ABC HOLIDAYS Extra is upgrading its Web site to enable travel agents to book all of the operator’s products over the Internet.
The Ashford-based company hopes the upgrade – which will be completed by May – will increase its business by almost a third this year.
At the moment, agents can only make hotel reservations on the Internet, but with the upgrade, they will have access to ABC’s complete product range.
Managing director Stephen Lawrence said the company wanted to keep at the forefront of new technology. The Web site address is: www.abcltd.co.uk
ABC, which sells airport parking, hotels and travel insurance, is also sold on Going Places’ new Matchmaker system.
Lawrence said agents were also beginning to treat the product more as a money earner than a service. “Retailers know they can make good commission on products and customers no longer feel they are being fobbed off with extras they don’t want.”
Meanwhile, the company is seeking talks with Thomas Cook in an attempt to sell its product through the multiple’s 385 high-street shops.
“It is important we work with Thomas Cook,” he said. “We also work closely with Worldchoice so we need to know what will happen once the merger with Thomas Cook goes through.”
He said an improvement in conversion rates with existing retailers is also a target and will be driven by developments in technology.
n The Institute of Travel and Tourism has awarded ABCHoliday Extras a seal of approval after 5,000 agents were asked about the quality of ABC’s services.