| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 23/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 6 |
| Copyright: Other |
eDreams axes call centre for web bookings
INTERNET travel agency eDreams is to cut ties with most of its tour operator partners by moving to a purely on-line booking system.
The company is axing its call centre in favour of on-line bookings, losing operators that do not have the facilities to make bookings on-line.
The on-line agency, which went live last June with 20 non-competing specialist tour operators, was due to announce new airline partners last week.
Marketing manager Sarah Blairgould said: “We’re still negotiating with tour operators and will continue to work with those who have a facility to book on-line, but most cannot handle that yet.
“We will be taking on other product providers such as airlines and hotels.
“We are losing some of the package operators and moving more towards bookings from the independent traveller who will still be able to book all the same things but not as a package. People prefer to book on-line rather than making a phone call which slows the whole process,” Blairgould added.
She would not specify how many operators would be terminating their contracts with eDreams, which initially set out to sign up 100 tour operators before it went live last year.