News Corp Australia has been chosen as the strategic partner for New Zealand’s biggest online travel agency Mix & Match as it launches its expansion into the $5 billion Australian market.
News Corp Australia’s managing director, food and travel, Fiona Nilsson said the partnership with Mix & Match was a welcome addition to the company’s growing News Travel Network.
“We are delighted to be the strategic partner of Mix & Match and we share their ambition for the Australian travel market at a time when the sector begins its post-Covid recovery,” Nilsson said.
“News Corp Australia’s trusted media environments and engaged audiences will help Mix & Match grow its Australian business and we will provide the kind of advice, resourcing and marketing expertise for which we are known.”
Mix & Match chief executive officer Tim Paulsen said News Corp Australia would provide a vital launch pad for the company’s Australian ambitions.
“As a challenger brand in the Australian market we will now be able to access News Corp Australia’s trusted digital and print brands to connect directly with the majority of Australian online travel bookers,” Paulsen said.
“We believe the Australian travel market contains significant pent-up demand. We’ll be offering consumers the freedom to search and book an extensive range of great priced flights, hotels and other products launching soon, all with the reassurance of a professional call centre when in-person support is needed.”
Mix & Match is New Zealand’s largest online travel agent for flights, with aggregation technology developed over the past 17 years, a mobile app, regular exclusive deals and competitions, and buy now pay later options.
Nilsson said the News Travel Network spent the past two years working to refine its market offer in preparation for the expected pick-up in travel demand.
“We’ve been busy developing a raft of new products to better capture consumers’ attention and to turn that attention into action,” she said.
“The result is a product suite featuring simplicity, scale and the kind of sophistication needed to drive success for Mix & Match.”