Travelstart, Africa’s leading online travel agency, recently hosted some of Kenya’s top travel influencers and brands including mainstream media, bloggers, social media personalities and online travel guides among others, in an event that saw them launch their new travel affiliate platform – the first such platform in Kenya for the travel market.

Attendees to the launch included Nation Digital, Ghafla, Ticketsasa, Safari Desk, Savannah Fund, KopoKopo and leading Kenyan Bloggers such as Mutua Matheka, Nairobi Now, Techmoran and, of course, Safiri Kenya Travel Blog.

The affiliate platform comes at a time when the travel market in Kenya is witnessing increased growth after a period of slow performance. According to the Economic Survey report of 2013 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, the travel market in Kenya has experienced rapid growth over the last 5 years with departures expanding at 10% annually to 3 million flights in 2012.

Bryan Kariuki, Country Manager, Travelstart Kenya, speaking at the launch, said, “Many of Kenya’s travel buyers are moving online because it’s a more convenient and often cheaper way of researching and booking travel. Our online travel solutions such as flight, car hire, and hotel booking services can be easily ‘plugged into’ third-party websites through an API, banners, links or a white-label.”

The Affiliate Program is free to join (no sign-up fees) and website owners can start earning money right away in the form of tracked referrals. The program is supported by a dedicated team of staff working from Travelstart’s offices in Nairobi.

Some of the advantages of partnering with the online travel agency include access to low prices. Travelstart negotiates directly with suppliers to secure access to exclusive rates and in turn, their Affiliates can display these promotions on their own websites which increases their brand value.

In addition to this, Affiliates can earn highly competitive commissions from the day their banners, links or white labels go live on their site.

Besides being a convenient and cost-effective way to book travel, Travelstart customers benefit from the website’s user-friendly interface – cheapest flights are displayed first and customers can further refine their search to find and book the arrangements that best suit their schedule and their budget.

A number of secure online payment options are available including M-Pesa, Electronic Funds Transfer and Credit Card. The website accepts Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club Card and American Express. It is also possible to pay via bank deposit or by cash at any KCB or Barclays branch in Kenya.

For more information on Travelstart Kenya, visit their website at www.travelstart.co.ke