business training camp. Veterans offered interactive sessions and one-on-one coaching in the categories of management, funding and marketing for the young entrepreneurs.
Finally, 12 groups distinguished themselves. The winning enterprises will receive support in policy, funding and technology. They will also be offered free rent starting this year in a business park and get free counseling in branding, law and marketing. He is one of the young entrepreneurs.
Need for low-cost tours
He graduated with a degree in computer science from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. He discovered many customers’ needs for low-cost flights and well-managed itineraries and in 2012 he launched Weilver. Before that, He had eight years of working experience and expertise at Ctrip.com, China’s leading online travel agency.
The Weilver travel-guide app is the first of its kind in China that specializes in cross-border journeys and in aggregating flights of popular routes operated by low-fare airlines. The mobile phone app has received hundreds of thousands of downloads, He says.
Customers are informed about the latest discounts offered by different airlines. Cost-effective visa services are also offered. Professional trip advisers share their unique itineraries and travel tips.
“There is a steady growth in demand for leisure travel for online travel agents,” says He, adding that they will continue to grab a chunk of the market with tailor-made journeys and exceptional service.
Last April, Weilver turned its first profit, strongly enhancing the confidence of its investors. He says that with rising household incomes and convenient visa services, the cross-border travel market has a lot of business opportunities.
“Our target customers are mostly young Chinese travelers who are more sensitive to cost and the fun of the journeys,” he explains. “Self-guided tours are becoming the first option of cross-border journeys for them. They are seeking more creativity and flexibility in their itineraries.”
Starting to make money
Most of the company’s revenues come from a profit share of the flight bookings. But in the near future, Weilver will extend its service to include bookings for hotels, train tickets and admission tickets to scenic spots.
The Weilver app’s search engine provides a variety of schemes and services and helps reduce the cost of a journey.
The young company, with technology as its core strength, hopes to give people a wider range of alternatives for a creative cross-border journey.
“It is not difficult for travelers to book their journey, but (harder) to spot economical and fun ones,” He says. “We want to present them special and immersive travel experiences.”
Personally, He says he was not a travel buff but fell in love with travel after he dabbled in the industry. As an entrepreneur, he faces up to his responsibilities for the company and staff.
“I used to be an introvert,” he says. “But the entrepreneurship experience has changed me a lot. I will also improve my capabilities in funding, marketing and crossover cooperation.”
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