Jovago Incorporates Millicom’s Tigo-Pesa As A Payment Option
Jovago has announced today its new partnership with Tigo–Tanzania’s leading Telecommunication Company. As part of this partnership, Tigo Pesa customers will now be able to pay for their accommodation booked on Jovago with their Tigo Pesa account. This comes at a time when integration of m-payments on online booking websites is seen as a crucial aspect in bolstering in the e-tourism industry. This is the 2nd integration of a mobile payment service provider on the booking platform. The partnership allows guests more online convenience and speed in the booking process.
Africa’s leading hotel booking platform Jovago.com has announced the incorporation of Tigo Pesa, one of the region’s major mobile money transfer services. This partnership gives the customer yet another option for efficiency on top of the available card payments and pay-on-arrival model. “ Africa is definitely moving on to the digital world, as part of this move we want to take in consideration the local market demands and habits, thus structure our strategies in response to the needs, said the Managing Director- Estelle Verdier, “
Tigo Pesa is East Africa’s first cross-border money transfer with currency conversion and an app for the same. It’s evident that most interesting developments are taking place in mobile technology. Commenting on the integration of Tigo Pesa with Jovago, Tigo Head of Mobile Financial Services Ruan Swanepoel said: “We are delighted to join hands with Jovago to give the customers of our two companies the convenience of paying for their hotel accommodation from the convenience of their mobile phones. This partnership is in line with our strategy to promote digital lifestyle among our customers.”
Verdier also explained that, in addition to the convenient payment methods Jovago currently offers the largest inventory of hotels in Africa and negotiates hotel rates on behalf of the customer to ensure customers find their ideal accommodation at the Best Price.
It’s important to note that during the last Quarter of 2014, Tanzania registered a 2.6% growth in mobile penetration, a notable rise from the previously recorded growth of 2.0%. Tanzania now has a total of around 28 million mobile phone subscribers, representing a mobile penetration of 63 percent.
According to a World Tourism Report, East Africa is the most successful and prominent location for mobile payments, with Kenya taking the lead at 80% – of its adult population adopting mobile payment.
In conclusion, Verdier underlined that currently over 30% percent of visits to jovago.com are channeled via a mobile device. In such context mobile payment integration is a key driver in the growth of this industry.
This is not the first time both companies have been involved in a common project. Jovago.com and Tigo Pesa are both supporters of UNICEF’s Passport to Life an initiative that seeks to have every African child obtain official birth registration. When booking on Jovago customers are given the opportunity to support birth registration (5$ per booking donated to UNICEF) at no extra cost.
About Jovago.com
Jovago.com is an online hotel booking service with offices in Lagos (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Dakar (Senegal) founded by Africa Internet Holding and has MTN as one of the investors. Jovago.com, Africa’s No.1 booking portal, facilitates the booking process for its users to provide them with the best hotel booking experience with fast, transparent and easy-to-use services. Jovago.com has over 20,000 local hotel listings across Africa and over 200,000 hotels around the world.
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About AIG
Africa Internet Group introduces and accelerates the online shift in Africa – for its people and its culture. It is committed to running successful and vibrant internet companies which boost the evolution of African online culture. AIG is the parent group of nine successful and fast-growing companies in more than 26 African countries, accounting for over 3,500 staff. AIG cares about entrepreneurship and brings together all the key elements required to build great companies: team, concept, technology and capital. Its network of companies includes JUMIA, Kaymu, Hellofood, Lamudi, Carmudi, Zando, Jovago, Lendico and Easy Taxi.
For further information visit Jovago.com.
About Tigo
Tigo Tanzania is the leading innovative telecommunication company in the country, distinguished as a fully-fledged digital lifestyle brand. Offering a diverse product portfolio in voice, SMS, high-speed internet and mobile financial services, Tigo has pioneered innovations such as Facebook in Kiswahili, Tigo Pesa App for Android & iOS users, and East Africa’s first cross-border mobile money transfer with currency conversion.
The Tigo 3G network guarantees the best services to its subscriber’s in all regions across the country. Between 2013 and 2014 alone the company launched over 500 new network sites and plans to double its investment by 2017 in terms of coverage and additional capacity networks for deeper penetration in rural areas. With over eight (8) million registered subscribers to its network, Tigo directly and indirectly employs over 100,000 Tanzanians including an extended network of customer service representatives, mobile money merchants, sales agents and distributors.
Tigo is the biggest commercial brand of Millicom, an international company developing the digital lifestyle in 44 countries with commercial operations in Africa and Latin America and corporate offices in Europe and the USA.
“SMILE, YOU’RE WITH TIGO.”
For further information visit: Tigo.co.tz or contact:
