The Secret is Out: Leading Travel Company Secret Escapes Joins Forces with Godel

Secret Escapes has selected Godel Technologies to accelerate the growth of their team. It is the UK’s largest members-only website, negotiating exclusive rates on hand-picked hotels and holidays all over the world.

The luxury travel deals brand was established in 2011 when Tom Valentine and Alex Saint saw a gap in the market, with high consumer demand for travel deals in the UK. They now operate in 21 countries and offer luxury 4- and 5-star travel deals at up to 60% discount.

Reflecting on his previous relationships with traditional recruitment channels and software development partners, Nikos Galifianakis, Head of Engineering at Secret Escapes knew what he wanted from his next partner.

«We have chosen an augmented team approach with Godel, and I’m looking forward to having a dedicated team that works exclusively for us. Previous partners were able to provide us with candidates, but there was no on-going management — however Godel’s fully managed service model really appealed to us. During the sales process, the Godel team were able to demonstrate longevity and organic growth and true relationships within their existing client base and this is something which we were looking for».

Looking to the horizon, Godel’s partnership with Secret Escapes has come at a pivotal time as the world starts seeing the unlocking of the travel industry. It’s been forecast that British domestic tourism spending will be up 51% compared to 2020. The ongoing uncertainty around unlocking and the easing of restrictions has seen a large-scale rise in UK bookings and international bookings for later in the year and 2022.

«We had spoken with Godel pre-pandemic, but for obvious reasons discussions were placed on hold. However, as travel started to return, we needed to scale our team with skilled people quickly, to ensure that we are fully prepared for this ‘new world’ and the challenges which it will bring — and we knew Godel was the partner we needed», — continued Nikos.

The teams have begun working together on the evolution of Secret Escape’s existing iOS and Android mobile applications to enrich the current mobile user experience. Additionally, a team of Godel Python engineers will be creating new tools that Secret Escapes can offer to their partners and suppliers.

Speaking on the acquisition of a new client, Paul Green, Chief Commercial Officer at Godel said: «We are excited to be working with Secret Escapes. At such a challenging time for the travel industry, it’s imperative that we deliver the key objectives to take Secret Escape’s mobile apps to the next level and work on new projects as we voyage into the new normal».