SUCCESSFUL agents will tap into the Internet to replace slow and inefficient reservation systems, delegates were told.
Hamilton Travel managing director Mark Taylor said almost all aspects of a profitable agent’s business would revolve around better use of the Web.
He said the use of extranets – secure links to firms’ Web sites – would enable more effective marketing, yield management and cost reductions.
“Extranets will impact on the travel industry.
“Customers are finding them easier to use and corporations are willing to use them,” said Taylor.
He said systems such as viewdata will be replaced by extranets as companies target suppliers and customers more effectively with the Internet.
They will also help build better personal profiles of contacts.
Taylor added vertically integrated firms will also prosper with extranets as they can direct information to member businesses quicker.
However, Taylor warned the industry there will be more direct marketing through extranets.
Advantage Travel Centres backed Taylor’s views and said it was developing extranets for members to speed up product delivery for faster sales.