Hotel booking agents ➔
“I don’t see how the merged Capita/BSI/ Expotel business can still be a specialist and don’t think the wider corporate market should read anything into it. This is part of a cycle; specialists grow, get acquired and swallowed up. Then other niche specialists arise,” he says. Another leading buyer does not believe
that HBAs will try to reinvent themselves as TMCs. He reasons that many small HBAs have not adopted new technology and therefore when it comes to processes they struggle to see the value they should be providing. “Just as TMCs don’t understand what HBAs do, HBAs don’t understand what a TMC does. It’s a case of mutual naivety.”
“ Technology has allowed some elements of travel to
be commoditised and driven online because they require much less touch, especially for point to point journeys
”
Future prospects Despite the consolidation of the two biggest names in the sector, the hotel booking agency and venue finding community remains up-beat about the future. Martin Coleman of ABC Connection
believes the prospects for HBAs are positive for three reasons. “First, we are seeing small to medium-sized HBAs winning significant corporate transient and meetings business. Second, HBAs are deploying low touch, low cost solutions for transient and medium touch bespoke solutions for meetings.
Finally, corporates still require personal contact in the meetings sector and for groups, which means that small to medium size agencies can realistically manage a number of major accounts.” HBAA's Parnham predicts that the long
term impact on the sector will depend on whether BSI and Expotel collectively become one large HBA – or TMC – but that there will be more consolidation as agencies find it hard to remain viable while meeting their clients’ more intense service requirements. “Smaller agencies also need to be able
to share technology instead of bearing development costs alone,” says Parnham. “It is possible to have common platforms and still be able to differentiate between providers – the mobile phone operators have shown that it’s how you package your product to suit your target customer.” The future looks rosy for those able to
deliver best in class and quality, and that the demand for specialists will remain undimmed. And while corporates may encourage those specialist suppliers to offer a more diverse range of services, those suppliers will remain specialists. The big issue is whether those specialists can diversify successfully, and on a scale that will create acceptance among corporates.
sleep well work well
We’ve got it covered
At Hotelscene we look after your every accommodation need – as well as your meetings and events requirements – so your employees can concentrate on the job in hand. Sleep well, work well.
hotelscene.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80