Snowfall (company)
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Corporate Travel Management |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founders | Stefan Cars |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
Number of employees | 200 (2023) |
| Website | snowfalltravel.com |
Snowfall Limited is an online travel management, content and payments company.[1]
History
[edit]Snowfall began with passenger service system software and mobile applications for rail and ferry providers in Sweden.
By 2014, the company was listed by Swedish newspaper Dagens industri as one of Sweden's 900 fastest growing companies.[2]
MTR Partnership & Lawsuits
[edit]Snowfall began working with MTR as their IT provider for the MTR Express in Sweden in 2015.[3] The partnership appeared deep, even as staff moved between the companies such as the marketing manager, Per Nasfi.[3][4] Snowfall's founder and CEO, Stefan Cars, even acted as MTR's CTO.[5]
In June 2017 a joint venture between MTR and Guangshen Railway Company was shortlisted to bid for the West Coast Partnership franchise to commence in 2019.[6][7] In December 2018 it was accounced that Spanish operator Renfe Operadora joined their bid, with Snowfall as a software subcontractor and Trainline providing a distribution outlet.[8][9] In August 2019, it was announced that the bid was unsuccessful in the bid, losing to a joint bid by First and Trenitalia.[10]
In February 2019, MTR abruptly sued Snowfall in court citing Snowfall's behavior as "criminal".[3] Once MTR ceased working with Snowfall as it's IT, marketing, sales and booking provider, it had to immediately stop selling tickets as it couldn't gain access to their own internet domains as those too were controlled by Snowfall.[11] In order to update customers, the rail operator had to do so via their Facebook page. In a message, they told customers to delete the app and visit a new website for tickets.[3]
MTR demanded restitution of 200,000 SEK per day until they were given access back.[3] By October of 2019, Swedish tech site BreakIt, reported that Snowfall was in an economic crisis with millions in debt, unpaid taxes, a lawsuit brought against by a former manager unpaid wages and pension payments, and 13 lawsuits from vendors who said they hadn't been paid.[12]
Junction
[edit]Cars moved the company from Sweden to the UK.[13] Snowfall announced it created Junction in 2019, a modern cloud-based and open API (Application Programming Interface) ecosystem to reduce the technical barriers and costs of integrating systems and to increase connectivity between a wider range of travel suppliers and sellers [14]
In 2022, the company acquired an award-winning[15] US based booking platform called PSNGR1 after that company ran into funding issues.[1][16]
Roughly a year later, the company acquired a group travel app called AmigoGo and brought it's founders, Nick Castrioty and Josh Sparkes, into the business. Chief Growth Officer, Simon Arvidsson clarified the company's position with regards to acquisitions stating that they would acquire companies that would already fit into the Junction ecosystem while continuing to pursue organic growth.[17]
Services
[edit]All functionality including administrative travel management can be done through the desktop and mobile application, including booking trips, modifying reservations, tracking travel itineraries, chatting with travel support agents.[18]
Snowfall partners with multiple suppliers in the market Inventory on the platform comes from consumer, corporate, and direct integrations including emissions calculations for travelers and corporations.[19]
Partnerships
[edit]Snowfall partners with travel management companies who resell their products via license around the world such as the UK's Gray Dawes Group, Traveltrust, Focus Travel Group and the US' Omega World Travel and Travelstore.[18]
In March 2024, Snowfall announced a partnership with Spanish travel agency consortium, Grupo GEA, to provide members with rail content from it's Junction platform.[20]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Jonas, David (8 August 2022). "U.K.-Based Snowfall Travel Agrees To Buy PSNGR1 Online Booking Tech". The Company Dime. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "https://www.di.se/di/artiklar/2014/12/10/hela-listan-med-alla-gaseller/".
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ a b c d e Wisterberg, Erik (2019-03-07). "MTR Express stämmer it-leverantör efter haveri: "Brottsligt"" [MTR Express sues IT supplier after breakdown: "Criminal"]. BreakIt (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Åkerman, Mikaela (2017-04-04). "MTR:s reklam ska locka 40-plussarna" [MTR's advertising is intended to attract the over 40s]. Dagens Media (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ "MTR Express and SJ speak about the value of the travel agency channel". YouTube. Amadeus. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ West Coast Partnership and South Eastern rail franchise bidders Department for Transport 22 June 2017
- ^ Three shortlisted for West Coast Partnership franchise Railway Gazette International 22 June 2017
- ^ "MTR teams up with operator of Europe's largest high speed rail network for West Coast Partnership bid". MTR Europe. 20 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
- ^ "RENFE joins MTR's West Coast Partnership bid team". Railway Gazette International. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
- ^ FirstGroup consortium to replace Virgin on west coast mainline Guardian 14 August 2019 FirstGroup consortium to replace Virgin on west coast mainline] Guardian 14 August 2019
- ^ Norrby, Jakob; Mörk, Isa (2019-03-08). "MTR Express stämmer sin IT-leverantör Snowfall" [MTR Express is suing its IT supplier Snowfall]. Turismnytt (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ Wisterberg, Erik (2019-10-02). "Ekonomisk kris i Snowfall – tidigare toppchef kräver en miljon" [Financial crisis in Snowfall - former top manager demands a million]. BreakIt (in Swedish). Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Hayhurst, Lee (2021-12-02). "Snowfall predicts fintech-style revolution in travel as it launches Junction". Travolution. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
UK travel software specialist Snowfall has launched a next generation travel distribution platform it says will support a revolution in travel technology post COVID.
- ^ Hayhurst, Lee (11 March 2022). "WEBCAST: SNOWFALL AIMS TO SPUR INNOVATION WITH 'APP STORE FOR TRAVEL BUSINESSES'". Travolution. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Grapevine Wins BTN Group 2021 Business Travel Innovator Award". Business Travel News. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
- ^ Boehmer, Jay (8 June 2022). "Psngr1's Funding Woes Highlight New Entrants' Risky Business". The Beat. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Fox, Linda (23 August 2023). "Snowfall acquires group travel app AmigoGo". PhocusWire. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ a b Hoskins, Andy (16 May 2023). "Snowfall launches PSNGR1 booking tool to market as Junction One". Business Travel News Europe. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Cars, Stefan (25 February 2022). "How technology is making travel more sustainable". BusinessGreen. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ Adesilu, Sheena (2024-03-19). "Snowfall signs rail agreement". The Business Travel Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-11.