p9 News mar6 4/3/09 19:53 Page 9
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Cadogan boss
Expedia claims affiliate
Allen departs
CADOGAN Holidays managing director Tom Allen
scheme has 200 agents
has left to “pursue other personal interests”, the
company said.
He has been replaced by Stephen Rhodes, who
Rupert Murray.
Ramsey World Travel boss
joined on Monday from
ResortHoppa.com. EXPEDIA has signed up Colin Ramsey was one of the
Rhodes said Allen left “of his own accord” and 200 agents to its Travel first agents to join TAAP.
promised to continue his strategy of introducing Agents’ Affiliate Programme He said: “We signed up
destinations and working closely with agents. (TAAP) in the first three to broaden the holidays we
Staff were told of the change last week by Iain months and said they were can offer customers to give
May, chief executive of Bland Group Resources, now starting to sell through us an edge in competitive
the holding company of Cadogan’s parent the website regularly. times – the system is easy
company, the Bland Group. The online travel agency to use and we are reaping
“Allen has made a significant contribution to was confident its plans to rewards.”
our business in a period of significant change,” establish itself as a major Tamar said the average
said May. player in the UK travel trade value of sales through
“Since taking over at a very difficult time in were on track following a agents or Expedia’s own call
the company’s history, he has recruited a new good response to the new affiliate scheme. centres was higher than internet bookings.
management team, revamped the product to Tamer Tamar, managing director and He added: “Agents are able to use their
reflect changing consumer needs, and overseen vice-president for Europe, wants to increase experience and knowledge to upsell clients.”
the implementation of new operational systems the 200-agent figure, with a view to agents As the agent base grows, Tamar said he would
and a new website.” accounting for up to 9% of UK revenue by 2011. start talks with consortia and send Expedia staff
Rhodes has worked for Stella Travel, Monarch He added: “We have seen a surge in agents to visit agents regularly.
Airlines Group, British Airways Holidays, Citalia signing up and making bookings since the new For a limited period Expedia has reduced its
and, most recently, as managing director of year. joining fee for the affiliate programme from
ResortHoppa.com. “Although we have never considered travel £40 to £20, which is deducted from the first
Last month it was reported that Cadogan’s agents to be our enemy, this is the first time we month’s commission.
forward sales were 10% down and it was making have worked with them in the UK and we are Commission on average is 10%, although
redundancies at its Southampton base as part of delighted it is working so well.” agents booking larger volumes may earn more.
a reorganisation.
Holiday Options in
Croatia firm tie-up
HOLIDAY OPTIONS has merged with Hidden
Croatia in a deal that will bring “significant
investment” into the company and cement its
position in Croatia.
Hamish Manson, managing director of Holiday
Options, said he was delighted to have secured
the operator’s future.
The merged company will continue to operate
out of two offices while a review is completed
and there will be no redundancies, Manson said.
Holiday Options has been operating to Croatia
for more than 10 years, and has programmes in
other destinations such as Sardinia, Corsica and
Cape Verde. Last year it carried 16,000 clients.
Boutique operator Hidden Croatia has a JUST MARRIED, JUST BOOKED: Newlyweds Craig and Sharon Broad left it very late
number of assets in the country including hotels to book their honeymoon. Fresh from the registry office and still dressed in all their
and sailing boats that will allow Holiday Options finery, the couple walked into First Choice, Ashford, where surprised agent Danielle
to increase its product range. Goody managed to book them a romantic getaway to Paris.
06.03.2009 09
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