Seems like the industry cannot get enough of a good thing, or the zeitgeist at least, with Viator the latest travel site to launch a members-only service to get exclusive deals.
Launching simultaneously in 25 cities around the world, member-only deals will include tour and activity-related products from its database of suppliers and uses the new technology platform created for the launch of the Viator iPhone application in May this year.
Membership and access to the deals is free.
Viator says the deals are all exclusive and guarantee something in the range of 25%-75% off the existing sale price. Launch markets include Auckland, Barcelona, Las Vegas, Munich, Las Vegas, San Francisco, New York and Zurich.
Keen to differentiate between it and the countless other flash sale/member-only sites spreading around the web, Viator says it is unlike other offerings because members can "search tours and activities by destination and book specific dates and times -- from up to 60 days to just hours in advance".
Neverthless, Viator isn't the first player in the tour and activity space to head down the member-only route.
Recently fundedZozi switched its business model after seeing the deals space grow, while EpicThrills is a relatively new entrant to the marketplace with its own take on flash sales in the sector.
Viator is also eager to talk up the technology behind the system, a process it claims will eliminate issues other deal sites have such as multiple deals being sold simultaneously.
"Viator tour operators can use the system to self-serve deals any time, providing real-time distribution to travelers searching for future and last-minute things to do.
"Because these deals are date- and time-specific, Viator helps tour operators with yield management in high- and low-demand periods while preserving quality and service levels."