p6 News may29 27/5/09 20:20 Page 6
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ttglive.com
‘Pre-paid cash card firm
pitches for agency work’
Lee Hayhurst.
banks, is that they can now offer plastic as Stanton said SCL was in
THE POINT-OF-SALE systems firm behind Tui well,” he said. discussions with other agency
Travel’s new pre-paid cash card is looking to “The customer can walk out of the groups and consortia about
work with more agents, claiming it can increase shop with the card there and then.” launching cards for their members
their foreign exchange conversion rates. Stanton said the ability to immedi-
Travel
and stores.
SCL won the foreign exchange contract for ately issue a card to a consumer was a
Money Card
He added that several companies
Tui Travel following the merger of Thomson, big selling point, adding that mail- were also interested in offering a white-
which used Travelex, and First Choice, which had order conversion rates were 20% less
Graphic: Nick Bartolucci
label version of its technology.
a contract with American Express. than instant issue. The Tui cash card comes with a £5,000 upload
SCL’s systems have been installed in Tui’s 860 Which? Holiday recently issued advice to limit and, due to strict regulations by the Finan-
stores. The pre-loadable Thomson and First Choice travellers about the cost of using credit cards on cial Services Authority, expires after three years.
Travel Money Cards were launched this month. holiday. This week, Travelex estimated that Mastercard is the card issuer, while Pre Paid
Ray Stanton, managing director of SCL, said £10.2 billion in foreign currency would be taken Solutions, which has an e-money licence issued
early demand was encouraging. “The attraction abroad this summer, with a quarter of holiday- by the FSA, provides the numbers that appear on
for agents, as they are competing against the makers opting to leave their cards at home. the cards.
Lastminute benefits from recession
Expedia hits its
LASTMINUTE.COM has claimed have been capturing this
the recession is “playing into year and try to drive a lot
300-agent target
its hands” as customers are more repeat purchases. EXPEDIA’S travel agent affiliate programme has
waiting for bargains and “We have done a lot of hit its six-month target of signing up 300 agents.
booking later. ‘wigigs’ [when it’s gone, it’s Some 88% of those signed up are regularly
The online retailer said it had gone], and hotels for £10. booking through it, with Italy, the US and the UK
recently focused on customer These drive people to the the three most popular destinations.
relationship management and, site and boost user loyalty.” Business development director Cameron Jones
as a result, had seen bookings Washington said repeat said: “The current economic landscape has led
made by past customers purchases were being agents to look to work with partners who give
double. It also claimed to have been ahead of driven by a rise in hotel bookings (up 5% year- them access to a substantial breadth of product
budget in each of the past four months. on-year), lifestyle products and short breaks. and the opportunity to earn competitive levels of
Sales director Andy Washington said: “The re- Lastminute will increase its traditional commission on each booking.
cession is working in our favour. We have seen our package inventory when a deal with Thomas “Bookings have been particularly strong for
shopping window narrow from 33 days from de- Cook, agreed as part of the sale of Medhotels, hotels and DIY packages.”
parture to 29. This is fine as we have no commit- goes live this summer.
ments, so it doesn’t matter when people book. It will also focus on boosting business from cities
“Our challenge is to keep those customers we such as Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow.
Holidaybreak loss
went on to make a £32.6 million full-year profit.
Hotel breaks and bookings for its adventure
division, which includes operator Explore!, were
rises to £18.1m
down, but its education division performed well.
Holidaybreak said it was still on the lookout for
HOLIDAYBREAK has reported an £18.1 million acquisitions. Carl Michel, Holidaybreak Group
operating loss for the six months to March 31. chief executive, said: “We remain focused on
The firm insisted trading was in line with cash generation and keeping costs under control
expectations, as it traditionally reports a loss in while developing growth opportunities.” Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN) has agreed a white-label
the first half of the year. In the first half of 2008, partnership with Red Bull Air Race World Championship to
the company was £14.9 million in the red, but ■ City & finance, p14 provide travel packages to fans of the competition
06 29.05.2009
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