EaseMyTrip is an Indian multinational online travel company, headquartered in New Delhi. It was founded in 2008 by Nishant Pitti, Rikant Pitti, and Prashant Pitti. The company provides hotel bookings, air tickets, domestic and international holiday packages, bus bookings, and white-label services. EaseMyTrip has overseas offices in Singapore, UAE and Thailand[2] with country-specific websites for UAE, UK and Thailand.

EaseMyTrip
Company typePublic
ISININE07O001018
IndustryOnline travel agency
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Founders
Headquarters,
India
Area served
Worldwide
Services
RevenueIncrease 590 crore (US$71 million) (FY24)[1]
Increase 228 crore (US$27 million) (FY24)[1]
Increase 157 crore (US$19 million) (FY24)[1]
SubsidiariesSpree Hotels and Real Estate Pvt Ltd
Websitewww.easemytrip.com

History

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Homescreen of the EaseMyTrip mobile app

The idea for EaseMyTrip came when the brothers, Nishant Pitti and Rikant Pitti used to book air tickets for their father's frequent business trips, and saved money in the booking process. Initially based out of their home garage as a travel agency, the duo lost all of the initial investment within the first three months.[3] Later on, references from family and friends helped and a major turnaround came when an airline noticed multiple bookings coming from a single email account and contacted the Pitti brothers to become its travel partner.[4]

In 2019, EaseMyTrip had a network of more than 42,000 travel agents, 1,200 franchise outlets, 640 white-label solutions, and around 1,600 distributors.[2]

In 2019, EaseMyTrip expanded its operations to international markets such as UAE, UK, US, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.[5][6][7]

In March 2021, EaseMyTrip went public with an initial public offering.[8][9][10]

In June 2021, EaseMyTrip collaborated with Oyo Rooms, Airbnb, and Yatra to form the Confederation of Hospitality, Technology and Tourism Industry (CHATT), an industry body for the tourism sector of India.[11]

In September 2021, it became a unicorn after its market capitalisation crossed $1 billion.[12] In December 2021, the organisation hired Vijay Raaz and Varun Sharma as their brand ambassadors.[13]

EaseMyTrip acquired Spree Hospitality, a hospital management company established in 2011 by Keshab Baljee, for an undisclosed amount.[14][15] The company announced the acquisition of travel marketplace Traviate in October 2021.[16] EaseMyTrip acquired YoloBus, an intercity mobility platform, in 2021.[17]

In August 2024, the platform signed on Jacqueline Fernandez as a brand ambassador.[18][19]

On 17th September 2024, it announced its move into the medical tourism sector with the acquisition of a 49 per cent equity stake in Pflege Home Healthcare for 30 crore, and a 30 per cent stake in Rollins International for ₹60 crore.[20][21]

In November 2024, EaseMyTrip acquired a 49% stake in Planet Education Australia. This move will expand its presence in international study tourism.[22]

Services

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In January 2020, EaseMyTrip announced it will allow users to book flight tickets via WhatsApp. Users can activate the autonomous interactive program by sending a message and the booking bot will guide users through the end-to-end process.[23]

In 2021, the company launched another feature where if a person can show a waiting ticket in a train, they would get a discount from Easemytrip on flights.[24]

In order to provide travel services on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), EaseMyTrip has announced the launch of ScanMyTrip on 12 September 2024. By allowing them to offer their services—flights, hotels, and homestays—on the ONDC, ScanMyTrip seeks to empower MSMEs, homestays, and OTAs (Online Travel Agencies).[25]

In 2019, it filed for a ₹510 crore ($72.13 million) initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI),[26][27] making them the first online travel agency to be listed on the Indian stock exchanges.[28] The issue was managed by Axis Bank and JM Financial.[29] It opened for subscription on 8 March 2021 and was listed on the stock market on 19 March 2021.[8] The IPO was subscribed over 159 times.[30]

HSBC Global Investment Funds, Tata Trustee Company, Aditya Birla Sunlife Insurance Company, Nomura, Sundaram Mutual Fund, Nippon Life India Trustee Company, and Bajaj Allianz Life Insurance Company were its anchor investors.[31][32]

Philanthropy

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In 2018, the employees of the company contributed a day's salary for the relief measures of Kerala floods.[33]

During the second wave of the COVID-19 oxygen crisis in India, the company donated 550 oxygen concentrators[34] and launched a refund policy that promised full refund for ticket cancellations, including the costs deducted by the airlines.[35]

Controversies

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On March 8, 2022,[when?] a consumer technology firm from Pune called udChalo filed a trademark infringement case against EaseMyTrip.[36] Previously, MakeMyTrip also moved to Delhi High Court against the company and Google both for Trademark violation.[37]

Collaborations

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  • Vodafone Idea partners EaseMyTrip to offer travel services on Vi App, Dec 23.[38]
  • EaseMyTrip, along with Jeewani Group, is partnering with Radisson Hotel for the development of a 150-room hotel in Ayodhya City, Feb 24.[39]
  • EaseMyTrip partners with Zaggle to streamline expense management solutions, Feb 24.[40]
  • EaseMyTrip has collaborated with Zoomcar to provide pre-booked and on-demand self-drive cars in India, Mar 24.[41]
  • EaseMy Trip partners with Adani Digital Labs to offer duty-free shopping benefits, Apr 24.[42]

