NOL Interpark Tour, NOL Ticket to merge in September

Integration aims to connect every stage of the travel journey

Company targets global 'AI Travel Agency' status

Lee Cheol-ung, CEO of Nol Universe. [Nol Universe]
Lee Cheol-ung, CEO of Nol Universe. [Nol Universe]

Nol Universe is bringing its scattered travel, leisure and culture services together under the NOL platform in a move designed to expand into AI-powered travel services by connecting accommodations, flights, tours, leisure activities, and performance and exhibition tickets in a single platform.

The company said Friday it would consolidate the major services it has operated across separate platforms into NOL, giving customers a seamless experience running from trip discovery and booking through on-site activities and cultural outings.

The overhaul bundles the travel and leisure categories spread across NOL Interpark Tour, NOL Ticket and Triple into a single ecosystem. Users will no longer need to switch between multiple platforms while planning and taking a trip — everything will be accessible within NOL. Nol Universe said the integration would also strengthen cross-category bundled products and price competitiveness.

In practice, competition in the travel and leisure platform market has been shifting from simple booking brokerage to "experience design." The industry trend is toward integrated platform strategies that go beyond selling accommodations and flights to connect transportation, local experiences, performances, exhibitions and regional tourism content within a single service.

The integration will proceed in stages. NOL Interpark Tour and NOL Ticket will join NOL first in September, with Triple to follow. Until the integration is complete, each service will remain available as usual, and existing booking histories will be accessible through NOL after the transition.

A promotional image for Nol Universe's plan to consolidate its major services under the NOL platform, offering customers a connected experience from trip discovery and booking to on-site activities and cultural outings. [Nol Universe]
A promotional image for Nol Universe's plan to consolidate its major services under the NOL platform, offering customers a connected experience from trip discovery and booking to on-site activities and cultural outings. [Nol Universe]

NOL Ticket's paid membership service, "Topping," will also migrate to NOL. The membership benefits, which have been popular among dedicated performance fans, will be maintained after the integration.

Nol Universe said it plans to use the consolidation as a springboard to develop NOL into an "AI Travel Agency" (ATA). The strategy is to combine travel, leisure and cultural data to deliver personalized recommendations, itinerary planning and booking convenience — and to grow NOL into a K-travel, leisure and culture platform with global reach beyond the domestic market.

The company will also run a customer appreciation promotion to mark the integration. From June 15 through Aug. 17 — a nine-week period — Nol Universe will offer discounted overseas and domestic travel products, ticket deals and coupon benefits to members of NOL Interpark Tour and NOL Ticket.

"For our customers, attending a performance, booking flights and accommodations, and planning a local itinerary are all part of one connected journey," said Lee Cheol-ung, CEO of Nol Universe. "NOL will become the unrivaled platform that ties all of those experiences together most seamlessly. This integration is a bold first step in our evolution into a global AI Travel Agency, and the changes and benefits our customers will feel will only grow from here."


rim@heraldcorp.com