p24 biz Oct23 20/10/09 17:44 Page 24
Business travel
Martin Ferguson
020 7921 8011
maferguson@ttgbusiness.com
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FCm is ready to
take your order
FCM TRAVEL has launched an online booking tool
that allows clients to make restaurant bookings.
The travel management company claimed the
technology, called FCm Dining Solutions, would
give business travellers access to more than
6,000 eateries around the world.
The free tool allows bookers, who register for
the service using their work email, to carry out a
live search on restaurants from their offices.
Descriptions, images and ratings are available.
They can also bookmark their favourite locations,
review bookings and build customer profiles. From left: Marianne Sammann, Lufthansa; Mark Cuschieri, UBS; Russell Green, IHG; and Sarah Plummer, Merck Sharp & Dohme
Graeme Milne, FCm’s head of sales in the UK,
said the tool would add value to his customers’
travel programmes.
“Cost is still a key issue for clients at the
Unbundled fares
moment, but we are not going down the route of
our competitors and lowering prices. Instead we
are looking at ways of adding value and service.”
Bookings for tables of up to eight people can ‘are here to stay’
be made via the system.
After finding a restaurant, the user selects
Airline sales tactics were on the bill at Acte’s Management
date and time, confirms the guests’ details, and
receives confirmation via email.
Solutions forum in London last week. By Martin Ferguson
THE PRACTICE of unbundling costs that make up TMCs were upset that BA had not consulted
TMCs expand in
air fares is here to stay and corporates must get the trade before introducing the seat charge and
used to it, according to a leading travel buyer. were irate when they found out seats could not
Greece and Asia
Mark Cuschieri, regional head of travel for UBS be booked on the GDSs. Consultants were instead
Investment Bank, was one of a panel of experts advised they had to call a premium-rate hotline
speaking before delegates at a Management to make reservations.
RIVAL global travel management companies Solutions forum in London. An outcry lead to the premium rate being
have announced partnership agreements in key Unbundling, introduced by no-frills carriers, is scrapped, but agencies still need to phone a call
developing markets. when an airline takes certain costs out of an centre on behalf of the traveller. A number of
BCD Travel is to expand in Greece following a overall fare, such as baggage, onboard meals or TMCs have refused to offer the service.
joint venture with Amphitrion Holidays. The duo seat reservation, and charges extra for them. Cuschieri said: “Fine, we all have to accept it
will work under the BCD Travel brand. Cuschieri criticised suppliers for their lack of [unbundling] is here. But the questions are: can
Ilona de March, BCD’s president for Europe, communication with both corporates and travel you book it on the GDSs and can you report on it?
the Middle East and Africa, said there had been management companies. If not it makes it impossible to manage.”
increased demand from multinational clients for His comments came less than a week after BA has since said it laments the fact it did
a presence in the Greek market. British Airways was roundly criticised by the not work more closely with the trade before
Amphitrion Holidays was founded in 1973. BCD trade for its decision to start charging passengers introducing the charge and insisted it was
claimed the company had an annual turnover of to reserve seats without giving agents adequate making efforts to make the service bookable
$143 million. means to book them on behalf of clients. through the agencies’ booking platforms.
Meanwhile, rival travel management company “The airlines don’t talk to the TMCs about Scott Davies, BA sales manager for TMC chan-
HRG is to expand in Bangladesh, where it will these decisions. When the TMC finds out, they nels, said: “We’ve taken onboard feedback from
partner local agency Travelscene. The latter firm decide they are not going to book the unbundled the trade about the introduction of our seating
will take on the global agency’s branding and service because it is too costly for them. How can policy and recognise that, ideally, we would have
become known as HRG Bangladesh. I manage or measure that?” he said. launched it with greater input from them.”
24 23.10.2009
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