Ayscough Travel boosts sales force

Report by Lydia Wilson

BUSINESS travel management company Ayscough Travel has boosted its sales team in the face of industry changes sparked by British Airways’ plan to introduce flat rate fees.

Denise Horn, who helped to set up travelstore.com, fills a new post as director of business development for London and Surrey, while Monica Hireker, previously a sales and account manager at Wexas, replaces a sales executive transferred elsewhere within the company. She will hold the same title as Horn.

The pair will report to Carol Bayntun, director of sales, marketing and account management, who says the new blood will help expand Ayscough’s portfolio in London and Surrey, and help the business cancel out any negative effects of BA’s decision to drop commission.

“We have looked at BA’s fees scheme and are deciding how they will change the market for us,” she said. “The increased sales team will help strengthen our presence and build the business throughout London and Surrey.”

Horn will also promote www.ayscough.co.uk, Ayscough’s Internet business, having been in charge of travelstore.com’s on-line business to business booking site. Before that, she spent five years working in sales for American Express.

Meanwhile, Ayscough Travel has finalised a deal with Regency Lounges to offer clients pre-booked access to airport lounges in destinations including Tel-Aviv, Bombay, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Stansted.

In the first agreement of its kind between Regency and a business travel agent, Ayscough clients flying to or from any of 66 ‘Regency destinations’ can now pay for entry vouchers to lounges with work stations, internet access, telephones and bars.