Freedom Travel launches hotel booking service, eyes European expansion
Freedom Travel has launched a hotel booking platform featuring more than 3 million properties worldwide. Freedom Travel CEO Igor Boyko unveiled the new service during the Freedom Impressions Talk on June 3 and outlined the company’s plans for expansion into the European market.
Features and pricing
Unlike the package tours already available within the Freedom ecosystem, the new platform is aimed at independent travelers who prefer to plan their own trips.
«These are fundamentally different products. Tours are organized packages that include a predetermined hotel, flight and transfer, with a relatively limited selection of destinations. Hotel bookings, on the other hand, are part of a more flexible travel experience that customers build themselves. They might book a flight first and then choose a hotel. This service operates in much the same way as major international travel platforms,» Boyko said.
The service has launched as a web-based platform. According to Boyko, competitive pricing is supported by exclusive supplier agreements, cashback offers, Kazakh-language customer support and a hotel installment-payment option that the company is currently rolling out.
European expansion
At the same time, Freedom Travel is preparing the infrastructure needed for international growth. The company plans to begin its expansion in Europe, where it will develop travel services in partnership with a local financial institution.
«We have a partner bank in Europe that is looking to expand its ecosystem and has approached us for our expertise. For now, we are moving forward as Freedom Travel, a standalone service. We see significant value in entering the market early and expanding our network of partners and customers. By the time Freedom brings its broader ecosystem — and specifically the SuperApp — to Europe, we expect to already be an established player in the market,» Boyko said.
Travel demand shifts toward Asia
According to Boyko, geopolitical developments have reshaped travel patterns and shifted demand toward new destinations and transit hubs. Travel to the Asia-Pacific region has increased, while alternative connecting cities have gained importance.
«We are seeing a significant shift toward Asia. Travel to Vietnam and Thailand has grown considerably as alternative destinations for our citizens. Passenger flows have also shifted to different transit hubs. For example, Baku, which was not previously considered a major connecting destination, has become increasingly popular. Istanbul has also seen strong growth. People still want to travel, but they are choosing somewhat different destinations,» Boyko added.
Freedom Travel is a travel service within Freedom Holding Corp.’s ecosystem that allows users to book flights, train tickets, hotels and other travel services through the group’s digital platforms. The service is integrated with other Freedom ecosystem products, including banking and rewards programs, enabling customers to pay for travel, earn cashback and manage both travel and financial services through a single app.
