AN ABTA-BONDED tour operation and travel agency is to be launched next month on the Internet.
Called Online Travel Company, it will give consumers access to 500 published air fares, 70 different airlines, 10,000 hotels as well as cruiselines and tour operators.
Managing director Mark Jones said he expects the site will generate 80,000 bookings over the first year, creating a total revenue of £30m.
Jones said only 1% of bookings will be transacted on-line in the first year, with the majority of bookings being made through OTC’s call centre.
“Research shows most people use the Internet to look for information but few will book at the moment. That will soon change,” he said.
Online Travel Company already operates a corporate travel agency on the Internet, called Online Travel Business. It has signed up 70 customers in the two months since it was launched.
Jones has been a consultant for travel companies including Redwing and tour operator Travelcoast.
His co-directors are Martyn Ferguson-Jones, who worked at British Airways for 20 years before setting up Travelcoast, and chairman Alan Judd, who was previously the chairman of Premier Hotels.