Marlin Travel, Canada’s largest leisure travel agency network, and a member of Transat Distribution Canada, announced today that it is teaming up with Walmart Canada to offer customers an enhanced travel shopping experience on the Web on walmart.ca. The “Marlin Express” button will provide millions of Canadians who already visit the site immediate and easy access to a wide array of travel and tourism products for their dream vacations.
“Marlin Travel and Walmart Canada have enjoyed a strong business relationship for the past decade and this exclusive all-vacation shopping site is an exciting new step,” said Yves Lalumiere, Vice-President and General Manager of Transat Distribution Canada. “Teaming up with Walmart Canada offers the opportunity to work with a solid partner to expand Marlin Travel’s e-commerce experience and bring it to an all new level.”
“Walmart Canada already offers Canadians the convenience of a one-stop shop, and now walmart.ca extends that convenience with Marlin Express,” said Sean Coutts, General Manager of eCommerce for Walmart Canada. “We are proud to partner with Marlin Travel and to give our customers easy access to affordable vacations.”
Marlin Express will offer Canadians access to a nationally recognized and trusted travel agency network, including extensive inventory, confirmation of availability, and competitive prices so they can book their dream vacation online. Walmart.ca visitors can also contact one of the 30 “Marlin at Walmart” agencies by using the agency locator application.
Travel Superstore Inc., a Transat Distribution Canada sister-company, will manage and operate “Marlin Express for walmart.ca” on behalf of Marlin Travel and Walmart Canada, including the travel web site and associated call centres.
Marlin Travel is one of the four brands that are part of Transat Distribution Canada’s network, the largest travel agency network in Canada with 460 agencies and 2,200 travel agents. Transat Distribution Canada is a member of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries.
A leading national internet vacation and travel marketing business, Travel Superstore owns and operates two well-known and long-established major web travel brands, tripcentral.ca and exitnow.ca. Travel Superstore is a member of Transat A.T. Inc., an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries.
Walmart Canada operates a growing chain of more than 300 stores, serving more than one million Canadians daily. With more than 82,000 associates, the company is Canada’s third-largest employer. In 2009, Walmart Canada’s corporate culture was ranked among the 10 most admired corporate cultures in Canada by Waterstone Human Capital Inc.