Booking.com teams up with ride-share company Grab

Booking.com partners with Grab, allowing Australians to book rides direct through their Booking.com app when travelling in Southeast Asia.

Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel platforms, has launched its on-demand ride-hailing service in partnership with Southeast Asia’s leading rideshare platform Grab, helping Australians travelling to the region to travel like locals and get the most out of their holidays.

Marking the company’s ride-hailing debut, this move will connect international travelers visiting Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines with local on-demand rides through an app they already know and trust. It removes the language and currency barriers that can stop many visitors using local transport providers.

This initiative combines the strengths of two market-leading travel tech companies known for empowering customers through innovative, mobile-first technology. This also marks the first time Grab has worked with a Western global digital travel brand to build a native experience. 130 million visitors travel to Southeast Asia every year, and Booking.com and Grab coming together will provide them with the tools they need to travel like a local: 

• Access to millions of Grab drivers, giving international travelers unprecedented access to safe, affordable and comfortable transport options across Southeast Asia
• In-app, cashless payments in user’s currency, delivering greater security and confidence, while removing the worry and expense of haggling, language difficulties and currency conversion
• Customer services in user’s language, so they know what to expect and can resolve any issues that may arise
• All-in-one functionality – a single app that provides complete control over accommodation and travel, meaning no need to download unfamiliar apps
• Speed and reliability, so each traveler spends less time researching and organizing their trip, and more time enjoying it
• Safety – travelers can relax, knowing that all Grab driver-partners are registered and undergo stringent background checks

Booking.com app are now able to access Grab services in Singapore, with service to be available in Indonesia and Thailand by the end of the year, and in Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines over the coming months.

Luke Wilson, Area Manager for Booking.com Australia said: “Australia has one of the highest volumes of inbound tourists to Southeast Asia out of any country in the world. We’re incredibly excited to offer this new feature to Aussie travelers, providing them with easy, secure access to rideshare in Southeast Asia to help them explore and live like locals when on holiday.”

“Our mission is as simple as it is ambitious: we’re making it easier for everyone to experience the world. Looking ahead, we’ll continue to test and develop innovative products. By placing intuitive technology in our customers’ hands, we’re giving them the freedom to explore – with greater choice and personalization than ever before.”

Booking.com’s all-encompassing ambition is to connect the trip: giving travelers a single platform they can use to book, pay for and manage every element of every trip, from accommodation and transport to experiences and attractions.

SOURCE Booking.com