Recognition

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  • Best Travel Booking Site - SATTE (2020)[43]
  • Best Travel Booking App/Website - Times Travel Awards (2019)[44]
  • Enterprise Excellence of the Year - 24MRC Network (2016)[45]
  • Best Online Travel Company of the Year - Worldwide Achievers Business Leadership Awards (2013)[46]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Q4 and FY2024 Investor Presentation" (PDF). BSE. Easy Trip Planners Ltd. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "EaseMyTrip looks to raise up to Rs 750cr via IPO; books Axis Capital, JM Financial as bankers". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  3. ^ Modi, Ajay (12 January 2017). "Aggressive EaseMyTrip flies into top league". Business Standard India. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  4. ^ "EaseMyTrip faces cash flow issues as forward bookings drop, refunds continue". cnbctv18.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ^ "EaseMyTrip's Q2 profit jumps by 330% YOY; air segment, hotel bookings rise". Business Today. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  6. ^ Kundu, Rhik (2 November 2021). "EaseMyTrip net profit surges over 300% to ₹27.13 crore". mint. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  7. ^ Chaturvedi, Anumeha. "EaseMyTrip expands international presence to Philippines, Thailand, and the USA". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  8. ^ a b "EaseMyTrip IPO is set to open on Monday — price band for the issue set at ₹186 to ₹187 per share". Business Insider. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  9. ^ Chengappa, Sangeetha. "EaseMyTrip clocks 47% CAGR from FY 2018-20". @businessline. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  10. ^ Kundu, Rhik (15 June 2021). "EaseMyTrip reports eight-fold increase in Q4 profit". mint. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Oyo, Airbnb, EaseMyTrip, Yatra join hands; form industry body for tourism sector". Business Today. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  12. ^ Chakraborty, Chiranjivi. "Travel portal Ease My Trip joins India's burgeoning unicorn list. Is it a good time to lap up the stock?". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  13. ^ Livemint (29 December 2021). "EaseMyTrip appoints Vijay Raaz and Varun Sharma as brand ambassadors". mint. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  14. ^ Chaturvedi, Anumeha. "EaseMyTrip acquires Spree Hospitality, a 1200 keys hospitality management company". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  15. ^ Chaturvedi, Anumeha. "EaseMyTrip acquires Spree Hospitality, a 1200 keys hospitality management company". The Economic Times. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  16. ^ "EaseMyTrip to buy travel marketplace Traviate in first ever acquisition". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  17. ^ Chaturvedi, Anumeha. "EaseMyTrip acquires the YoloBus brand to expand its non-air business". The Economic Times. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  18. ^ "EaseMyTrip.com appoints Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez as brand ambassador". BusinessStandard. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Jacqueline Fernandez joins EaseMyTrip as brand ambassador". BrandEquity.com. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  20. ^ Manchanada, Kunal (17 September 2024). "EaseMyTrip invests Rs 90 Cr in two overseas firms; enters medical tourism space". Entrackr. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  21. ^ "EaseMyTrip enters medical tourism; board approves Rs 90 crore acquisitions".
  22. ^ "EaseMyTrip to acquire Planet Education Australia, foray into study tourism". The Economic Times. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  23. ^ Naik, Amit Raja (23 January 2020). "EaseMyTrip To Allow Users To Book Flight Tickets On WhatsApp". Inc42 Media. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  24. ^ Market, Capital (29 September 2021). "EaseMyTrip launches industry-first option for waitlisted train bookings". Business Standard India. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  25. ^ Singh, Rimjhim (12 September 2024). "EaseMyTrip launches ScanMyTrip, a first-of-its-kind travel platform on ONDC". Business Standard. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  26. ^ "EaseMyTrip files papers for Rs 510 crore IPO". The Economic Times. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  27. ^ "EaseMyTrip Files Draft Papers For IPO, Looks To Raise $72 Mn". Inc42 Media. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  28. ^ www.ETtech.com. "EaseMyTrip plans to raise Rs 700 crore from public issue – ETtech". The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  29. ^ "EaseMyTrip's IPO Plans May Go Live Soon To Raise INR 700 Cr". Inc42 Media. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  30. ^ "Easy Trip Planners IPO subscribed over 159 times on last day". The Economic Times. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Easy Trip Planners IPO opens for subscription: Check issue price, GMP, other details; should you subscribe?". www.businesstoday.in. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  32. ^ www.ETTravelWorld.com. "Even as booking revenue drops by half, EaseMyTrip reports 86% growth in profits - ET TravelWorld". ETTravelWorld.com. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  33. ^ News Desk (21 August 2018). "EaseMyTrip employees donate their one day salary for Kerala relief fund". HW English. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  34. ^ www.ETTravelWorld.com. "EaseMyTrip donates 550 imported oxygen concentrators - ET TravelWorld". ETTravelWorld.com. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  35. ^ "Get full refund on domestic air ticket cancellations! EaseMyTrip offers free full-refund medical policy". The Financial Express. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  36. ^ "UdChalo files infringement case against EasyMyTrip and other online travel agents in Delhi HC - ET BrandEquity".
  37. ^ "MakeMyTrip files suit against EaseMyTrip over trademark violation". 22 March 2019.
  38. ^ "Vi and EaseMyTrip sign a strategic partnership". Business Traveller. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  39. ^ "EaseMyTrip, Jeewani Group partners with Radisson 150-room hotel in Ayodhya". Business Today. 20 February 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  40. ^ Livemint (28 February 2024). "EaseMyTrip partners with Zaggle to streamline expense management solutions". mint. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  41. ^ "EaseMyTrip will now offer Zoomcar services with exclusive discounts". CNBCTV18. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  42. ^ Mishra, Arushi (25 April 2024). "Easy Trip Planners partners with Adani Digital Labs to offer duty-free shopping benefits". BusinessLine. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  43. ^ SATTE 2020 Winners
  44. ^ "EaseMyTrip Teams Up with 20th IIFA Awards as Travel Partner". Indian Television Dot Com. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  45. ^ "24MRC Network felicitated the winners of 2016 Leaders Awards (Enterprise Edition)". @businessline. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  46. ^ "Business Leadership Award Winner". www.businesswireindia.com. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
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