| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 28/08/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 20 |
| Copyright: Other |
Market trends
Advantage business agents to get new on-line booking facility
Report by DIANE SM|ITH
ADVANTAGE business agents are to get an on-line booking system to deal with the predicted surge in leisure travel through business travel companies.The bookings facility will be part of the phase two development of the advantage4business.com Web site. Corporate clients will be able to use the on-line system to book leisure trips. It will be overbranded with the agency details.
The first stage of the Web site, which will provide information to agents, will be ready for Advantage’s Independent Business Travel Agents’ Conference on November 7. Although Advantage Travel Centres’ business development director Norman Gage would not be drawn on the timescale for phase two, he said it the site will also be launched to the public where it will feature details of some business agents.
Gage is also looking at appointing a preferred car-hire company and hotel chain for The Focus Group. Travel 2/4 is expected to be the preferred consolidator.
The buying group, which started in January and consists of 42 like-minded Advantage business agents, has been successful in growing business for its airline partners.
Some 17 additional agents have applied to join The Focus Group next year but they must meet the criteria and abide by the rules. Similarly, current members who do not produce what they have promised have three opportunities to “get their house in order” before they are told to leave. Gage will announce his new two-year plan for The Focus Group on September 12.
Advantage Business Travel Centres and Europcar have signed a new three-year agreement granting Europcar Business Travel partner status for a second three-year period. Agreeing the new deal areEuropcar’s travel industry sales manager Beverley Williams and Advantage’s director of business travel, Norman Gage.