p24 ops mar6 3/3/09 16:47 Page 24
Operators
Kay McLellan
020 7955 3867
kmclellan@ttglive.com
For the latest operator and supplier news, visit ttglive.com/operators
CallUma posts rise
in agency business
Lee Hayhurst.
climate, being able to offer customers this
CALLUMA, which operates an online and text round-the-clock reassurance is key.
messaging services for travellers, has reported a “Customers are placing more demands than
rise in business through trade partners, as agents ever on their holiday providers, whether it’s a
seek to improve their service in the downturn. small independent travel agent or a worldwide
The firm, which entered the travel sector last tour operator.”
year having been set up as a translation service As well as its “Just text HELP” service, which
for the insurance industry and UK ex-pat com- offers a 24-hour interpretation service to answer
munity, said more than 150 people a day were all manner of questions, CallUma also has a “Tag
signing up to use the service. ’n’ Traq” luggage-label system. This is designed
SKI’S THE ONE: Staff at Broads Travel, Key to this growth has been a co-branded to help reunite lost bags with their owners with-
in Sutton Coldfield, celebrate with local deal with The Co-operative Travel Group, with out having to have their personal details on them.
skier Elaine Beauchamp (pictured) who customers who spend at least £400 on a holiday CallUma has about 700 people on call around
won a week’s holiday in Arinsal, Andorra, receiving the service for free. the world ready to answer texted
courtesy of Advantage Winter Sports Last week, CallUma launched an questions and provide translations,
Specialists and Inghams Ski. out-of-hours support service for the supervised from its base in Sudbury.
trade that will allow companies Partridge said: “What we saw
to offer round-the-clock customer when XL Airways collapsed was
LAUNCHPAD. service without having to increase that travel companies need to be
staff hours. interactive with customers, rather
Kirker Holidays It is hoped that this will particu- than having 15,000 customers
India 2009 larly appeal to smaller companies calling to ask ‘what do I do?’.”
Kirker has added five hotels to taking on principal status by pack- CallUma also has deals in place
its programme for India, Nepal, aging up their own trips. with Expedia and lastminute.com
Sri Lanka and the Maldives. A CallUma chief executive Tony Tony Partridge: “Customers and provides the destination infor-
new 11-night trip, The Himalayan Foothills & Partridge said: “In the current are placing more demands” mation for easyJet Text.
Tigers of the Kumaon, starts at £3,350.
■ 020 7593 2287
Haven
Hoseasons adds
Zena Calderbank, head of sales for Hoseasons,
said: “All travel agents are realising the
2009 (second edition)
Haven has held 2008 prices, range to systems
potential of selling UK holidays in what will
surely be a difficult year for the overseas
and introduced diving lessons product.
and activities such as basketball HOSEASONS has fully integrated its portfolio “UK product, especially in the self-catering
and fishing coaching. A three-night break in a of self-catering properties across the Multicom, field, has been largely conspicuous by its
Superior two-bedroom caravan starts at £99. Micros Travel and Traveltek selling systems. absence on these online platforms up until now.
■ 0871 230 1919 It claims that it is the first major UK “This is why, as the country’s biggest
self-catering operator to integrate its domestic operator, we have made the move to
The Adventure Company entire range with the major travel technology fully integrate our entire product portfolio
Adventure Collection 2009-10 platforms. across all of the major platforms.
The operator is seeking agents to The move will enable agents to access “With domestic tourism enjoying a huge
sell its range of adventure holi- Hoseasons’ whole portfolio of 12,000 properties boost thanks to the uncertain economic climate
days. An eight-day tour of the online and use it for dynamic packaging. and the weakness of the pound, the opportunity
Kyrenia Trails, northern Cyprus, starts at £659. As well as its UK and Irish properties, for agents to offer product from Hoseasons
■ 0845 608 7724 Hoseasons also features more than 750 villas opens up a huge potential new market for
across Europe. agents.”
24 06.03.2009
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