p27 technology feb20 17/2/09 18:24 Page 27
ttglive.com
conference report news
Travel Technology Show 2009 • London
INVESTMENT.
New systems sought to help
survive this ‘ruthless market’
GREATER efficiency through the use panies can eliminate two or three
of technology will be the focus of the heads but still manage their business.”
travel industry this year as businesses He pointed out that investing in a
strive to beat the economic downturn. new technology system could negate
Roberto da Re, president of Dolphin the need for several staff and cost less
Dynamics, said he had seen a shift in than employing them.
travel firms’ attitudes towards fully “We’re seeing our market growing
utilising technology. because people want to become more
And he said this would enable many efficient.
to cut costs by reducing staff numbers. “People are doing the maths. It’s a
Da Re added companies across the more ruthless market. It’s a given that
industry, from agents to operators, are people need to focus on the bottom
no longer merely paying lip-service line,” he added.
to the idea of efficiency, and new and While Da Re believes the travel
existing customers are approaching industry will remain flat in 2009, he
Dolphin more often to help them drive said the feeling was of “optimism, but
forward improvements. with realism”.
Da Re said: “People talk about However, he warned: “For some
efficiency during times of growth, but companies it might
they don’t necessarily do anything and be too late, espe-
they have not had to do it before. cially if they
“Traditionally, the travel market don’t have the
has been very reluctant to let people financial ca-
go, but now that attitude has pability to
changed. look at tech-
“You can see that with the nology.”
redundancies already. People are
looking at things from a
slightly different angle.
“With technology, com-
Roberto da Re: “There is optimism,
but with realism in the industry”
UK PUSH.
Traveltainment to launch agent service
TRAVELTAINMENT, the internet book- Managing director Andrew Nichol-
ing engine provider, is preparing for a son, who joined last September, said
concerted push into the UK market. Traveltainment will launch its agent
The company is a major player desktop system into the UK this year.
in Europe, particularly in Germany, This made use of direct connectiv-
where 80% of holidays booked online ity with suppliers, providing quicker
are via its booking engines. access to accurately priced products,
Traveltainment powers UK sites rather than relying on viewdata,
Expedia.co.uk, Anatolian Sky Holidays he said.
and Glasgow-based Barrhead Travel. To further the push, it has hired
Its continental sites include Thomas Christy Roxburgh as UK sales manager
Cook in France, and Tui and Opodo in to work alongside Nicholson and sales
Germany. director Colin Mckee.
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