AMERSHAM Travel managing director David Giles has decided to sell up rather than invest huge sums of money in Internet technology.
Giles said any agency that failed to take Internet developments seriously risked going out of business.
His business travel company was bought by travelstore.com for an undisclosed sum last week, the first of a number of planned acquisitions of small and medium-sized companies by the on-line agent.
Giles and operations director Amanda Pennell will retain their current positions at Amersham, which will continue to be run as a separate company.
Giles will also become chief operations officer on the travelstore.com board.
He said:”I recognised that for us to be among the survivors in the market in the next two, five or perhaps 10 years time, we would have had to make a major investment in on-line technology.
“Some people think the Internet bubble will burst but with companies like British Airways going on-line with its own travel agency, you can’t afford to ignore it.
“Companies need to make the investment. If people ignore the Internet or try to be proud and independent, then they are going to learn a hard lesson.”
Giles said half of Amersham’s total of 400 business travel accounts will be serviced on-line in the next few months.
“Clients have told us they want access to on-line bookings. We will start off with simple bookings, but development is moving very fast and we will be adding more complex sectors shortly,” he said.
Travelstore.com managing director Bill McFarlane said:”This acquisition is central to our plan to become a strong organisation in the business travel arena.”