NEWS — HOT STORIES 2 Andy Stark
Buoyant Global chooses Dubai for 2016 conference
Lee Hayhurst
Global Travel Group says its decision to hold an overseas conference next year reflects growing confidence in a consortium that is now attracting new and existing agencies. The group announced at its
conference in Chester on Monday that it had chosen Dubai as the destination for next year’s event. Global has not held an overseas
conference since it was a founding member of the Triton super- consortium that broke up in 2008. As part of the Stella Travel Services group, which also owns Travel 2, Global is now owned by Dubai-based dnata. Andy Stark, Global managing director, said: “Going to Dubai shows our growing confidence and underlines the support from dnata. “One of the main attractions of Global for dnata was distribution. With the wealth of agents we have, we are giving dnata a massive distribution platform. “A membership network like Global is also of interest to them for business models in other countries they operate in.”
Stark added Global had changed its model over recent years to bring down the cost of becoming a member and to offer commercial options tailored to individual businesses.
He said it means Global, which
has traditionally attracted new entrants to travel, is now of interest to established businesses – five of 23 recruited last year were existing agents. “It’s a
big move to bring down upfront costs but we are in a competitive market,” said Stark. “There are people coming, either from independent relationships who have decided to join a consortium, or moving from existing partnerships. We are now on the list of options; two years ago, we would not have been.” Stark said the churn of agents had been reduced by Global implementing a more thorough qualifying period for new members.
Imagine eyes online sales via dnata’s Travel Republic
Lucy Huxley
The new owner of cruise retailer Imagine Cruising believes its latest acquisition will allow it to develop online sales to a wide audience through Travel Republic. Emirates-owned dnata, which owns Travel Republic as well as
operators such as Stella Travel Services and Gold Medal, completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in Imagine Cruising on Monday. Iain Andrew, divisional senior vice-president of dnata’s travel business, said Travel Republic boasted a “remarkably diverse” customer database which offered an opportunity for Imagine’s bespoke Masterpiece Collection as well as regular itineraries. Robin Deller, managing director of Imagine, added: “The deal gives us the opportunity to sell cruise to Travel Republic customers. We have done a little testing and the results were what we wanted, so we can now do something more significant.” Asked about Travel Republic’s traditional focus on beach holidays, Deller said: “If you don’t have the skills [to specialise], it’s best to stay out of it, which is what
Travel Republic has done to date. Now, though, we can bring that expertise.”
Andrew said the Imagine Cruising deal completed dnata’s
immediate ambitions in the UK. “I wouldn’t say no to more product but I’m not actively looking for anything else at the moment,” he said. “I’m a big fan of the UK travel industry but we have a fair amount now.” He added: “We’ve had a busy 12 months with seven or eight
projects such as Gold Medal and Stella Travel and we’ve still got a couple of other exciting projects in other parts of the world. “We now need to sit and absorb it all.”
❯ Iain Andrew and Robin Deller: Big Interview, page 10 12 March 2015 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 5 3
Robin Deller and
fellow Imagine Cruising co-founder Natalie Legg
“Going to Dubai also
underlines the support from dnata”
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