Travel Buddy has launched a guide for travel agents on business they could be losing by not embracing mobile phone technology.
Travel Buddy, part of Mobiletrails, is keen for the trade to understand the facts about mobile technology, which it claims few agents have yet to embrace to increase sales and the number of repeat customers.
According to the company, 3.3 billion people send text messages – compared with 1.4 billion internet users – and 85% of travellers take their mobile phones when they go abroad.
Sales, marketing and distribution director Neil Herbert said similar guides are being produced for tour operators, airlines and business travel agents, which follows the production of a white paper by the company on the subject for senior industry executives.
He said: “It’s about what mobiles can do for their business, traffic figures, sales messages and getting customers back once they have been on holiday. If you have their mobile number you can send them a text about car rental or new ancillary earning opportunities.
“We are doing this because there is a lack of understanding about what mobile phones can do for your business. It’s not just a selling tool, some agents may want to give customers an extra, free service such as providing flight details or welcome-to-resort messages.”
The company is also in talks with operators about using mobile technology to get messages to overseas representatives quickly.