NZ - Expedia In, Zuji/Travelocity out

Hot on the heals of Expedia announcing its entry into the New Zealand market, the NZ Herald is reporting that Zuji (the Travelocity operation in Asia) is shutting down its New Zealand site. Zuji.co.nz was being operated under a franchise style relationship with Stella Travel Services. Site will shut down on November 30. There is a chance that Travelocity may try and re-launch Zuji New Zealand with their own team but I think they have more issues to face in growing the Australian business first.

UPDATE - received an email from Phang Shueh Chyan, Zuji's Singaporean based Head of Business Development. Tells me that in while the Zuji/Stella relationship is coming to an end, Zuji will retain the NZ site and operation. We wait to see what resources/team will be used to operate the business when the Stella deal ends on 30 November (assuming that date is still correct).

Expedia launches in NZ - Hoffman adds two letters to his title

Expedia.co.nz is up and running with air, car, hotel, destination and packaging. Here is the press release care of Travelmole. Arthur Hoffman is the boss. His title is now MD Australia & New Zealand. NZ is a small market with United Travel, House of Travel and Holiday Shoppe already battling for the limited OTA scraps left behind from Air New Zealand's online dominance. Oh and Zuji are there too but not sure anyone had really noticed.