p14 dec19 17/12/08 15:15 Page 14
news
ttglive.com
Recession experts offer survival advice
Charlotte Walsh.
is already targeting MacIntyre Hudson’s leisure
Burnham’s recession tips
ACCOUNTANCY firm MacIntyre Hudson has set up and travel clients, which Burnham believes could
a team of experts to help steer travel companies be facing “a very difficult couple of years”. ■ Protect your assets: Structure your
through the recession. He said: “Certain segments of the economy are business to protect your assets. Consider
Travel and leisure principal Andrew Burnham disproportionately affected in a recession. setting up a group instead of just
said the new corporate recovery division aimed “Whatever you read about the general econ- operating as a sole company.
to help firms address challenges before they had omy, the statistics for leisure will be double, be- ■ Manage cash: In good times, decisions
a damaging impact. cause it is so reliant on discretionary spending.” are based on profit; now cash must be the
“We’re looking to pre-empt problems, as cor- Burnham said it was imperative to help deciding factor. Invest in credit control.
porate recovery experts are often brought in too businesses “while they still have reserves”. ■ Control costs: Reappraise your business
late,” he said. “But we want to be proactive when “We’ve not properly had a recession since plan to match the size of the business you
there is still a chance to reorganise affairs.” 1992, so we are looking at less well-prepared expect to have in two years’ time.
The team will employ 15 people by March and management teams, facing difficult times.”
Cook signs deal
ON YOUR MARKS,
JETSET, GO: Affordable
Car Hire managing
with Travel Buddy
director Angela Day and FLY Thomas Cook, the
Jetset chairman John low-fares airline, has agreed
Bond pen a partnership a deal with passenger
deal that will see car information service Travel
hire added to the Buddy to offer customers its
operator’s online text message information
booking service for the service.
first time. Agents will Travel Buddy sends flight
be able to access confirmation details, itiner-
Affordable’s entire aries, and local travel and
product range on weather information. Jason Rivolta: “Pack
Jetset’s Jets booking The Cook deal also in- can boost revenues”
system alongside cludes Travel Buddy’s “Ask
hotels and flights. Any Question” service.
Fly Thomas Cook’s exist-
ing “In-flight Bundle”, which
includes meals, seats together and additional
luggage, will now include the Travel Buddy SMS
Pack.
Jason Rivolta, Travel Buddy commercial
Agents ‘not ready’ for FSA rules
director, said mobile communication with
customers was vital.
“Offering the SMS pack during the booking
OVER a fifth of agents are not ready for the 18% had yet to make any plans for what they will path is the best way of delivering a mobile service
introduction of travel insurance regulation by the do upon the introduction of regulation. that can generate substantial revenues,” he said.
Financial Services Authority on January 1, 2009, Despite this, 83% of agents questioned said Travel Buddy has content for 1,600 destina-
research has revealed. that the commission from travel insurance was tions and provides location-based information to
The survey of Abta agents by World First “extremely important” or “important”. travellers relevant to their dates of travel.
Travel Insurance found that 10% had not World First Travel Insurance claimed that even
prepared for the regulation for travel insurance a small agency selling a few policies a week could
sold alongside a holiday. be missing out on over £7,000 commission a year
Christmas Giveaway!
A further 11% did not know what the changes by not being prepared for regulation.
meant for their business, or believed it would not It is offering agents the ability to become fully Fancy a free break in Jamaica?
affect them. FSA compliant travel insurance “resellers”. SuperClubs is giving away five
The survey also revealed that 54% of agents Its Trade Routes service allows agents to con- nights at its Hedonism resorts
planned to become Appointed Representatives tinue to sell insurance, while World First takes Find out how to enter, p32
for their existing insurance supplier. However, care of the FSA legislation and documentation.
14 19.12.2008
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