Industry veteran Frank DeMarinis has announced a return to travel following his departure as President and CEO of TravelBrands two years ago.
The as yet to be launched shopping platform called Shoptravel (www.shoptravel.com) is defined as “a transformative new venture set to redefine how travel is discovered, booked, and experienced.”
Frank DeMarinis, along with brothers Joe and Enzo, are well known in the industry as founders of Belair Travel. The retailer was bought by NALG, subsequently Thomas Cook, in 2001. In an astute business twist, twelve years later the ‘Belair Boys’ who now helmed Redtag.ca, bought back not only their original company, but all of Thomas Cook’s brands when the company faced bankruptcy. That purchase resulted in the launch of TravelBrands.
All that to say Frank DeMarinis has proven his travel business acumen, and industry watchers are no-doubt keen to know more about his latest venture.
What we know is that Shoptravel’s technology targets both consumers and travel advisors and “will deliver cutting-edge innovation, transparency, and trust across the entire travel journey.”
"The travel industry is at a pivotal moment," DeMarinis wrote on his Linked In page. "Customers crave a better, smarter, and more personal way to explore the world. Additionally, agents want a more efficient way to run their business and build relationships with their customers.
“This is not about recreating the past, it’s about reshaping the future,” he said. “The market is ready. The technology is here. And the timing could not be better.”
Open Jaw guesstimates the site will go live the week of 15SEP.
