p15 wtm nov14 12/11/08 18:26 Page 15
ttglive.com
technology wtm 2008 news
World Travel Market • November 10-13 • ExCeL, London
CONSOLIDATION.
‘ONE-STOP SHOP’.
Technology firms need to
integrate, says Comtec
Hays and Triton sign up
MORE consolidation is needed in the travel
technology sector to improve the integration of
different systems, according to Comtec chief
for Chase Travel system
executive Simon Powell.
Mergers, takeovers and acquisitions are
Lee Hayhurst.
available more widely about a year and a half ago.
expected in the coming months, with Comtec IRISH accommodation-only and technology Ismail said all of Chase’s accommodation was
saying it is actively looking for opportunities. provider Chase Travel aims to establish itself in sold on a principal status basis.
The firm hopes to tie up a deal for a Canadian the top three in the UK after agreeing deals with Its system features 40,000 hotels worldwide,
firm soon. This would allow it to export its Hays Travel and Triton. with 70 to 100 new hotel contracts being added
technology to the country, as it looks to expand The firm is pushing its “one-stop shop” suite to the system every week.
its global reach. of products including hotels, flights and cruise The firm also claims it is the only provider to
Powell said: “I see further consolidation hap- content as well as technology. offer full automated dynamic packaging capabil-
pening. There are too many travel technology Chase says the latter offers a free consumer ities for cruise. It features eight of the top lines
companies doing the same thing. The industry cancellation service covering airline failure. in the UK and more than 1,500 cruise itineraries.
has lots of individual products but what it wants Backed by French insurance firm LEA, with which Ismail said this allowed agents to make a
is for them to work seamlessly together. Chase has an exclusive Europe-wide agreement, cruise booking, choosing a particular cabin, and
“There is a reluctance in the private equity the cover has just 10 exemptions and protects receive instant confirmation in one minute.
world because of the limitations the banks are agents’ commissions if a booking is cancelled. This, he said, compared with 45 minutes when
putting on people to do big deals, but deals are Darryl Ismail, chief executive of Chase Travel, making a cruise booking the conventional way.
still there to be done.” said: “The nice thing about this for the agents is Chase is lining up two more cruise lines to add
Comtec recently launched its Travel Connect it gives them an edge in terms of traditional to the eight on its system.
system to the UK trade, allowing agents to sell business-to-consumer competitors.” The Chase system, which is aimed at large
different products in one interface, and opera- Chase originally developed its technology for companies, offers a platform for homeworkers
tors that traditionally distributed through view- its own inhouse purposes but was getting so as well as traditional high street and call centre
data. It also offers features such as Google Maps. many enquiries about it that it decided to make it agencies.
AGENT SUPPORT.
Etihad on the ball
with UK trade aid
ETIHAD is to launch its first trade website next
week and is planning a new concept of in-store
training – all part of a “bullish” strategy to
support the trade.
Clive Wratten, Etihad’s country manager for
the UK, said the website would be an interactive
training tool to support agents and would include
product information and competitions.
Another training method he said would be to
showcase the airline’s “Inspired Service” concept
to agents in their store.
“We are looking to bring our product into the
office because agents are finding it increasingly
difficult to get out,” he said. Sponsor duties: Chelsea stars Cole, Drogba and Malouda join Etihad’s Clive Wratten at WTM
“We want them to be able to visualise the
product, so we will bring the food, the wine, the Other demonstrations of the company’s sup- the trade so it’s very important to work with
service and even our limos to agents.” port for the trade, he said, included the addition agents,” he added. “We’re still being fairly bull-
Wratten said agents would be able to try the of more sales account staff to the team which ish. We’re planning about 20 fam trips next year
onboard services in their store and to see the this year has increased from three to nine. across the leisure, corporate and mice sectors.
limo service that was available for their clients. “About 85% of our business comes through “We need to engage with our customers.”
14.11.2008 15
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