THE APPOINTMENT GROUP HONOURED WITH INNOVATION AWARD
The importance of technology in the travel booking process cannot be underestimated, but some companies punch above their weight when it comes to combining innovation with practicality. The GTMC and Travelport awards recognise those TMCs designing original technology that enhances productivity and service levels – and delivers greater efficiencies to customers
“THE APPOINTMENT GROUP (TAG) is the third recipient of our award and it is particularly gratifying to recognise an SME that has invested the time and funds necessary to produce a global booking and reporting system that provides worldwide consistency. This is remarkable technology. Companies that take this kind of initiative have earned their colours,” says the CEO of the GTMC, Paul Wait. “All TMCs aspire to a global system, but it is not easy to bridge currencies and cultures to create technology that provides a central repository for all management information and client details with multi-currency capacity. TAG Desktop not only fulfils these requirements but also has the agility to interact with GDS, web and app platforms. We are delighted to report that TAG Desktop is exceeding expectations in all these areas,” says joint chairman and CEO of TAG, John Gianquitto. “The Appointment Group is very proud to have won this award. We have invested heavily in TAG Desktop to create
58 BBT NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014
a unique system specific to both our own and our customers’ needs. “The benefits we are now receiving from TAG Desktop with regard to increased productivity from staff, coupled with having created a truly global system that gives our clients consistency throughout our global office network, is testimony to our decision to make this crucial investment. This has, of course, been further demonstrated to us by winning this prestigious GTMC/Travelport award,” he says.
TAG’s objective was to create a system that presented information consistently worldwide and could be accessed and worked on in all the company’s overseas territories, removing the need for a different system for each currency. TAG Desktop provides a central system for all booking files and passenger profiles, and interacts with all types of content platform. It is also designed to give several profiles per traveller, allowing differentiation between their leisure and corporate
travel preferences and whether they are travelling alone or with others. In addition, the system automatically prompts agents when expiry dates on options are approaching and when cancellation charges come into effect, ensuring they are on top of clients’ business at all times and providing ultimate cost efficiencies.
TAG looked at a number of existing systems but was not happy that they could meet all the criteria above, making bespoke technology the only viable option. The benefits of this commitment have greatly exceeded the investment required.
PRESENT INDICATIVE One comprehensive operating system has removed the need to upload data into several systems, bringing much enhanced quality control. Faster booking processes have given greater productivity to agents and back office staff, and a less clunky process for customers. The creation of TAG Desktop has also reduced training
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