A new tech player has entered the SA market, saying its purpose is to promote and distribute product into all channels of tourism. 

Touch Down Travel Tech (TDTT) describes itself as a ‘digital eco-system’ and says it will roll out five new travel brands over the next three months to serve retail, trade, MICE, B2B and corporate markets.

The brands are: Ukiyo, which drives travel content and bookings; online travel agency Xscape4u; revenue and distribution platform Scopic; Touch Down Destination Management Company; and retail travel agent, Go Touch Down Travel and Tours. The company says the brands will be led by a team of well-known travel professionals with extensive experience.

TDTT was formed by travel product holding company Painted Dog Holdings and the Touch Down Group, which was founded 27 years ago in 1993. According to the press release, the group owns/manages seven resorts in South Africa and three in Croatia, employing 600 people, and has offices in South Africa, the US, Australia, Indonesia, Croatia, Hungary and Canada.

Behind TDTT are CEO, Leonard Reyneke; chief marketing officer Greg Smith; Tijan Oberholzer (who started Touch Down Europe); and Ross Backman of Painted Dog Holdings.