Travel Counsellors decision to opt to stick with Travelport as its GDS provider hinged on the technology provided by the UK market leader.
Travel Counsellors chooses Travelport to provide its tech needs
Travel Counsellors decision to opt to stick with Travelport as its GDS provider hinged on the technology provided by the UK market leader.
Managing direcot of the Bolton-based agency Steve Byrne said the firm undertook a six month details evaluation of its options before striking a single five year deal covering all of its markets globally for the first time.
Byrne said commercial inducements were irrelevant in the decision which hinged on whether the technology could support the agency’s growth, particularly in the corporate travel sector.
One in three of the firm’s leisure agents now has a corporate account, said Byrne, and in the UK there are 100 agents dedicated purely to business travel.
Of its overseas markets South Africa has shown the highest growth – 20% in the last financial year – based mainly on its strong presence in the corporate travel sector.
“What Travelport showed us in terms of the roadmap for technology, account management at a global level and willingness to adapt the product it was close but it was the right decision.
“It was really important from the business travel point of view that the technology and functionality was there not just for now but for the next three to five years.
“We were pleased with what we saw from all the GDSs but particularly from Travelport.”
He added: “This is an exciting proposition for our Travel Counsellors.
“We are constantly looking at ways to improve and develop our Travel Counsellors’ businesses and Travelport offered technology solutions exactly tailored to our needs.
“The integration of Travelport into our in-house dynamic packaging system has enabled us to offer our Travel Counsellors the most advanced and comprehensive technology in the industry.
“Importantly, Travelport understands our business and we are delighted to continue our successful collaboration – this time on a global scale.”
The deal will see Travel Counsellors upgrade to the Travelport SmartPoint desktop which will be personalised to the agency’s 1,250 agents globally.
They will also use the Travelport Mobile Agent interface making its agents’ services available on hand-held devices round the clock.
Byrne said integrated with Travel Counsellors’ own in-house Phenix dynamic packaging systems gives its agents “the most advanced and comprehensive technology in the industry”.
Simon Ferguson, Travelport UK and Ireland Regional Director, said: “Travel Counsellors is one of the most innovative and fast-growing businesses in today’s travel sector and we are excited to take their technology to the next level.
“We are delighted to provide this flexible solution to fit Travel Counsellors across the globe, helping drive growth in their key overseas countries.”
Travel Counsellors now has 800 UK-based agents working from home and also operates in Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and Dubai.
In the year to October 31, 2012, it transacted £390 million of business and £40 million increase on the previous year.
