Amazon Prime Day is set to offer significant travel deals for the first time, featuring prominent brands such as Carnival Cruise Line, Southwest Airlines, and Viator. The event, scheduled for July 16 and 17, aims to attract travel enthusiasts with exclusive discounts on a range of travel-related services.
This year's Prime Day includes a dedicated "Prime Day Travel Deals" page, highlighting the growing importance of travel in the online retail giant's offerings. Car rental companies Turo, Sixt, and Avis are also participating, broadening the appeal to travelers.
"Consumers are interested in unique experiences, and this Prime Day offering puts cruise vacations in front of a targeted audience that we want to reach," stated Amy Martin Ziegenfuss, Chief Marketing Officer of Carnival Cruise Line. She emphasized the value of partnering with Amazon, noting that previous collaborations have been successful.
Viator, which recently integrated with Amazon Alexa, is equally enthusiastic about the partnership. "As the first travel experiences marketplace to offer an Amazon Prime Day deal in the U.S., we're excited to bring our more than 300,000 activities, tours, and experiences directly to the millions of travelers who shop on Amazon every day," said Laurel Greatrix, Vice President of Brand and Communications for Viator. Greatrix highlighted that this initiative is part of Viator's broader strategy to reach travelers through various channels.
Prime members can look forward to discounts such as 30% off base fares with Southwest Airlines and 20% off Viator experiences. While it remains uncertain if Amazon will continue to offer travel products post-Prime Day, this move indicates a potential expansion into the online travel marketplace.
Last year, Amazon tested the waters with a Prime Day deal in partnership with Priceline. The company has also partnered with MakeMyTrip in 2021 to offer travel services in India. These ventures hint at Amazon's growing interest in the travel sector, despite the company's reticence to comment on future plans.
As Amazon Prime Day approaches, travelers have a unique opportunity to secure significant savings on flights, cruises, and travel experiences, marking a notable shift in the event's offerings.