p20 biztravel mar27 24/3/09 15:23 Page 20
Business travel
Martin Ferguson
020 7921 8011
maferguson@ttgbusiness.com
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Buyers ‘duped’ by
lower online fares
Martin Ferguson.
pounds in lost room nights or air fares when
CORPORATE travel buyers are being duped by travel plans changed, after booking and paying
websites promising “lowest rates”, according to for tickets that could not be amended and were
travel management companies. non-refundable.”
TMCs claim since the recession has deepened, London-based TMC Omega World Travel
growing numbers of travellers are booking commissioned a study to put a value on the
flights, hotels and car hire online, believing they amount of time spent by business travellers look-
are saving on the agency transaction fee. ing for fares online compared to transaction fees.
FTM boss aims
But industry figures have warned their It found that the corporate saved between
corporate customers that the “real cost” could 30% and 40% using the TMC.
be much higher. Omega sales manager Francesco Deluca said
for the double
Anthony Grigson, FCm’s executive general the agency would validate any cheaper fares
manager, said some small to mid-sized found online by its clients.
businesses were losing thousands of pounds by Business Travel Direct’s Wayne Pollard said
FORWARD Travel Management aims to double its booking non-flexible tickets on travel websites. corporates could be jeopardising their duty-of-
£10.5 million turnover in the next three years, “This may be tenable for companies whose care policy by booking online.
according to its new head of business travel. travel plans never change,” he said. “The traveller-tracking issue has been of huge
Peter Koukoularides (above) said the “But for most this is not a realistic approach importance since the introduction of the
Birmingham-based travel management company and some degree of flexibility is needed in their Corporate Manslaughter Act,” he said.
– the corporate arm of Midlands Co-op Travel travel itineraries. “I’m not convinced that corporates can
– was also on the acquisition trail. “We have seen companies forfeit thousands of manage this themselves.”
The former operations manager at Capita
Business Travel said: “It’s not the best of trading
times but we see opportunities to build FTM’s
profile as a TMC focused on personal service.
“It’s true some of our clients have been down-
trading, but there have been successes in other
areas – the health care and manufacturing
sectors have stayed strong.”
Koukoularides said demand for TMC expertise
had increased during the recession as corporates
strove to save in all areas of business.
“We have seen some clients issue policy
changes, and policy is being tightened across the
board. That’s where our ability as travel experts
come to the fore to make the savings,” he said.
In 2007 FTM bought Northampton-based York
Travel Management, and it is keen to continue
growth by acquisition. “We are confident our
organic growth will continue, but if a suitable
opportunity presents itself we will look to
acquire again,” said Koukoularides. BRANSON TO SPEAK TO US INDUSTRY: Richard Branson has been unveiled as the star
Last week FTM won a three-year contract with attraction at the National Business Travel Association’s annual conference. The Virgin
the Royal College of General Practitioners. In Group founder will deliver a keynote speech at the event in San Diego in August. NBTA
addition to travel and accommodation, FTM will president Kevin Maguire said: “Richard’s insights into the travel industry, perspectives
manage the college’s meetings spend. on globalisation and advice on leadership are sure to prove educating and inspiring.”
20 27.03.2009
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