TIL launches HappyTrips; brings TechRadar to India

Times Internet, the digital business subsidiary of the Times of India Group, has launched HappyTrips.com as a travel planning website in India, and in a related development has launched UK-based technology website TechRadar's India version.

Times Internet, the digital business subsidiary of the Times of India Group, has launched HappyTrips.com as a travel planning website in India. The website promises to help users plan their next trip, discover amazing hotels, restaurants and things to do, and also provide them with fun facts from all around the world.

The site covers close to 200 Indian destinations as of now and will expand to cover another 100 destinations around the world. This coverage will be enhanced to include the most important travel destinations in India and around the world.

HappyTrips currently competes with websites like HolidayIQ.com, Cleartrip's Collections, iXigo's Trip Planner and TripAdvisor. HappyTrips intends to be the go-to destination in the travel category with curated travel advice, and actionable and up-to-date information to inspire users.

Speaking about the launch of HappyTrips, Satyan Gajwani, CEO, Times Internet, says, "We are excited to announce the beta launch of our latest venture HappyTrips.com. HappyTrips is special because it feels like a magazine but is powered by a robust backend data platform, storing millions of related data points. Upfront, the users see easy-to-navigate cards with curated guides, itineraries and lists to help them find the best of a city they're exploring."

In a related development, Times Internet has also entered into a strategic partnership with Future PLC to launch its major international consumer technology news and reviews brand TechRadar in India.

This alliance will bring together the technology review expertise of TechRadar and TIL's editorial teams, thereby serving the Indian tech geeks with localised technology content.

Times Internet will be Future PLC's exclusive partner in India through Times Local Partners (TLP) for content development, events, monetisation and syndication.

TechRadar is the UK's biggest technology reviews website, and now reaches more than 20 million unique users a month internationally with the biggest and best technology reviews. The award-winning brand is one of the fastest growing technology websites in the US and has become the go-to destination for opinions, exclusives and authoritative reviews of everything from mobile phones and tablets to the latest cameras and televisions.

The deal is a part of Times Local Partners (TLP) initiative and is similar to the Gawker and Business Insider deals, where Times Internet will have exclusive rights to IGN and AskMen brands and their content in India.

Times Local Partners (TLP) is a recently launched initiative by Times Internet to partner with global digital companies to launch, build and grow meaningfully in India. In 2013, TLP had announced a partnership with Gawker Media to bring Gizmodo and Lifehacker to India. Last year, it also launched America's most popular business news site Business Insider India and Askmen.

Discussing this partnership with TechRadar, Puneet Singhvi, business head, Times Local Partners, says, "TechRadar is a great addition to the rapidly growing TLP portfolio that delivers differentiated content and aggregates premium audience across its network. We look forward to growing the brand and audience for TechRadar in the country."