The travel industry is lagging behind other sectors on mobile communication, Travel Buddy founder Adam Winterflood has said.
With the recent raft of natural disasters, terrorist attacks and airlines closing down, it is more important than ever to be able to communicate with customers, he said.
“Travel companies should be able to reach their customers wherever they are in the world and vice versa. It’s frightening to think that children can go on a school trip and their parents hear nothing from them the whole time.
“The key is for travel companies to offer a better service without incurring much extra cost.”
Travel Buddy currently provides mobile communication to customers of Thomson and The Co-operative Travel. Customers can send questions about their destination and booking or send keyworks to request weather, events or amenities information.
So far, 36% of travellers with Thomson have opted to receive the free texts with travel information and emergency numbers from the operator. When given the option to receive a list of events in their destination, 40% of customers took it up.
The cost can be passed onto the customers, or paid by the travel company.
“In the current climate, travel agents can add value by providing free text alerts while their client is on holiday. It’s a way of building their brand and fostering loyalty. It is also something extra homeworkers can offer their clients,” said Winterflood
ABTA also works with Travel Buddy to send text messages to members in the event of an emergency.
Winterflood said the next stage will be to offer customers a personalised web page and retail vouchers to their mobile. Travel Buddy is also speaking to airlines and hotel chains about providing a white label product.