| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 05/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 10 |
| Copyright: Other |
Letter of the week
Holiday Autos hits the spot
At the risk of extrapolating the debate about the dreaded Internet, I feel Icannot let Holiday Autos chairman and chief executive Clive Jacobs’ comments at the Advantage conference go without further contribution (Travel Weekly May 29).Speaking as a representative from a company that has already tasted the high investment needed to jump on the Internet band wagon,I appreciate fully the costs and risks that Holiday Autos has made in bringing its Web site to market. Even the most devout Internet convert needs nerves of steel when it comes to peering into the financial black hole more commonly known as an e-commerce budget.
Nevertheless, Holiday Autos has taken this step and delivered a system that must be applauded on two fronts.
Firstly it knocks spots off any viewdata system in both its speed of use, quantity and quality of information. Try printing a client’s car-rental voucher off a viewdata screen and see how far you get.
Secondly and most importantly, Holiday Autos has carried out its development with the travel agent in mind. Yes, the customer can make a booking direct, but rather than embracing the direct-sell philosophy, Holiday Autos has included agents in their development, not excluded them. Agents who use its site find they receive a further £5 discount off normal car-rental prices in addition to their standard agency commission. How many other suppliers are adopting this philosophy over Web-based transactions? Fellow agent converts can therefore enjoy increased margins, a faster sales process and experience increased user functionality.
My advice to all non-Internet users is to embrace suppliers like Holiday Autos’ attitude towards new distribution channels. By giving them our support, we send a clear signal to other suppliers that a similar approach can be equally as rewarding.
Steve Sergeant, Manchester Flights, Bury