| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 26/06/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 20 |
| Copyright: Other |
Cranfield seminar
Conference to debate future corporate sales
Report by LISA JAMES
THE FUTURE of business travel in the light of changes such as airline alliances and new distribution channels will be discussed at a three-day seminar at Cranfield University.The conference has been organised by Dr Keith Mason, an air transport lecturer at the college and is aimed at business travel agents and airline managers. Mason said:”All my research for the last 10 years has been in the business travel arena and things are changing so quickly. The long-held view that business travellers are prepared to pay a high premium for their air travel is no longer true – look at the emergence of the low-cost market and how quickly it has been adopted by business travellers.
“The effect of corporate travel policies that force travellers to save money in an increasingly competitive marketplace has meant that airlines cannot rely on the business travel sector to provide profitable returns.
“Developing Internet technology provides opportunities for airlines to adopt distribution models that could be said to undermine the business travel agency market.”
Speakers include Institute of Travel Management chairman Ian Hall; Go sales manager Oliver Wigdhal; Guild of Business Travel Agents chief executive Philip Carlisle and Virgin Atlantic loyalty manager Paul Smitton.
There are 25 places available at the seminar, which will be held at Cranfield University on September 13-15. It costs £950, including full-board accommodation.
For more information, contact Mason on 01234 754233 or by e-mail at: k.mason@cranfield.ac.uk