ON-LINE business travel agent Equator-Net has taken on two new members of staff to develop its network of clients and has moved to new premises.
The company, launched in May by former Air 2000 commercial director Bill Kirkwood, has taken on two business development managers, bringing the total number in the company to eight.
The new recruits are Taania Sinnet, who was previously station manager for US Airways at Gatwick Airport, and Denise Jenkins, formerly senior travel consultant at Carlson Wagonlit Travel.
Kirkwood, who is managing director of Equator-Net, said Sinnet and Jenkins have been brought in to generate business from smaller companies who spend up to £500,000 each year on travel.
These smaller companies will be offered a range of services and products that come under the Equator Corporate division which had its launch six weeks ago (Travel Weekly September 27).
The services include on-line management information, travel policy tools which help managers create a travel rule book for staff, transaction fees instead of commission-based payments and bespoke Web sites.
Kirkwood said: “We are building up our sales team and we will be going out on the road to drum up more business. We plan to heavily target those buyers who are currently using traditional business travel agents.”
When the company was launched staff worked from offices at home but Equator-Net has now moved to new premises in Dorking, Surrey.
A board of directors will be announced next month. Meanwhile, Kirkwood has arranged an information evening for suppliers who are interested in setting up special deals with Equator-Net.
He said:”We are bringing in some experts to talk about the Internet and to explain how our business will help them.”
The event will take place at the Gatwick Hilton on November 24 from 5.30pm.