In a first for Australian supermarkets, Aldi Australia is branching out into the travel sector with the launch of Aldi Holidays, an online portal for booking holidays.

The service, set to launch on 2 October 2024, will offer exclusive escapes, cruises, and tour deals. This move represents a significant diversification for the supermarket giant, offering a service not typically associated with grocery retailers.

Aldi Holidays will offer holiday packages that include room upgrades, tours, customisable experiences, and flights to various travel destinations. The first set of packages will start from $449 per person and include destinations such as Surfers Paradise, The Whitsundays, Fiji, Thailand, and Hawaii. The service is in partnership with Ignite Travel Group.

"We are excited to be taking off in a new direction to make planning and booking a holiday a more enjoyable experience for Australians and in our signature, Good Different way with Aldi Holidays. This service, in partnership with Ignite Travel, will unlock incredible value and help all types of travelers create truly unforgettable experiences", said Rodney Balech, Group Director, Aldi Australia.

Similar to Aldi's bi-weekly Special Buys, there will be a limited number of exclusive holiday deals, available until sold out. Aldi Holidays will offer customisable options from preferred airlines and departure airports across Australia, as well as adjustable lengths of stay and room upgrades.

"With Aldi Holidays we're bringing our Special Buys to the skies, offering savvy travelers premium holiday options. From budget-friendly bliss to extravagant escapes, there are different levels of luxury for every keen explorer", added Balech.

Ryan Thomas, CEO of Ignite Travel Group, also expressed his excitement about the partnership. "We are excited to partner with Aldi to bring a range of leisure and luxury travel options to more Australians launching at a great time when travel continues to boom. Domestic and close to home holidays are still desirable and we're now seeing record numbers for international cruise holidays and small group touring."

"Aldi Holiday customers can expect incredible savings with these exclusively curated holiday packages including flights, local experiences and more, covering some of the most popular destinations around the world, that can conveniently be booked online or via the dedicated Aldi Holidays Sales Centre", said Thomas.

"Whilst the collaboration also aligns to our goal to support and grow our supplier channels to deliver an unparalleled distribution network for our partners where everyone wins. We're excited about the future of our partnership with Aldi", Thomas concluded.

Escape and Tour packages can be booked via the online portal, while Cruise packages will be handled through customer service.