Bangkok--8 Feb--Agoda
Agoda ( www.agoda.com ), an independent online travel company that specializes in securing the lowest discount hotel prices in Asia and around the world, today announced the appointment of Mr. Joost Doevelaar as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Agoda Company, effective immediately.
Prior to joining Agoda, Doevelaar served as CTO of MWeb (Thailand), where he was responsible for KSC, one of the largest ISPs in Asia, and Sanook.com, Thailand's largest internet portal.
Doevelaar connected with Agoda in 2005 shortly after leaving MWeb - a subsidiary of Naspers - to establish his own consulting practice. In 2006, Doevelaar became a key advisor to the Agoda management team, focusing on architecture and engineering practices. Doevelaar and Agoda worked together to develop real-time systems and infrastructure, necessary to help the company compete with larger players such as Expedia and Zuji.
Robert Rosenstein, Agoda's Chief Operating Officer says, "Our technical ambitions were a natural fit for Joost's aggressive and innovative style. It quickly became clear that there was a full-time role for him. We're delighted to have him spearheading our technology initiatives."
Twenty-five years ago, Doevelaar received his first certification in COBOL programming in the Netherlands and quickly climbed the technical ladder, thanks in part to his strong hands-on programming skills. For MIH-Asia, Doevelaar spent three years at the United Broadcasting Corporation, focusing on interactive and broadband applications before being promoted to CTO of MWeb (Thailand) and heading up KSC and Sanook.com.
Doevelaar relishes the opportunity to further Agoda's ambitions. "IT is at the core of everything Agoda does, from marketing, business development to travel operations," he says. "Agoda's innovations in loyalty programs, online chat, inventory distribution, and Web 2.0 will lead the industry, not follow it. As CTO, I'll continue to make innovation the driving force of Agoda."
Innovation is exactly what the successful e-commerce travel operation is looking for. In the past year, Agoda Services Company, which is based in Bangkok and provides the bulk of Agoda's programming needs, has become Board of Investment (BOI) certified and launched several new websites, rolling out a series of technical innovations and scalability enhancements.
Doevelaar really enjoys the pace. "The e-commerce world moves at the speed of sound," he says. "What's good today may be obsolete tomorrow."
For more information regarding Agoda, please access its website at www.agoda.com or contact the Agoda Team via e-mail at [email protected]
Note to Editors:
About Agoda Company
Agoda ( www.agoda.com ) is an independent online travel company that specializes in securing the lowest discount hotel prices. Based in Singapore with operations in Bangkok and the Philippines, Agoda’s network includes 7,000 hotels in Asia and more than 27,000 worldwide. The staff of 150 professionals provides a first-rate reservation service that uniquely combines local knowledge and local connections to provide the best hotel deals to both business and leisure travelers. Since 1997, Agoda Company has handled hotel bookings for more than 500,000 customers. Precision Reservations.com, PlanetHoliday.com, and hundreds of other internet sites use Agoda to provide hotel reviews and content, hotel inventory, pricing, fulfillment and 24/7 live support.
In addition, Agoda customers participate in the Agoda Rewards Program, earning further discounts and free stays. Launched in 2003, it was one of the first hotel loyalty programs offered by an independent online merchant. Unlike programs that limit travelers to a single chain, the Agoda Rewards Program allows customers to redeem Rewards Points at any hotel, at any time.
A member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Agoda's aim is to promote travel by making it more affordable and more accessible to more people.
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