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“Robinhood” to soft launch first phase of “Robinhood Travel” for hotel booking

09/05/2022 4 min read

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blending all-in-one “Food and Travel” experience to boost tourism recovery while aiming to become a top three player within one year

Bangkok-based food delivery platform “Robinhood” for small eateries is moving forward, reaffirming its mission to establish a social enterprise model by expanding its services to the tourism industry. In response to signs of a recovery in tourism, the platform will soft launch “Robinhood Travel,” bringing food delivery customers new travel experiences in support of tourism operators. Customers will receive a discount code for up to 20 free food order deliveries within a distance of no more than 30 kilometers when booking a trip via “Robinhood Travel,” as well as a special launch promotion offer of a 50% discount when booking a pool villa from leading participating hotels during 10 – 31 May 2022, while offers last. In the next phase, the platform will expand to offer an all-in-one travel service that will include reservations for tours and leisure activities, car rental, and air tickets. It is anticipated that these enhanced services will contribute to the revitalization and advancement of the local hospitality industry. “Robinhood Travel” is set to become one of Thailand’s top three booking platforms within a year, evolving into a “Thai Super App” capable of competing and expanding on a regional scale.

As the developer and service provider of the Robinhood platform, Purple Ventures Co., Ltd. Chairman of the Board, Thana Thienachariya said while announcing the company’s new services, “The Robinhood concept stemmed from a desire to assist small businesses in overcoming COVID-19 disruption by providing a platform for restaurants and small eateries without charging GP fees. Over the past twenty months, we have received a great deal of favorable feedback from customers, merchants, and drivers, which has resulted in Robinhood becoming the second most popular food delivery service platform in Bangkok and nearby areas. Robinhood is committed to its mission of creating a social enterprise model with the objective of assisting small business owners, who are a vital economic force. In addition to the food delivery business, we will be expanding into the tourism industry, which is the key driver of the country’s economy now that economic recovery has begun and tourism has started to revive.”

“During April, the hotel room booking rate in Thailand returned to 75% compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, indicating that Thais are once again eager to travel. Today, we are pleased to announce the soft launch of “Robinhood Travel,” a new service that will be Robinhood’s second flagship business, allowing Thais to conveniently book travel and accommodations in Thailand. The new service will connect more than 2.8 million of Robinhood’s existing food delivery customers with travel business operators without requiring them to download a new application. Robinhood user’s demographic with significant potential and purchasing power. With an all-in-one “Dining and Travel” concept, each Robinhood Travel booking entitles the user to a discount code for free delivery of up to 20 orders within a distance of 30 kilometers. We aim to play a role in helping the Thai tourism industry recover and move forward once more,” added Thana.

Srihanath Lamsam, Chief Executive Officer at Robinhood developer and operator Purple Ventures Co., Ltd. noted,“We have been working over the past six months to launch “Robinhood Travel,” and the platform currently has listings for three to five-star hotels in more than 16,000 locations throughout the country. In this first phase, we are only offering booking service for accommodations, but in our next phase we will expand to offer reservations for tours and leisure activities, car rental, and flight booking services as we aspire to become an all-inclusive travel service. In welcoming users to the new Robinhood Travel accommodation booking service, we have prepared a special 50% discount promotion for pool villa booking from leading participating hotels between 10 – 31 May 2022, while offers last.”

“With the strength of Robinhood’s food delivery customer base, a group with relatively high purchasing power, we are confident that the first year of Robinhood Travel will see more than 30,000 operators in the hotel and tourism industry and more than 200,000 active customers using the platform, resulting in more than 300,000 trips generated. These activities will help save entrepreneurs’ commission expenses by more than 200 million baht and circulate more than one billion baht throughout the economy,” added Srihanath.

“For the next phase of Robinhood’s business plan, we anticipate being able to launch a Mart Service for grocery orders in July 2022, and in the third and fourth quarters of this year we will be able to launch express delivery service and ride-hailing services in order to become a “Thai Super App” that can compete and grow in the region,” Srihanath concluded.

Photo Caption:

Bangkok-based food delivery platform “Robinhood”for small eateries has reaffirmed its mission to establish a social enterprise model to expand its to the tourism industry with its soft launch of “Robinhood Travel,” pursuant to signals that tourism has started to recover. The move will promote the platform’s all-in-one concept of “Eating and Travel,” connecting customers from food delivery services to tourism operators, starting with a booking service before expanding to an all-inclusive travel service covering reservations for tours and leisure activities, car rental, and flight booking in the next phase. Robinhood Travel aims to become one of the top three booking platforms in Thailand, readying to grow further to becoming a “Thai Super App” that can compete and grow at the regional level.

To celebrate the soft launch, Purple Ventures Co., Ltd. Chairman of the Board,Thana Thienachariya (far left) and Chief Executive Officer, Srihanath Lamsam (far right) enjoyed the honor of welcoming Chamnan Srisawat (third from left), President of the Tourism Council of Thailand; Thanet Supornsahasrungsi (second from left),Managing Director of Ravindra Beach Resort & Spa and Sunshine Hotel Pattaya; and Suchin Jienjitlert (2nd from right), Director of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) to the “Adaptation and Preparation for Returning Tourism Post-COVID-19” press conference.