n CIMTIG postpones technology seminar
The Chartered Institute of Marketing Travel Industry Group has postponed its February 14 Talking Technology – Advanced Call Centres seminar. A CIMTIGspokeswoman declined to reveal the reasons for the postponement but said it would be rescheduled for the autumn.
n Hilton agrees deal for new moscow hotel
Hilton Group Plc has signed an agreement to manage a new $58m five-star hotel in Moscow, scheduled to open in spring 2001. The new 218-room Hilton Bolshoi is currently under construction and is located next to the Bolshoi ballet and is close to Red Square, the Kremlin and the main business and shopping areas of the Russian capital.
n CTO launches first consumer promotion
The Caribbean Tourism Organisation has launched its first major consumer promotion in the UK in conjunction with its UK Chapter. Caribbean Travel, a 32-page supplement, is being inserted in the Mail on Sunday in London and the south of England. A composite advertising campaign will be featured in national newspapers starting January 16 until the end of March. Caribbean specialist agents enrolled in the Caribbean Travel Consultant’s Training Programme will be given leads gained by the drive.
n expedia reports end of year loss of $23m
On-line travel agency Expedia has reported a $23m loss for the quarter ending December 31 last year. The company said that $17.3m of the total loss was costs arising from the spin-off of Expedia from its parent company Microsoft last October. Gross travel bookings on all Expedia-branded sites, including its UK version, rose by 158% to $220m during the quarter, out of which the company generated $11.9m in transaction commissions and fees. Separate UK figures were not released.
ON-LINE business travel agency travelstore.com has acquired rival operator Equator-Net for an undisclosed sum.
Oxford-based travelstore.com, which has a staff of 54, intends to retain Equator-Net’s office in Dorking and its eight-strong staff. It also plans to open a third office in London this month.
Former Equator-Net managing director Bill Kirkwood will become sales director in the newly expanded company, with responsibility for a staff of seven.
Travelstore.com marketing director Jason Ellis said:”We need every single person we are getting in this acquisition. That is part of why we wanted to do this. For the type of expansion we have planned, managed growth is crucial.
“One of the most difficult things to obtain are people who are experienced in sales, Information Technology and management.”
Meanwhile, Ellis said the company had just introduced facilities allowing businesses to incorporate their individual travel policies into its Web site. This will allow them to specify whether members of staff are authorised to fly business or economy class and to set travel expense ceilings.
Travelstore.com has just launched a German-language version of its site. Ticketing services and a 24hr phone line are being provided by a partner in Germany. Ellis said the company was searching for partners in France and Sweden in the hope of eventually launching sites in those countries too. The company is also looking to acquire off-line business travel agencies.
Travelstore.com claims to offer more than 500,000 flight options and 40,000 hotels worldwide on its site. Customers can also buy travel insurance and check weather and currency rates.