Our history - TRAVELFACTORY

TRAVELFACTORY

2000

2005

2006

2008

2011

2013

2015

2017

2018

2000

Yariv Abehsera, founder and CEO of TRAVELFACTORY

2000 : Creation of the business and launch of the brand GoldenVoyages

In 2000, Yariv Abehsera launched his first entrepreneurial adventure by inaugurating the brand GoldenVoyages, targeting holidays for student groups. From there he founded the parent company TRAVELFACTORY with the overall aim of tackling the fast growing digital business.

In the spring of 1999, the company sent its first group of students to Prague. The following winter, GoldenVoyages began organising ski holidays. With their disruptive commercial tactics, GoldenVoyages offered something different to try and compete with the existing market by offering fully organised trips for student union groups (ski, city breaks and orientation weekends).

2005

2005 : Travelski, the expert for ski holidays, is launched

Having gained a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the ski sector and mountain holidays, the company decided to grow the business by focusing on the family aspect of the ski market. Olivier Abergel, an old friend of Yariv Abehsera joins forces to launch the brand Travelski. The aim of Travelski is a 100% digital ski expert.

For the first time in France, made-to-measure ski packages are on offer for individual customers. The mantra of Travelski since its inception remains: a simple and easy way to book your ski holiday in 5 clicks. This takes care of accommodation, lift pass and even meals delivered straight to your fridge upon your arrival.

At this time in 2005, the team was made up of 10 colleagues with the aim of growing bigger.

2006

2006 : Creation of DeclicFrance and EspanaClic

Having seen the online market space for B2C holiday rentals grow in importance and potential, TRAVELFACTORY then created two specialist online brands for holiday rentals in France and Spain. With some eye-catching and memorable advertising campaigns to launch these new brands, France and Spain became key destinations for TRAVELFACTORY.

2008

2008 : Partnership as a ‘white label’ for Lastminute.com

The expertise of TRAVELFACTORY was quickly acknowledged by the sector, which led to a number of high profile companies trusting the brand. In 2008, Lastminute, a pioneer of online travel sales, signed a partnership with TRAVELFACTORY. The company became the official provider for Lastminute for all destinations in France, Spain and the mountain regions as well as managing the customer care aspect of these destinations.

2011

2011 : Purchase of two large B2B brands, Locatour and Snotour

In 2011, TRAVELFACTORY had already gained its place as a key player in holiday rentals for individuals. With ever growing ambition, the company decided to develop a multichannel strategy.

As pioneers of online distribution of products to travel agencies, Locatour and Snotour brought with them a network of over 3,000 points of sale. For TRAVELFACTORY this represented a unique opportunity to reach new markets and continue its growth.

2013

2013 : Locatour, multichannel brand of the company

Over time, the 3 different brands became well known and a reference point for online holiday rentals in France, Spain and the mountain regions. Having created the multichannel point of sales with Locatour, the company has now its place in one of the largest networks of travel agencies, online and via work councils.

With the aim of simplifying the offer available to customers, TRAVELFACTORY decided to merge the 4 brands of holiday rentals by bringing Locatour, Snotour, DeclicFrance and EspanaClic all under the brand Locatour. This brings TRAVELFACTORY to 3 brands instead of 6 following the creation of the website LOCATOUR.com.

The specialist of holiday rentals in France with over 50.000 holiday offers all year round

2015

2014-2015 : Development and startup incubator

With a keen aim to develop and diversify its activity, the company began to create, purchase and incubate young startup companies in the same field as TRAVELFACTORY. With this new strategy in place, TRAVELFACTORY is working to become the overall expert for ski holidays for outgoing tour operators. The user has to be in a position to book everything they need for their ski holiday from ski equipment to meals and much more.

A new vertical model for TRAVELFACTORY

In the middle of summer 2014, Bernard Germain joined the company as a business developer for the mountain destinations which saw a branch of the company called Ski&Soleil created. The company acquired 9 different property agencies and a portfolio of 800 apartments in various resorts such as La Plagne, Les Arcs, La Rosière and Tignes. In 2016, another 1000 apartments were added to the collection meaning the exclusive management of these properties in the Hautes-Alpes region as well as the brand ‘AlpesForYou’.

Tour Operator, accommodation provider and overall simplifier

In order to differentiate from the C2C competition, TRAVELFACTORY began to offer simple and easy winter ski holidays to all of their customers. In 2015, the startup SimplytoSki was the next to be incubated, a website specialising in material and equipment for winter sports.

2017

The Silicon Wadi, heart of the israeli tech

2017 : The ‘Lab’ opens in Israel

TRAVELFACTORY opened a new R&D hub in Ra’anana, the heart of the Israeli Silicon Valley. Managed by Ilan Koskas, the main objective of this project is to improve the user experience of the various brands, with a strong focus on mobile.

2018

2018 : Merge with the Compagnie des Alpes

In 2018, TRAVELFACTORY merged with the larger group ‘Compagnie des Alpes’, a global leader in ski resort management and the 4th largest European operator of amusement parks.

The Founder and CEO, Yariv Abehsera, joined forces with Guillaume de Marcillac who took up the role of General Manager.

As part of the 3 year TRAVELFACTORY roadmap, a number of ambitions include expanding into the international European markets with the launch of the UK and Dutch websites for the brand Travelski. It also implies the merge with the tour operator AlpesSkiResa throughout autumn 2018 as well as an overall goal to grow the millennial clientele and improve the level of client satisfaction.

The adventure is only just beginning!