p20-21 Biz Travel june12 9/6/09 13:01 Page 20
Business travel
Martin Ferguson
020 7921 8011
maferguson@ttgbusiness.com
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FCm launches
Good Travel to fill
price guarantee
gap left in Grimsby
FCM TRAVEL has launched a price guarantee
scheme to convince clients they are getting the
lowest possible fares.
Martin Ferguson.
particularly at a time when they are looking to
The travel management company has GOOD TRAVEL Management is to open a branch reduce costs.”
promised to match the price of any itinerary, in Grimsby at the end of June. Harrison said trading this year was “better
providing it originates in the UK, found to be The Hull-based travel management company than expected”, revealing average monthly sales
offered cheaper by any of its rivals. – a member of the Uniglobe consortium – is were up 30% year-on-year.
FCm’s executive general manager, Debbie capitalising on Carlson Wagonlit Travel’s decision “Business is better than expected. Some
Carling, has told clients to contact their travel to close its operation in the town. clients are downtrading but most sectors are
manager on the same day with a copy of the The company, which is the UK’s longest very positive,” he added.
alternative quote. Iata-accredited agency, said the opening was “We are finding good account management
The company will cross-check availability and also part of an ongoing support, without the
booking conditions and match the rate where expansion programme. higher costs that are
applicable. Kevin Harrison, Good associated with larger
She insisted the best-price strategy was “more Travel’s general manger, TMCs, is particularly im-
than just a gimmicky marketing strategy”. said: “We already serv- portant, not only to the
“It is designed to demonstrate our commit- ice clients throughout decision maker but to
ment to our customers that we offer exceptional the whole of the bookers and travellers.”
value,” she said. Humber and north-east The Grimsby office
“This is a tough year for our clients and it is region, but it was will have an initial team
therefore even more important for us to show becoming increasingly of three, supported by
how we can deliver travel cost savings.” important to have a the 12-strong team at
base on both sides of the Hull head office.
the river. Harrison said the
Swiss switches
“The combination of company would continue
local expertise, coupled to invest in sales and
to Heathrow T1
with the global purchas- marketing to “remain
ing power we experi- competitive in the cur-
ence through Uniglobe, rent climate”, and has
STAR ALLIANCE carrier Swiss has moved to the gives us a massive ad- recently taken on Sharon
consortium’s new home at Heathrow Terminal 1. vantage when talking to Forster as business
The check-in counters, with two dedicated clients and prospects, Kevin Harrison with new business boss Sharon Forster development manager.
desks for first and business-class passengers, will
be in zones F and G.
The ticket desk is located opposite the
check-in counters. Expenses? Brits under claiming
Members of frequent-flyer schemes Swiss Hon
Circle and Miles & More Senator have access to UK BUSINESS travellers are failing to claim Neil Radley, managing director of Barclaycard
the first or business Star Alliance lounges. nearly half a billion pounds in expenses every Commercial, said: “Anyone who regularly travels
year, according to a survey. on business knows keeping track of all expenses
Barclaycard Commercial’s 13th annual can be tricky, especially when your top priority is
business travel survey found that 32% of your performance.
travellers forget to claim back all their expenses “Managing incidental and often small costs
– each missing out on an average of £373 a year. can drop to the bottom of the list of priorities.
Staff at director level were most likely to lose “Barclaycard has found that the most sensible
out, failing to claim an average of £719 every action companies can take is to help their
12 months. Women claimed more diligently, employees to centralise their costs and to give
missing out on £293, compared with £366 by them the facility to create automatic records by
their male counterparts. using company credit cards.”
20 12.06.2009
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